Effects of Public Financing of Essential Maternal and Child Health Interventions Across Wealth Quintiles in Nigeria: An Extended Cost-Effectiveness Analysis
2023
This study evaluates the potential health and financial risk protection benefits of public financing for maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) interventions in Nigeria, focusing on different wealth quintiles. Employing extended cost-effectiveness analysis, the research assesses the impact of a policy ensuring zero out-of-pocket costs for 18 essential MNCH services. Three scenarios were modeled: status quo, uniform scale-up, and pro-poor scale-up. Findings suggest that a 5% increase in coverage for all quintiles could prevent significant maternal and under-5 deaths, avert private expenditure, and reduce catastrophic health expenditure cases. The policy demonstrates high cost-effectiveness, with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $44 per life-year gained. While the uniform scale-up policy benefits all quintiles, the pro-poor scale-up scenario prioritizes poorer populations, preventing more deaths and reducing private expenditure. Overall, public financing of MNCH interventions in Nigeria is deemed to substantially benefit households, particularly the poorest quintiles, contributing to the reduction of health and socioeconomic disparities in the country. The study emphasizes the potential for targeted interventions to address health inequities and enhance financial risk protection.
Source:
Mao W, Watkins D, Sabin ML, Huang K, Langlois E, Ogundeji Y, Fogstad H, Schäferhoff M, Yamey G, Ogbuoji O. Effects of Public Financing of Essential Maternal and Child Health Interventions Across Wealth Quintiles in Nigeria: An Extended Cost-Effectiveness Analysis. The Lancet Global Health 2023; 11 (4): E597-E605. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(23)00056-6