Cost and threshold analysis of an HIV/STI/hepatitis prevention intervention for young men leaving prison: Project START

AIDS Behav. 2013 Oct;17(8):2676-84. doi: 10.1007/s10461-011-0096-7.

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to: (a) estimate the costs of providing a single-session HIV prevention intervention and a multi-session intervention, and (b) estimate the number of HIV transmissions that would need to be prevented for the intervention to be cost-saving or cost-effective (threshold analysis). Project START was evaluated with 522 young men aged 18-29 years released from eight prisons located in California, Mississippi, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin. Cost data were collected prospectively. Costs per participant were $689 for the single-session comparison intervention, and ranged from $1,823 to 1,836 for the Project START multi-session intervention. From the incremental threshold analysis, the multi-session intervention would be cost-effective if it prevented one HIV transmission for every 753 participants compared to the single-session intervention. Costs are comparable with other HIV prevention programs. Program managers can use these data to gauge costs of initiating these HIV prevention programs in correctional facilities.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • California / epidemiology
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis
  • HIV Seropositivity / economics*
  • HIV Seropositivity / epidemiology
  • HIV Seropositivity / transmission
  • Hepatitis / economics*
  • Hepatitis / epidemiology
  • Hepatitis / prevention & control
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mississippi / epidemiology
  • Preventive Health Services / economics*
  • Prisoners / statistics & numerical data*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Rhode Island / epidemiology
  • Sexually Transmitted Diseases / economics*
  • Sexually Transmitted Diseases / epidemiology
  • Sexually Transmitted Diseases / prevention & control*
  • Wisconsin / epidemiology