Cost-effectiveness of decentralising acute malnutrition treatment with a standard or simplified treatment protocol: an economic evaluation in the region of Gao, Mali.

Background: Acute malnutrition treatment coverage remains low worldwide, causing significant morbidity and mortality. Decentralisation of treatment to Community Health Worker (CHW) sites has shown to be an effective strategy to improve access and increase coverage, but evidence on the cost and cost-effectiveness of this approach as well the use of simplified treatment protocols in conflict settings is lacking. The objective of this study was to determine cost per child treated as well as the cost-effectiveness of the hybrid model of treatment delivery (where treatment is provided at both health facilities and CHW sites) using either a standard protocol (Intervention 1) or simplified protocol (Intervention 2) compared to standard treatment at health facilities only (Control) in the conflict affected region of Gao in Northern Mali.

Cost of Acute Malnutrition Treatment Using a Simplified or Standard Protocol in Diffa, Niger.

Evidence on the cost of acute malnutrition treatment, particularly with regards to simplified approaches, is limited. The objective of this study was to determine the cost of acute malnutrition treatment and how it is influenced by treatment protocol and programme size. We conducted a costing study in Kabléwa and N'Guigmi, Diffa region, where children with acute malnutrition aged 6-59 months were treated either with a standard or simplified protocol, respectively.