Seasonal malaria chemoprevention in northern Mozambique: a cost-effectiveness analysis

Abstract Background Malaria is endemic in Mozambique and one of the leading causes of death in children under 5 years old. In 2020 the country adopted the WHO-recommended seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) strategy and delivered the intervention in all 23 districts of Nampula province between Ja...

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Main Authors: Neide Canana, Ivan Alejandro Pulido Tarquino, Sónia Enosse, Kevin Baker, Maria Rodrigues, Christian Rassi, Akashdeep Singh Chauhan, Chuks Nnaji, Baltazar Candrinho, Elisa M. Maffioli
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-05-01
Series:Malaria Journal
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-025-05401-x
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author Neide Canana
Ivan Alejandro Pulido Tarquino
Sónia Enosse
Kevin Baker
Maria Rodrigues
Christian Rassi
Akashdeep Singh Chauhan
Chuks Nnaji
Baltazar Candrinho
Elisa M. Maffioli
author_facet Neide Canana
Ivan Alejandro Pulido Tarquino
Sónia Enosse
Kevin Baker
Maria Rodrigues
Christian Rassi
Akashdeep Singh Chauhan
Chuks Nnaji
Baltazar Candrinho
Elisa M. Maffioli
author_sort Neide Canana
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Malaria is endemic in Mozambique and one of the leading causes of death in children under 5 years old. In 2020 the country adopted the WHO-recommended seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) strategy and delivered the intervention in all 23 districts of Nampula province between January and April 2023. The aim of this study is to estimate the cost-effectiveness of SMC in Nampula, Mozambique. Methods Financial cost of implementing SMC were estimated from a limited health care provider perspective for the year 2023 in US$. Data on resource use of the SMC implementation was assessed from Malaria Consortium records. The number of eligible and treated children was collected from surveys after cycle 4. The number of malaria cases, deaths and Disability Adjusted Life-Years (DALYs) averted were estimated based on data from Global Burden of Disease 2019, Malaria Indicator Survey 2018, and National Malaria Control Programme. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) were estimated, and sensitivity analyses were used to test the robustness of the ICERs. Results The total financial cost of SMC implementation in Nampula province in 2023 was estimated to be $7,871,361.72. The study estimated a cost per targeted child of $6.05 and a cost per child who received full 3-day course of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine in combination with amodiaquine (SPAQ) of $7.92. Furthermore, the cost per household with eligible children visited by a community distributor was $7.65; the cost per child who received day 1 SPAQ was $7.85 and the cost per child who received day 1 SPAQ by community distributor adhering to directly observed treatment was $8.50. In addition, the estimated cost was $93.50 per malaria case averted, $3286.59 per malaria death averted, and $130.16 per DALY averted. The ICERs were robust to a variety of alternative assumptions on costs and benefit estimates. Finally, $1,726,189.63 could have been saved if no ineligible children (60–119 months old) were treated through the programme. Conclusions In line with existing evidence from other African countries, SMC is found to be cost-effective in Mozambique. SMC is a beneficial prevention strategy to improve under-five health in the country, at a relatively low-cost.
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spelling doaj-art-49adf664bfc4479a9e0d12e34bb8a2342025-08-20T03:08:40ZengBMCMalaria Journal1475-28752025-05-0124111210.1186/s12936-025-05401-xSeasonal malaria chemoprevention in northern Mozambique: a cost-effectiveness analysisNeide Canana0Ivan Alejandro Pulido Tarquino1Sónia Enosse2Kevin Baker3Maria Rodrigues4Christian Rassi5Akashdeep Singh Chauhan6Chuks Nnaji7Baltazar Candrinho8Elisa M. Maffioli9Malaria ConsortiumMalaria ConsortiumMalaria ConsortiumMalaria Consortium, The Green HouseMalaria ConsortiumMalaria Consortium, The Green HouseMalaria Consortium, The Green HouseMalaria Consortium, The Green HouseNational Malaria Control Programme, Ministry of HealthDepartment of Health Management and Policy, School of Public Health, University of MichiganAbstract Background Malaria is endemic in Mozambique and one of the leading causes of death in children under 5 years old. In 2020 the country adopted the WHO-recommended seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) strategy and delivered the intervention in all 23 districts of Nampula province between January and April 2023. The aim of this study is to estimate the cost-effectiveness of SMC in Nampula, Mozambique. Methods Financial cost of implementing SMC were estimated from a limited health care provider perspective for the year 2023 in US$. Data on resource use of the SMC implementation was assessed from Malaria Consortium records. The number of eligible and treated children was collected from surveys after cycle 4. The number of malaria cases, deaths and Disability Adjusted Life-Years (DALYs) averted were estimated based on data from Global Burden of Disease 2019, Malaria Indicator Survey 2018, and National Malaria Control Programme. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) were estimated, and sensitivity analyses were used to test the robustness of the ICERs. Results The total financial cost of SMC implementation in Nampula province in 2023 was estimated to be $7,871,361.72. The study estimated a cost per targeted child of $6.05 and a cost per child who received full 3-day course of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine in combination with amodiaquine (SPAQ) of $7.92. Furthermore, the cost per household with eligible children visited by a community distributor was $7.65; the cost per child who received day 1 SPAQ was $7.85 and the cost per child who received day 1 SPAQ by community distributor adhering to directly observed treatment was $8.50. In addition, the estimated cost was $93.50 per malaria case averted, $3286.59 per malaria death averted, and $130.16 per DALY averted. The ICERs were robust to a variety of alternative assumptions on costs and benefit estimates. Finally, $1,726,189.63 could have been saved if no ineligible children (60–119 months old) were treated through the programme. Conclusions In line with existing evidence from other African countries, SMC is found to be cost-effective in Mozambique. SMC is a beneficial prevention strategy to improve under-five health in the country, at a relatively low-cost.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-025-05401-xCost-effectivenessMalariaSeasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC)Mozambique
spellingShingle Neide Canana
Ivan Alejandro Pulido Tarquino
Sónia Enosse
Kevin Baker
Maria Rodrigues
Christian Rassi
Akashdeep Singh Chauhan
Chuks Nnaji
Baltazar Candrinho
Elisa M. Maffioli
Seasonal malaria chemoprevention in northern Mozambique: a cost-effectiveness analysis
Malaria Journal
Cost-effectiveness
Malaria
Seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC)
Mozambique
title Seasonal malaria chemoprevention in northern Mozambique: a cost-effectiveness analysis
title_full Seasonal malaria chemoprevention in northern Mozambique: a cost-effectiveness analysis
title_fullStr Seasonal malaria chemoprevention in northern Mozambique: a cost-effectiveness analysis
title_full_unstemmed Seasonal malaria chemoprevention in northern Mozambique: a cost-effectiveness analysis
title_short Seasonal malaria chemoprevention in northern Mozambique: a cost-effectiveness analysis
title_sort seasonal malaria chemoprevention in northern mozambique a cost effectiveness analysis
topic Cost-effectiveness
Malaria
Seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC)
Mozambique
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-025-05401-x
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