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Health workers, quality of care, and child health: Simulating the relationships between increases in health staffing and child length

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  • Barber, Sarah L.
  • Gertler, Paul J.

Abstract

Objective One in three children globally is stunted in growth. Many of the conditions that promote child stunting are amenable to quality care provided by skilled health workers.Methods The study uses household and facility data from the Indonesian Family Life Surveys in 1993 and 1997. The first set of multivariate regression models evaluate whether the number of medical doctors (MDs), nurses, and midwives predict quality of care as measured by adherence to clinical guidelines. The second set explains the relationships between quality and length among children less than 36 months. Using the information generated from these two sets of regressions, we simulate the effect of increasing the number of MDs, nurses, and midwives on child length and stunting.Results Increases in the number of MDs and nurses predict increases in the quality of care. Higher quality care is associated with child length in centimeters and stunting. Simulations suggest that large health gains among children under 24 months of age result by placing MDs where none are available.Conclusions Improvements in child health could be made by increasing the number of qualified health staff. The returns to investing in improvements in human resources for health are high.

Suggested Citation

  • Barber, Sarah L. & Gertler, Paul J., 2009. "Health workers, quality of care, and child health: Simulating the relationships between increases in health staffing and child length," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 91(2), pages 148-155, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:hepoli:v:91:y:2009:i:2:p:148-155
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Pitt, Mark M & Rosenzweig, Mark R & Gibbons, Donna M, 1993. "The Determinants and Consequences of the Placement of Government Programs in Indonesia," The World Bank Economic Review, World Bank, vol. 7(3), pages 319-348, September.
    2. Grossman, Michael, 1972. "On the Concept of Health Capital and the Demand for Health," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 80(2), pages 223-255, March-Apr.
    3. Rosenzweig, Mark R & Wolpin, Kenneth I, 1986. "Evaluating the Effects of Optimally Distributed Public Programs: ChildHealth and Family Planning Interventions," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 76(3), pages 470-482, June.
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