Cost-effectiveness analysis of partner notification program for human immunodeficiency virus infection in Japan.
Successful implementation of partner notification program (PNP) as a part of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention strategies in some developed countries motivated the execution of cost-effectiveness analysis of this program in Japan. Total number of HIV infected individuals and best estimated number of their partners in 1995 were used to elicit incremental cost-effectiveness ratio over no partner notification program. Index cases and their HIV positive partners world change their sex practice to safer one, thus preventing HIV transmission at a certain rate. This was translated to prevention of certain number of new HIV carriers and finally life years gained were calculated for it. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was US$ 4,930 per life year gained. Sensitivity analysis indicated that partner notification program was cost-effective over a wide range of assumptions. These results compare favorably with other medical interventions in Japan. In conclusion, the results of this analysis strongly support the implementation of partner notification program as a part of HIV prevention strategies in Japan.
Department of General Medicine and Clinical Epidemiology, Kyoto University School of Medicine, Japan.
M
M
Rahman
T
T
Fukui
A
A
Asai
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D016358:Contact Tracing / Q000191:economics*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008017:Life Expectancy; D008297:Male; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D026712:Value of Life