Cost and Effective Analysis of the LINKAGES ... - Linkages Project

6. FindingsThe findings presented are organized to reflect each of the study questions:• How do costs and outcomes compare across the three regions?• What are the determinants of costs and cost effectiveness?• How can LINKAGES improve its cost effectiveness?• What would it cost to replicate these activities and is it cost effective?Selected information is shown in the sections below to address the questions of interest. Annex Bincludes detailed cost data for LINKAGES and its partners.6.1. How Do Costs and Outcomes Compare Across the ThreeStudy Regions?Overall Finding: There appears to be no relationship between costs and LAMbehavior change outcomes. Cost per beneficiary was the lowest and LAM behaviorchange outcome the highest in the North region. The reverse pattern exists in theSouth with the highest cost per beneficiary and the lowest LAM behavior changeoutcome.To answer the question of how costs and outcomes compare across regions, all costs for LINKAGESJordan and DC-based activities and partner activities to promote LAM are included.6.1.1. LINKAGES and Partner CostsTable 3 shows the LINKAGES incurred costs for the three regions allocated by LAM User Rate.Total LINKAGES’ costs to promote the LAM behavior change indicator were $37,078 in the Center,$28,247 in the North, and $17,302 in the South. On a per beneficiary basis (defined as the number ofantenatal and postpartum women served by MCH clinics during the study period), the cost was $1.85in the Center, $1.60 in the North, and $2.86 in the South.Table 3: LINKAGES’ Costs Allocated by IndicatorNorth Center SouthNumber of 17,693 20,065 6,042BeneficiariesIndicator Total Cost Cost perBeneficiaryTotal Cost Cost perBeneficiaryTotal Cost Cost perBeneficiaryLAM UserRate$28,247 $1.60 $37,078 $1.85 $17,302 $2.86Table 4 shows that the total cost of LINKAGES’ infant feeding and LAM activities across the threestudy regions was $247,284. Of all activities, it is estimated that 67% of the total cost was spent onimproving breastfeeding behavior, and 33% was spent on LAM. Based on these percentages, thetotal cost of activities is $82,627 to support LAM and $164,657 to support EBF.Linkages Project/AED 6. Findings 17