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Assessing Regional Variations in the Effect of the Removal of User Fees on Institutional Deliveries in Rural Zambia

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  • Chitalu M. Chama-Chiliba

    (Department of Economics, University of Pretoria)

  • Steven F. Koch

    (Department of Economics, University of Pretoria)

Abstract

This paper examines regional differences in the effect of user fee removal in rural areas of Zambia on the use of health institutions for delivery. The analysis uses quarterly longitudinal data covering 2003q1-2008q4. When unobserved heterogeneity, spatial dependence and quantitative supply-side factors are incorporated in the Interrupted Time Series (ITS) design, user fee removal is found to immediately increase aggregate institutional deliveries, although the national trend was unaffected. Drug availability and the presence of traditional birth attendants also influence institutional deliveries at the national level, such that, in the short-term, strengthening and improving community-based interventions could increase institutional deliveries. However, there is significant variation and spatial dependence masked in the aggregate analysis. The results highlight the importance of service quality in promoting institutional deliveries, and also suggest that social and cultural factors, especially in rural areas, influence the use of health facilities for delivery. These factors are not easily addressed, through an adjustment to the cost of delivery in health facilities.

Suggested Citation

  • Chitalu M. Chama-Chiliba & Steven F. Koch, 2014. "Assessing Regional Variations in the Effect of the Removal of User Fees on Institutional Deliveries in Rural Zambia," Working Papers 201417, University of Pretoria, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:pre:wpaper:201417
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    Cited by:

    1. Steven F. Koch, 2017. "User Fee Abolition and the Demand for Public Health Care," South African Journal of Economics, Economic Society of South Africa, vol. 85(2), pages 242-258, June.
    2. Patrick Gueswendé Ilboudo & Alain Siri, 2023. "Effects of the free healthcare policy on maternal and child health in Burkina Faso: a nationwide evaluation using interrupted time-series analysis," Health Economics Review, Springer, vol. 13(1), pages 1-13, December.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Maternal care; Institutional deliveries; User fees; Spatial dependence;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • I19 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Other
    • R10 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - General
    • R15 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Econometric and Input-Output Models; Other Methods
    • R58 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Regional Government Analysis - - - Regional Development Planning and Policy

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