Evidence-based behavior change interventions addressing health systems must be identified and disseminated to improve child health outcomes. Studies of the efficacy of such interventions were identified from systematic searches of the published literature. Two hundred twenty-nine of the initially identified references were judged to be relevant and were further reviewed for the quality and strength of the evidence. Studies were eligible if an intervention addressed policy or health systems interventions, measured relevant behavioral or health outcomes (e.g., nutrition, childhood immunization, malaria prevention and treatment), used at least a moderate quality research design, and were implemented in low- or middle-income countries. Policy or systems interventions able to produce behavior change reviewed included media (e.g., mass media, social media), community mobilization, educational programs (for caregivers, communities, or providers), social marketing, opinion leadership, economic incentives (for both caregiver and provider), health systems strengthening/policy/legislation, and others. Recommendations for policy, practice, and research are given based on fairly strong data across the areas of health service delivery, health workforce, health financing, governance and leadership, and research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)
Poor people’s access to good health care is limited because they cannot afford it and often live far from quality services. There is evidence that poor people will pay to use health services if the quality is good. Cash transfers have also been highly successful in encouraging women to use health care. And contracting-out can help to improve coverage.
ORIGINAL TITLE: Evidence from systematic reviews to inform decision making regarding financing mechanisms that improve access to health services for poor people A policy brief prepared for the International Dialogue on Evidence-Informed Action to Achieve Health Goals in Developing Countries (IDEAHealth) BACKGROUND: Increasing evidence indicates that many vulnerable groups are effectively excluded from accessing reasonable quality health care in low and middle income countries. Even services established as highly cost-effective have been seen as failing to reach those in need. Financial barriers have been recognized as primary obstacles for those trying to access health services. In low and middle income countries (LMICs) chronic under-funding of health systems has sometimes led to the adoption of health financing mechanisms whose beneficial effects are disputed. Given this growing concern several innovative financing mechanisms have been developed that aim to encourage greater service provision efficiency and a greater uptake of existing services. This policy brief reports the findings of a series of systematic reviews that assessed the impact of five health financing policy options on access to health services, particular for poor populations.
Evidence-based behavior change interventions addressing health systems must be identified and disseminated to improve child health outcomes. Studies of the efficacy of such interventions were identified from systematic searches of the published literature. Two hundred twenty-nine of the initially identified references were judged to be relevant and were further reviewed for the quality and strength of the evidence. Studies were eligible if an intervention addressed policy or health systems interventions, measured relevant behavioral or health outcomes (e.g., nutrition, childhood immunization, malaria prevention and treatment), used at least a moderate quality research design, and were implemented in low- or middle-income countries. Policy or systems interventions able to produce behavior change reviewed included media (e.g., mass media, social media), community mobilization, educational programs (for caregivers, communities, or providers), social marketing, opinion leadership, economic incentives (for both caregiver and provider), health systems strengthening/policy/legislation, and others. Recommendations for policy, practice, and research are given based on fairly strong data across the areas of health service delivery, health workforce, health financing, governance and leadership, and research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)
