3195.0: Monday, October 22, 2001 - Board 7

Abstract #26594

Optimal or Sub-Optimal: The Allocation of Resources within International Family Planning Programs

Julia Walsh, MD, DTPH1, Garland L. Brinkley, PhD2, and Brian P. Mitchell, MS2. (1) School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, 306 Earl Warren Hall, UC-Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, (2) Bay Area International Group, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, 1101 Tolman Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720

The purpose of this paper is to test the hypothesis that international family planning programs are allocating resources effectively to maximize the number of modern contraception acceptors in the developing world. We will answer the question: what percentage of the budget should be spent on subsidizing contraceptives, Information, Education, and Communication (IE&C) activities, training, research, etc.? Our paper is divided into four sections: 1) a review of the literature on how to optimally spend money in these family planning programs, 2) a theoretical model showing how a hypothetical program should effectively allocate resources, 3) an empirical model examining current expenditure behavior in family planning programs, and 4) suggestions for possible expenditure changes to allocate resources more effectively. We hypothesize that international family planning programs are not optimally spending their limited resources. Expenditures should be reallocated within the program to maximize the number of modern contraception acceptors. See big.berkeley.edu

Learning Objectives: 1) Recognize and identify factors determining increased contraception use. 2) Articulate the impact of the differences between spending on contraception subsidies and increased consumer awareness. 3) Analyse the cost benefit specific dollar impact on contraceptive prevalence of third party subsidies.

Keywords: International Family Planning, Economic Analysis

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

The 129th Annual Meeting of APHA