The cost-effectiveness of HIV voluntary counseling and testing in China

Asia Pac J Public Health. 2011 Jul;23(4):620-33. doi: 10.1177/1010539511412576. Epub 2011 Jul 3.

Abstract

China has experienced a dramatic increase in the number of HIV infections. To control the AIDS epidemic, free HIV voluntary counseling and testing has been made available in China. This study compared the cost-effectiveness of this program for 2 populations-the general population and men who have sex with men (MSM), to examine the value for money of this program. A Bernoulli-process model has been used to translate the changes in sexual behaviors to the number of HIV infections averted. Costs are estimated from a societal perspective. The outcomes are measured in terms of the incremental cost per HIV infection averted and the incremental cost per disability-adjusted life-year averted. The study found that the voluntary counseling and testing for the general population is not cost-effective based on the threshold adopted, whereas the same HIV prevention program for MSM is cost-saving. These results suggest that the efficiency of resources used could be substantially improved by appropriately targeting high-risk population groups. Therefore measures should be taken to increase the uptake of this intervention among high-risk groups.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Algorithms
  • China
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis
  • Counseling / economics*
  • Female
  • HIV Infections*
  • HIV Seropositivity / diagnosis*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mass Screening
  • Middle Aged
  • Young Adult