| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2021 | Volume
: 12
| Issue : 1 | Page : 155 |
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Is newborn hearing screening cost effective? Economic consideration for policy makers
Fatemeh Jafarlou1, Behzad Najafi2, Seyed Jalal Sameni3
1 Departments of Audiology, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz; Department of Audiology, Faulty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
2 Health Economics, Faculty of Management and Medical Informatics, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
3 Department of Audiology, Faulty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Correspondence Address:
Behzad Najafi
Department of Health Economics, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Daneshgah St, Tabriz
Iran
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/ijpvm.IJPVM_270_20
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Backgroud: Hearing loss is the most common congenital disorder that appears as a unilateral or bilateral deafness. Early detection by screening and appropriate intervention lead to better oral communication and language development. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cost per new case identification of neonate hearing screening. Methods: The cost effectiveness of two stage hospital based newborn hearing loss screening was evaluated in this study. We gathered data for 11168 newborns born in 10 hospitals. We included a direct cost and new case identification as cost and outcome measures from health system prospective in our model. Results: We found 19 new cases with hearing loss from 11168 screened neonates (1.7 per 1000). The referral rates in the first and second stages were respectively 28% and 7%. The total cost of screening program was 132167 US$. The main cost item is screening test (OAE). Conclusions: We concluded cost per new case detection is 6956 US$ in Iranian neonate hearing screening program. Almost, it is equal to GDP per capita and it may be cost effective. Since there are many strategies to screening of newborn, it is suggested that all alternative screening strategies be analyzed by a cost effectiveness method to find the best strategy for hearing loss screening.
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