Effects of the free healthcare policy on maternal and child health in Burkina Faso: a nationwide evaluation using interrupted time-series analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Burkina Faso has recently instituted a free healthcare policy for women and children under five. This comprehensive study examined the effects of this policy on the use of services, health outcomes, and removal of costs.

Methods

Interrupted time-series regressions were used to investigate the effects of the policy on the use of health services and health outcomes. In addition, an analysis of household expenditures was conducted to assess the effects of spending on delivery, care for children, and other exempted (antenatal, postnatal, etc.) services on household expenditures.

Results

The findings show that the user fee removal policy significantly increased the use of healthcare facilities for child consultations and reduced mortality from severe malaria in

SUBMITTER: Ilboudo PG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10161454 | biostudies-literature | 2023 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature