Economic Analysis of Delivering Postpartum Intrauterine Contraceptive Device Services in India

INTRODUCTION: We estimated the unit costs for implementing postpartum intrauterine contraceptive device (PPIUCD) services from the perspective of both health system and development agencies. METHODOLOGY: Seven districts from two Indian states, i.e., Uttarakhand (UK) and Madhya Pradesh (MP), were selected to study the cost of PPIUCD service. Data on costs incurred both by health system and development agencies for PPIUCD service were collected. Unit costs were estimated for providing PPIUCD and IUCD services by state and district level of care in public health-care system. We also estimated unit cost per couple-year protected (CYP) by the level of the health facility. RESULTS: We found that the unit cost per PPIUCD insertion including all costs, i.e., for service delivery and program support, was INR 522 ($8.7) and INR 502 ($8.4) in MP and UK, respectively. Similarly, the unit costs per interval IUCD insertion were INR 287 ($4.8) in UK and INR 281 ($4.7) in MP. Development partners have a share of >50% in overall costs. From a health system's perspective, PPIUCD and interval IUCD cost per CYP at the level of district hospital were INR 440 ($7.3) and INR 449 ($7.5), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In India, PPIUCD, being a low-cost procedure, should be considered as a primary strategy targeted toward pregnancy spacing over other contraceptory methods.