title: An evaluation of the cost-effectiveness of mobile family planning services in Tunisia.
abstract: This report presents the results of a study conducted in Tunisia in 1986 to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the 63 mobile units managed by the Tunisian Office National de la Famille et de la Population (ONFP). In 1985 the units produced one-third of the ONFP's national program output, serving 868 service sites dispersed throughout the rural governorates of Tunisia. In some governorates the mobile units contributed as much as 74 percent of program output. Overall, in 1985, the units provided over 250,000 service visits, saw almost 25,000 new acceptors, and provided approximately 34,500 couple-years of contraceptive protection (CYPs). The median cost per visit was US$4.93 and the median cost per CYP (including tubal ligations) was US$18.66. Multivariate analysis is used to identify significant variables that explain variation in unit output; among these, literacy of the population, number of centers served by a unit, and frequency with which centers were served in a month were positively correlated with unit output. Specific recommendations are made on how to improve cost-effectiveness.
authors.affiliation: Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Coeytaux
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Donaldson
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aloui
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kilani
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fourati
mesh_terms: D003267:Contraception / Q000191:economics*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008952:Mobile Health Units / Q000191:economics*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014416:Tunisia