[Research on cost-benefit analysis of improved nutrition status by infants Ying Yang Bao intervention in poor rural regions].

OBJECTIVE

To study on the cost-benefit from anemia reduction of 6-24 months infants in poor rural regions by Ying Yang Bao( YYB) intervention.

METHODS

YYB was donated and distributed to 6-24 months infants in 8 counties in provinces of Sichuan, Gansu and Shaanxi. Total covered infants were 25 125 within them 1200 were sampled and measured hemoglobin levels and change of anemia prevalence in the baseline and after 1 year intervention. Total recovered infants number from anemia was calculated with decrease of anemia rate. The cost-benefit was analyzed with PROFILING and DALY models.

RESULTS

The total cost estimated was 6 134 871 RMB, average cost per person was 244 RMB among which costs of YYB, administration and manpower were 121 RMB, 104 RMB and 19 RMB respectively. After 1 year intervention, the anemia rate significantly declined from 52. 8 % to 26. 3 %. The recovered DALYs from present anemia and future cognition was 4863. 08 person·year. Benefit from 1 year YYB intervention in the counties was 69. 3065 million RMB from PROFILING model and60. 6874 million RMB from DALY model. The average cost of the intervention was 938. 46 RMB in saving 1 anemic and 1261. 52 RMB in saving 1 DALY loss in YYB intervention project. The cost-benefit ratio was 1 ∶ 10 at least. Sensitivity analysis showed stability of this cost-benefit analysis acceptable.

CONCLUSION

The nutrition intervention using YYB for poor rural region showed high economic benefit.