Improving early infant diagnosis for HIV-exposed infants using unmanned aerial vehicles for blood sample transportation in Conakry, Guinea

A comparative cost-effectiveness analysis

Datos Bibliográficos

ID21879751
AutoresMaxime Inghels (0000-0002-9340-2054, Inserm, autor de correspondencia), Paul Mee (0000-0003-0912-0984, University of Lincoln), Oumou Hawa Diallo (0009-0005-5004-3652, Solthis, Conakry, Guinea), Mohamed Cissé (0000-0002-6859-8745, Donka Hospital), David Nelson (0000-0003-1163-1222, University of Lincoln), Frank Tanser (0000-0001-9797-0000, Stellenbosch University), Zahid Asghar (0000-0003-2564-2096, University of Lincoln), Youssouf Koïta (Programme National de Lutte contre le VIH SIDA et les Hépatites (PNLSH), Conakry, Guinea), Gabrièle Laborde-Balen (0000-0002-5415-3868, Inserm), Guillaume Breton (0000-0002-7980-3919, Solthis, Paris, France)
Año2023
Volumen8
Número11
Páginase012522
Fecha de publicación2023-11-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaBMJ Global Health (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 2059-7908 • E-ISSN: 2059-7908
EditorialBMJ (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1136/bmjgh-2023-012522
PMID37984898
OpenAlexW4388835432
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas2
Referencias citadas33

BACKGROUND: Early infant diagnosis (EID) for HIV-exposed infants is essential due to high mortality during the first months of their lives. In Conakry (Guinea), timely EID is difficult as traffic congestion prevents the rapid transport of blood samples to the central laboratory. We investigated the cost-effectiveness of transporting EID blood samples by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), also known as drones. METHODS AND FINDINGS: Using Monte Carlo simulations, we conducted a cost-effectiveness comparative analysis between EID blood samples transportation by on-demand UAV transportation versus the baseline scenario (ie, van with irregular collection schedules) and compared with a hypothetic on-demand motorcycle transportation system. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) per life-year gained was computed. Simulation models included parameters such as consultation timing (eg, time of arrival), motorcycle and UAV characteristics, weather and traffic conditions. Over the 5-year period programme, the UAV and motorcycle strategies were able to save a cumulative additional 834.8 life-years (585.1-1084.5) and 794.7 life-years (550.3-1039.0), respectively, compared with the baseline scenario. The ICER per life-year gained found were US$535 for the UAV strategy versus baseline scenario, US$504 for the motorcycle strategy versus baseline scenario and US$1137 per additional life-year gained for the UAV versus motorcycle strategy. Respectively, those ICERs represented 44.8%, 42.2% and 95.2% of the national gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in Guinea-that is, US$1194. CONCLUSION: Compared with the baseline strategy, both transportation of EID blood samples by UAVs or motorcycles had a cost per additional life-year gained below half of the national GDP per capita and could be seen as cost-effective in Conakry. A UAV strategy can save more lives than a motorcycle one although the cost needed per additional life-year gained might need to consider alongside budget impact and feasibility considerations

Aeronautics · Biology · Economic growth · Environmental health · Gross domestic product · Per capita · Population · Engineering · Global Maternal and Child Health · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions · Medicine · Neonatal Respiratory Health Research · Immunology