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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Asma Balal, MBA, MS, Commercial Market Strategies Project, Abt Associates, 1001 G Street NW, Suite 400W, Washington, DC 20001-4545, 202-220-2160, abalal@cmsproject.com, Francis F. Okello-Ogojo, Research Department, Commercial Market Strategies/Uganda, Plot 46, Windsor Crescent, Kololo, P.O Box 27659, Kampala, Uganda, and Meaghan Smith, Commercial Market Strategies Project, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Emerging Markets, 1001 G Street NW, Suite 400W, Washington, DC 20001-4545.
Uganda loan fund was designed to provide financing and technical assistance to private health providers. It started with midwives and then expanded to nurses and doctors. The objective is to increase the viability of private practices in order to promote positive public health outcomes with an emphasis on reproductive health. Methodology: The study used a quasi-experimental design. Client exit interviews were conducted in 17 clinics that received a loan (Treatment Group) from the Summa Foundation and 5 clinics that did not receive a loan (Control Group) but were similar to loan borrowers on key characteristics. Data on clinic revenues and savings were also collected to assess changes in financial sustainability. Results: A considerable portion of clients seek reproductive and child health services at the clinics of treatment and control group members. Most clients fall into lower income groups. Potential areas of improvement most treatment group clients suggested included availability of equipment and essential drugs, clinic’s physical outlook, and service charges. Control group clients raised the same concerns but also mentioned cleanliness, range of services, and privacy as potential areas of improvement. Programmatic Implications: Private sector midwives seem an appropriate channel for promoting reproductive and child health services for low-income groups. The micro-credit scheme enhanced the overall sustainability of private midwives’ clinics, enabling them to improve their practices by offering a broader range of services, procuring essential equipment and drugs, and increasing client satisfaction.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: International Reproductive Health, Sustainability
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Commercial Market Strategies
Summa Foundation
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: employement