title: Service volume and other factors affecting the costs of immunizations in the Gambia.
abstract: The total cost of the Expanded Programme on Immunization and of its various components in the Gambia over a period of one year (from July 1980 to June 1981) was investigated, and the costs per immunization dose and per fully immunized child were calculated. The total costs were to a large extent (45%) due to the cost of personnel and fixed costs. Where there was efficient delivery of immunizations, the average cost per dose was about one-fifth of that in the most costly facilities (range: US$2.32 to $0.41). The lower costs were related to more intensive use of the facilities. The national average cost was $1.09. The implications of the results of this study for policies to reduce costs are discussed, and further areas of research are suggested that will provide improved information to guide decision-makers in the use of scarce immunization programme resources for better health in the world.
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D005714:Gambia; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization / Q000191:economics*; D007223:Infant; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data