Estimating the effectiveness and efficiency of US HIV prevention efforts using scenario and cost-effectiveness analysis

Scenario and cost-effectiveness analyses were used to estimate the effectiveness and efficiency of HIV prevention activities in the USA (1978-2000). Under four conservative scenarios on the course of the HIV epidemic that might have occurred had there been no prevention efforts, we estimate that prevention activities averted 204 000-1 585 000 infections at a cost of between US$49 700 and US$6400 per infection prevented (less than the medical costs of treating a case of HIV disease).