Comparing costs and cost-efficiency of platforms for micronutrient powder (MNP) delivery to children in rural Uganda

• Main Authors: Baker, E. (Author), D'Agostino, A. (Author), Namaste, S. (Author), Richardson, B. (Author), Schott, W. (Author), Vosti, S.A (Author)
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: John Wiley and Sons Inc 2021
• Subjects: alpha tocopherol; anemia; Article; ascorbic acid; child; child care; child nutrition; comparative study; controlled study; copper; cost effectiveness analysis; cost-effectiveness; cost-efficiency; costing; cyanocobalamin; delivery platforms; development; dietary supplement; female; folic acid; government; health auxiliary; health care delivery; health care facility; health care survey; human; infant; infant and young child feeding; iodine; iron; major clinical study; male; micronutrient powder; micronutrient powders; nicotinamide; nutrition supplement; nutritional deficiency; nutritional support; opportunity cost; pilot study; protocol compliance; pyridoxine; retinol; riboflavin; rural area; scale up; selenium; thiamine; trace element; Uganda; vitamin B group; vitamin D; zinc
• Online Access: View Fulltext in Publisher
• ISBN: 00778923 (ISSN)
• DOI: 10.1111/nyas.14621

Micronutrient powder (MNP) can reduce iron deficiency in young children, which has been well established in efficacy trials. However, the cost of different delivery platforms has not been determined. We calculated the cost and cost-efficiency of distributed MNP through community-based mechanisms and in health facilities in a primarily rural district in Uganda. An endline survey (n = 1072) identified reach and adherence. During the 9-month pilot, 37,458 (community platform) and 12,390 (facility platform) packets of MNP were distributed. Each packet consisted of 30 MNP sachets. In 2016, total costs were