biostudies-literatureChristian CSMedical Research CouncilForeign, Commonwealth &amp; Development OfficeNational Institute for Health Research (NIHR)Oxford Health Biomedical Research CentreUK Research and InnovationWellcome Truste082977https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11337707biostudies-literatureUnknown14(8)<h4>Introduction</h4>Poverty, HIV and perinatal depression represent a triple threat to public health in sub-Saharan Africa because of their combined negative effects on parenting and child development. In the resource-constrained context of low-income and middle-income countries, a lay-counsellor-delivered intervention that combines a psychological and parenting intervention could offer the potential to mitigate the consequences of perinatal depression while also optimising scarce resources for healthcare.Measuring the cost-effectiveness of such a novel intervention will help decision-makers to better understand the relative costs and effects associated with replicating the intervention, thereby supporting evidence-based decision-making. This protocol sets out the methodological frameworkBMJ openProtocol of a cost-effectiveness analysis of a combined intervention for depression and parenting compared with enhanced standard of care for perinatally depressed, HIV-positive women and their infants in rural South Africa.PMC11337707201433/Z/16/AMR/P006965/1Rochat TStein ANkonki LChristian CSDesmond CHoegfeldt CDube SfalseProtocol of a cost-effectiveness analysis of a combined intervention for depression and parenting compared with enhanced standard of care for perinatally depressed, HIV-positive women and their infants in rural South Africa.<h4>Introduction</h4>Poverty, HIV and perinatal depression represent a triple threat to public health in sub-Saharan Africa because of their combined negative effects on parenting and child development. In the resource-constrained context of low-income and middle-income countries, a lay-counsellor-delivered intervention that combines a psychological and parenting intervention could offer the potential to mitigate the consequences of perinatal depression while also optimising scarce resources for healthcare.Measuring the cost-effectiveness of such a novel intervention will help decision-makers to better understand the relative costs and effects associated with replicating the intervention, thereby supporting evidence-based decision-making. This protocol sets out the methodological framework2024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 Aug2025-04-04T03:10:24.196Z2025-04-04T03:10:24.196ZS-EPMC113377073909731010.1136/bmjopen-2023-082977