Korean J Community Nutr.  2018 Oct;23(5):385-396. 10.5720/kjcn.2018.23.5.385.

Cost-benefit Analysis of Nutrition Management Program for Children Aged Under 5 Years in DR Congo

• Lee TH
• Lee CE
• Nam EW

• KMID: 2424738
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5720/kjcn.2018.23.5.385

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
This study aims to evaluate the economic efficiency of a nutrition management program for children under 5 years of age in Kenge, Kwango District, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) from 2014 to 2016.
METHODS
The economic efficiency of a nutrition management program for children under 5 years of age who have recovered from malnutrition status was evaluated using a cost-benefit analysis. The costs were analyzed according to the executed budget incurred during the project period. The benefits were estimated as the monetary value of the saved lives of children under 5 years of age. The economic efficiency of the program was determined by the Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR). The BCR was calculated by dividing the total discounted benefit by the total discounted costs. The project is economically efficient when the BCR is greater than 1.
RESULTS
The costs of the nutrition management program were calculated as 1,677,609,648 Korean Won (KRW). A total of 2,466 children survived with improved malnutrition status through this program. The benefit for the reduction of mortality for children under 5 years of age was estimated to be 6,814,354,467 KRW, the estimated value of life for 2,466 children. The BCR was 4.06.
CONCLUSIONS
The nutrition management program for children under 5 years of age in DR Congo was found to be a cost-effective project. Successful and efficient Official Development Assistance (ODA) for a health project requires integrated and comprehensive strategies and specialized international development consulting to improve efficiency. Future nutrition management programs should take into account the national health program to maintain the sustainability of the project.

Keyword

Democratic Republic of the Congo; Official Development Assistance; nutrition management program; cost-benefit analysis

MeSH Terms

Budgets
Child*
Congo*
Cost-Benefit Analysis*
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Humans
Malnutrition
Mortality
National Health Programs
Value of Life

Figure

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  Photo 1 Map of Kwango district and Kenge

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  Photo 2 Nutritional supplement products

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  Fig. 1 Follow-up consultation form of patient with malnutrition

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  Fig. 2 Steps to perform cost-benefit analysis

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