Define cost-effectiveness analysis and give an example in evaluating a community health program.

• A. The nutritional value of foods; example: diet plan vs no plan.
• B. Compares budget items; example: staff salaries vs program materials.
• C. Compares costs and health outcomes to determine value; example: HPV vaccination program cost per averted case.
• D. Compares outcomes only; example: mortality rate changes.

Answer: (C)

Cost-effectiveness analysis compares costs and health outcomes to determine value, usually expressing the result as cost per health outcome averted (or cost per QALY/DALY gained). In evaluating a community health program, this method tells you whether the money spent yields meaningful health benefits. For example, assessing an HPV vaccination program by calculating the cost per averted HPV infection demonstrates both the program's expense and its impact on preventing disease, allowing comparisons with other possible uses of funds. The other descriptions either focus only on nutritional value, or compare budgets without linking to health outcomes, or measure outcomes without considering costs, so they miss the value-for-money aspect that defines cost-effectiveness analysis.