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

than it is to increase from 9% to 10%. Table 10 shows the baseline and outcome rates of the targetedbehaviors, together with the cost per new acceptor.Table 10: Comparison of Baseline and Outcome Behavior Rates and Cost Effectiveness(In US$) North CenterSouthIndicatorIndicatorBaselineRateIndicatorOutcomeRateCost perNewAcceptorIndicatorBaselineRateIndicatorOutcomeRateCost perNewAcceptorIndicatorBaselineRateIndicatorOutcomeRateLAM User Rate 1.53% 8.30% $28 5.52% 9.98% $49 6.67% 9.94% $98Cost perNewAcceptorAcross all three regions, lower baseline rates are associated with a lower cost per new acceptor – forexample the North region has the lowest baseline rate and the lowest cost per new acceptor for LAMUser Rate. The data for LAM User Rate costs and outcome suggests there is a direct relationshipbetween higher baseline rates of LAM User Rate and lower cost effectiveness, which can beexplained by increasing marginal costs for behavior change at higher LAM User Rate levels.One of the interpretations of this analysis is that LINKAGES may be able to improve its costeffectiveness of its LAM interventions by targeting areas with low behavior change rates. It should benoted that these results relate to LAM interventions only and these data alone do not allow us to drawconclusions about the cost effectiveness of other behavior change indicators.6.3. What Would It Cost to Replicate These Activities and Is it CostEffective?Overall Finding: The total cost per beneficiary to replicate this set of activities is$1.56. The total cost per new LAM acceptor is $29.836.3.1. Cost to Replicate Package of LINKAGES and Partner ActivitiesDetermining the replication costs entailed a review of all activities included in this study andclassification of those activities as start-up/development activities, ongoing implementation activities,and monitoring and evaluation activities. Start-up or development activities are one-time activitiesthat would not be replicated, such as the development of IEC materials and mass media messages,initial assessment visits, the one-time lactation management training for project counterparts, etc.Implementation activities are an ongoing part of the program and include training workshops,facilitation of mother-to-mother support groups, advocacy meetings, production of IEC materials, andradio broadcasts. Monitoring and evaluation activities are aimed only at assessing outcomes from theinterventions.Disaggregating costs associated with implementation activities provides the most accurate estimate ofthe costs of replicating activities. To calculate the cost of replication, only the costs of implementationactivities are included, because start-up activities would not be incurred again, and evaluation costsdo not produce behavior change and are therefore not included in LINKAGES’ cost effectivenessstudies.22 6. Findings LINKAGES Project/AED