BACKGROUND: Maternal and congenital syphilis prevalence rates are currently rapidly
increasing in Mongolia. The Ministry of Health has been implementing on-site rapid screening
test (RT) intervention and same day treatment approach for maternal syphilis with the
contribution of the WHO since November 2007.
OBJECTIVES: To understand the cost- effectiveness (CE) of screening antenatal syphilis using
the RT strategy, to compare this intervention with RPR testing strategy. And in order to estimate
CE we found out maternal syphilis prevalence.
METHODS: Ingredients-based cost data and epidemiological data were collected
retrospectively. Descriptive analysis has done for prevalence of syphilis, and economic analysis
has done to calculate costs. Stability of cost-effectiveness ratios were evaluated by the univariate
sensitivity analysis.
RESULTS: With antenatal syphilis prevalence of 3.0% (1.46% in urban and 5.7% in sub-urban
area), the cost effectiveness was US$ 14.60/DALY for RT intervention and US$ 17.88/DALY
for RPR intervention. CERs were more sensitive to the prevalence rate, sensitivity of tests, and
DALY discount rate.
CONCLUSION: Using the on-site antenatal rapid testing, same day treatment for positive
results, and confirmed by RPR testing approach is cost-effective in Mongolia.
