Cost Effectiveness of Community Based and Residential Based treatment of Alcohol Use Disorders: Findings of a study in Kenya

Alcohol Use disorder (AUD) treatment should be effective, available and affordable. The treatment of AUDs in Kenya, which is traditionally residential, based and community based treatment, has not been documented. Objective: to Determine Cost effectiveness of Community based and residential based treatment for AUD. Design: Clinical trial with pre-/post measurements. Method: The WHOASSIST and the CIDI questionnaires were administered to 188 alcohol-dependent persons at intake and after six months for the community based group. A socio demographic questionnaire was also administered at intake. They were then subjected to outpatient detoxification and follow-up within the community. Similar instruments were administered to 88 persons admitted for AUD treatment to 2 residential treatment centres during the study period. They were treated as per the set standards of the treatment centers and discharged after three months. They were contacted after 6 months and their alcohol use determined. Results: After six months, 56.9 % of the community based treatment group and 44.3% of the residential based treatment group were abstinent for the entire six months. Community based treatment was more cost effective and 1.7 times cheaper than the nonsubsidized residential based treatment. Conclusion: Community based treatment for persons with AUD are more cost effective.