Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #111890

Caroline Quijada, MHS¹, Owen Smith, MPA², Sara L. Sulzbach, MPH³, Tania Dmytraczenko, PhD², and Francois Diop, PhD². (1) c/o PHRplus, Abt Associates Inc., 4800 Montgomery Lane, Suite 600, Bethesda, MD 20814, 301-718-3106, caroline_quijada@abtassoc.com, (2) Abt Associates Inc., 4800 Montgomery Lane, Suite 600, Bethesda, MD 20814, (3) International Health, Abt Associates Inc., 4800 Montgomery Lane, Suite 600, Bethesda, MD 20814

Since the introduction of user fees in many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, ensuring access to acceptable quality health care, particularly among poor communities, has been a key issue for policy-makers and communities. There is widespread belief that user fees are economic barriers to seeking care. Community-based health financing (CBHF) schemes, which involve risk pooling and allow members to prepay for services, have been proposed as one way of reducing economic barriers to care, and, therefore, increase utilization of health care services. This presentation summarizes the results of studies carried out in three countries- Ghana, Senegal and Mali. These studies, carried out by PHRplus during the last year, measured the impact of CBHF schemes, known as mutual health organizations (MHOs), in increasing utilization of reproductive health services and commodities. Household surveys carried out in the three countries examined: 1) the impact of MHOs on utilization of RH services 2) differences in RH service utilization patterns by the type of MHO 3) utilization patterns of MHO members and non-members by geographic locations. Findings from the surveys show that utilization of certain RH services (deliveries and pre-post natal care) are more likely to be affected by membership levels but not all (e.g. family planning counseling). However, the findings do shed light on reasons for differences (MHOs initiated by women). The presentation will share the recommendations that were provided to policy makers, donors and institutions providing technical assistance to MHOs based on this work.

Learning Objectives: By the end of this session, participants will be able to

• describe CBHF schemes and how they function
• understand how CBHF schemes increase access to reproductive health services
• list recommendations for policy makers on maximizing the role of CBHF schemes in increasing utilization of RH services

Keywords: Community-Based Health Care, Financing

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.