Margaret E Kruk|Marta R. Prescott|Sandro Galea
Equity of Skilled Birth Attendant Utilization in Developing Countries: Financing and Policy Determinants
University of Michigan–Ann Arbor|Columbia University|University of Michigan–Ann Arbor|Columbia University|University of Michigan–Ann Arbor|Columbia University
objectives developing countries higher health care spending greater overall utilization maternal health services countries lower spending however rich tend disproportionately use services assessed whether redistributive government policies context higher levels health spending associated moreequitable use skilled birth attendants doctors nurses midwives rich poor methods used data demographic health surveys 45 developing countries disaggregated wealth quintile multivariable regression analyses used assess joint effect higher health care expenditures wealth distribution womens fifthgrade education proxy redistributive policy environment within central government overall proportion women fifthgrade education proxy female literacy indicator governments commitment girls education results found utilization skilled birth attendants equitable higher health expenditures accompanied redistributive education policies conclusions higher health care expenditures accompanied redistributive policies reduce gap utilization skilled birth attendants poorer richer women developing countries