Cost analysis of supplemental immunization activities to deliver measles immunization to children in Anambra state, south-east Nigeria.

BACKGROUND

Measles immunization is critical for reducing the societal burden of the disease, especially among children. However, the costs of the measles supplemental immunization activities, which are the main vaccine deployment strategy, are usually high and financing such immunization activities is a serious challenge in Nigeria. In Nigeria, little or no information exists on the costs of measles supplemental immunization activity for planning and sustenance of immunization programmes. This study aimed to determine the cost per child immunized and cost structure of a follow-up supplemental immunization activity (SIA) for measles immunization to children.

METHOD

Data on costs and outputs of SIA were collected from six Local Government area (LGAs) immunization offices in Anambra state, southeast Nigeria. The ingredient approach was used for costing, based on the providers' perspective. The sample results were extrapolated to state estimates using volume weighted mean method. The major indicator considered was cost per child immunized. Two-way sensitivity analysis was used to test the robustness of the results.

RESULT

The cost per child immunized through SIA was $1.37 and the cost per child for operational cost only was $0.81. The total cost of the SIA for the sample was $345,069.35 and the operational cost was $204,969.46. The cost of personnel (43.99%) and vaccine (36.22%) contributed the highest percentage to the total cost of SIA. The cost of personnel and transportation took the first (74.6%) and second (7.10%) highest percentages of the operational cost for the sample. The estimated total and operational costs of measles SIA for the state were $1,279,127.84 and $759,795.52 respectively.

CONCLUSION

The cost per child immunized with measles containing vaccine through SIA is relatively high in Nigeria. There is a need to review the activities with SIA, so as to ensure that resources are efficiently allocated and used for different activities of the programme.