Cost-Effectiveness of HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Among Heterosexual Men in South Africa: A Cost-Utility Modeling Analysis

Introduction: 

Heterosexual men are not considered a key population in the HIV response and are mostly absent from pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) studies to date. Yet, South African men face considerable HIV risk. We estimate the incremental cost-effectiveness of providing oral PrEP, injectable PrEP, or a combination of both to heterosexual South African men to assess whether providing PrEP would efficiently use resources.

Methods: 

Epidemiological and costing models estimated the one-year costs and outcomes associated with PrEP use in 3 scenarios. PrEP uptake was estimated for younger (aged 18–24) and older (aged 25–49) men using a discrete choice experiment. Scenarios were compared with a baseline scenario of male condom use, while a health system perspective was used to estimate discounted lifetime costs averted per HIV infection. PrEP benefit was estimated in disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) averted. Uncertainty around the estimated incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) was assessed using deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses.

Results: 

No PrEP intervention scenarios were cost-effective for both age groups at a willingness-to-pay threshold of $1175/DALY averted. The lowest ICER ($2873/DALY averted) was for the provision of oral PrEP to older men, although probability of cost-effectiveness was just 0.26%. Results found that ICERs were sensitive to HIV incidence and antiretroviral coverage.

Conclusions: 

This study estimates that providing PrEP to heterosexual South African men is not cost-effective at current cost-effectiveness thresholds. Given the ICERs’ sensitivity to several variables, alongside the heterogeneity of HIV infection among South African men, PrEP may be cost-effective for older men with high incidence and other subgroups based on locality and race. We recommend further investigation to better identify and target these groups.