Cost-effectiveness of on-site antenatal screening to prevent congenital syphilis in rural eastern Cape Province, Republic of South Africa.
OBJECTIVE
On-site screening and same-day treatment of maternal syphilis in underresourced settings can avert greater numbers of congenital syphilis cases, but health outcomes and associated costs must be evaluated jointly.


METHODS
We used decision analysis to estimate the incremental cost-effectiveness of two on-site antenatal syphilis screening strategies to avert congenital infections-qualitative RPR (on-site RPR) and treponemal immunochromatographic strip assay (on-site ICS)-compared to the current practice (off-site RPR/TPHA).


RESULTS
With antenatal active syphilis prevalence of 6.3%, the incremental cost-effectiveness of on-site ICS in averting congenital infections was estimated to be USD104, averting 82% of cases expected in absence of a program. The incremental cost-effectiveness of off-site RPR/TPHA was USD82 but would avert only 55% of congenital syphilis cases. On-site RPR was dominated by the other screening strategies.


CONCLUSIONS
In settings of high maternal syphilis prevalence, on-site antenatal screening with ICS is a cost-effective approach to reduce the incidence of congenital syphilis.
Blandford
John M
JM
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA. jblandford@cdc.gov
Gift
Thomas L
TL
Vasaikar
Sandeep
S
Mwesigwa-Kayongo
Dan
D
Dlali
Pumla
P
Bronzan
Rachel N
RN
D002845:Chromatography / Q000379:methods; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems / Q000191:economics* / Q000592:standards; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000191:economics* / Q000592:standards; D011935:Reagins / Q000097:blood; D019035:Rural Health Services; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D013587:Syphilis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000635:transmission; D013588:Syphilis Serodiagnosis / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards; D013590:Syphilis, Congenital / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014208:Treponema / Q000276:immunology
D011935:Reagins