Maternal serum alpha fetoprotein screening test in routine antenatal care : Is it cost effective in Cameroon?

ABSTRACT

Screening test for maternal serum alpha feoto-protein (MS-AFP) in routine antenatal care is compulsory in most developed countries to detect neural tube defect (NTD). With the cost of suck a programme; there was a need to evaluate its need in our environment. A high risk clinic was choosen for the recruitment of the subjects to maximize the risk. Incidence of NTD could be considered to be low in Cameroon compared to countries where screening for MS-AFP is compulsory. Coupled with the low socio-economic status of our population and the lack of infrastructures; we could conclude that this screening test on a routine basis is not cost-effective