The ongoing WHO CHOICE (CHOosing Interventions that are Cost-Effective) project aims to provide policy makers with evidence to guide selection of the interventions and programmes which maximize health for the available resources.44 WHO-CHOICE reports the costs and effects of a wide range of health interventions by WHO sub-region, which can then be adapted to the demographic, epidemiological and economic situation in a country. In such an adaptation, all parameters of the model should be scrutinised and revised based on disease incidence and prevalence, intervention coverage and and rates of service utilization. Tables 3 and 4 give the leading ten selected risk factors as percentage causes of disease burden measured in DALYs and a summary of conclusions on the effectiveness of interventions against these risks. Table 3: Leading 10 risk factors in developing countries Risk factor of disease Risk factor Cause of burden (%) disease burden measured in (%) measured DALYs in DALYs High Mortality countries Low Mortality countries Underweight 14.9 Alcohol 6.2 Unsafe sex 10.2 pressure 5.0 Unsafe water, hygiene and 5.5 Tobacco 4.0 sanitation Indoor smoke from solid fuels 3.7 Underweight 3.1 Zinc deficiency 3.2 Overweight 2.7 Iron deficiency 3.1 Cholesterol 2.1 Vitamin A deficiency 3.0 Indoor smoke from solid fuels 1.9 Blood pressure 2.5 Low fruit and vegetable intake 1.9 Tobacco 2.0 Iron deficiency 1.8 Cholesterol 1.9 Unsafe water, sanitation and 1.7 hygiene Source: World Health Organization, 2002:10245 Table 4: Conclusions on cost effective interventions against risks Strategy Assessment of cost effectiveness
The ongoing WHO CHOICE (CHOosing Interventions that are Cost-Effective) project aims to provide policy makers with evidence to guide selection of the interventions and programmes which maximize health for the available resources.44 WHO-CHOICE reports the costs and effects of a wide range of health interventions by WHO sub-region, which can then be adapted to the demographic, epidemiological and economic situation in a country. In such an adaptation, all parameters of the model should be scrutinised and revised based on disease incidence and prevalence, intervention coverage and and rates of service utilization. Tables 3 and 4 give the leading ten selected risk factors as percentage causes of disease burden measured in DALYs and a summary of conclusions on the of interventions against these risks. Table 3: Leading 10 risk factors in developing countries Risk factor of disease burden (%) measured in DALYs Risk factor Cause of disease burden (%) measured in DALYs High Mortality countries Low Mortality countries Underweight 14.9 Alcohol 6.2 Unsafe sex 10.2 pressure 5.0 Unsafe water, hygiene and sanitation 5.5 Tobacco 4.0 Indoor smoke from solid fuels 3.7 Underweight 3.1 Zinc deficiency 3.2 Overweight 2.7 Iron deficiency 3.1 Cholesterol 2.1 Vitamin A deficiency 3.0 Indoor smoke from solid fuels 1.9 Blood pressure 2.5 Low fruit and vegetable intake 1.9 Tobacco 2.0 Iron deficiency 1.8 Cholesterol 1.9 Unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene 1.7 Source: World Health Organization, 2002:10245 Table 4: Conclusions on cost effective interventions against risks Strategy Assessment of cost effectiveness effectiveness