Objective: To estimate the programmatic costs of partner services for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydial infection.
Study setting: New York State and local health departments conducting partner services activities in 2014.
Study design: A cost analysis estimated, from the state perspective, total program costs and cost per case assignment, patient interview, partner notification, and disease-specific key performance indicator.
Data collection: Data came from contracts, a time study of staff effort, and statewide surveillance systems.
Principal findings: Disease-specific costs per case assignment (mean: $580; range: $502-$1,111), patient interview ($703; $608-$1,609), partner notification ($1,169; $950-$1,936), and key performance indicator ($2,697; $1,666-$20,255) varied across diseases. Most costs (79 percent) were devoted to gonorrhea and chlamydial infection investigations.
Conclusions: Cost analysis complements cost-effectiveness analysis in evaluating program performance and guiding improvements.
Keywords: HIV; Partner services; economic evaluation; sexually transmitted diseases.
© Health Research and Educational Trust.