Cost Effectiveness of Child Survival Initiatives: A Literature Review. A Background Paper for the Fourth Report to Congress on Child Survival

摘要

The state-of-the-art in the application of cost-effectiveness analysis and cost-benefit analysis to child survival initiatives is summarized in the literature review. Section I explains fundamental economic concepts used in the analyses and points out methodologic differences found in the articles reviewed. Section II is a narrative review of both universally accepted and controversial cost-benefit considerations of health projects. The major child survival initiatives - immunizations, oral rehydration therapy, breastfeeding, and child spacing - are examined separately in Section III for a discussion of specific costs and benefits. The paper does not draw firm conclusions about child survival initiatives; rather, it points out the weaknesses in methodology, theory, and assumptions and the overall lack of quality data for economic analysis. Specific recommendations are made to increase the usefulness of the analyses. A 10-page bibliography is included.