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Low-cost health delivery systems: lessons from Nicaragua

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  • Heiby, J.R.

Abstract

In 1976 the Ministry of Health of Nicaragua began a low cost program to deliver simple health services in rural areas through trained traditional birth attendants or 'parteras'. After two years the program had prepared 768 parteras in a five-day training course. Parteras were equipped with a kit that included oral rehydration salts, an antihelminthic, multivitamins with iron, aspirin, contraceptives, and obstetrical equipment. The difficulties encountered in implementing this limited set of simple health services illustrate a number of potential ostacles to the achievement of universal, comprehensive primary health care in less developed countries. The most prominent difficulties involved elements of the health service delivery system itself: supervision, the collection and use of management information, training, partera selection, and logistics. The experience also provided examples of issues in the design of delivery systems that require specific applied research.

Suggested Citation

  • Heiby, J.R., 1981. "Low-cost health delivery systems: lessons from Nicaragua," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 71(5), pages 514-519.
    • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.71.5.514_6
    DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.71.5.514
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