Paying to waste lives: the affordability of reducing mother-to-child transmission of HIV in South Africa.
It is estimated that each HIV-positive child in South Africa costs the government more in terms of health and welfare expenses than it does to reduce mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV through the use of antiretroviral regimens (where the mother continues to breast-feed). Programmes to reduce MTCT of HIV/AIDS are, thus, clearly affordable. Using Nevirapine (according to the HIVNET 012 Protocol) saves more lives and [corrected] is more cost-effective than using Zidovudine (CDC 2 weeks regime).
Skordis
Jolene
J
School of Economics, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa. jolene@pulsetrack.co.za
Nattrass
Nicoli
N
D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002669:Child Welfare / Q000191:economics*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019829:Nevirapine / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D015215:Zidovudine; D019829:Nevirapine