This abstract has been accepted at the 2024 DHIS2 Annual Conference
Optimizing Health Systems: Evaluating Maternal and Child Health Efficiency in Rural Senegal
Background: This study assessed the efficiency of central Senegal’s maternal and child health system, focusing on rural regions. Data from District Health Information Software 2 (2018-2020) was analyzed to understand the impact of maternal and child health interventions on the overall efficiency of public health systems in rural areas. Method: Using Data Envelopment Analysis, we collected input/output data from 27 health districts with 38 health centers and 673 health posts, including variables like healthcare personnel, antenatal care, skilled birth attendants, postnatal care, and vaccinations. Environmental considerations encompassed the presence of health facilities, distance from villages to health centers, fertility rates, and the engagement of community health workers. This inclusive approach ensured a nuanced assessment of the efficiency of the maternal and child health system, accounting for diverse factors influencing healthcare delivery in rural settings. Results: In 2020, 11 (40.7%) and 8 (29.6%) of the 27 health districts demonstrated efficiency (efficient score 1.0) in 2019 and 2020, respectively. The average technical efficiency score for health districts remained relatively constant at 0.7978 in 2019 and 0.7909 in 2020. Notably, Tobit analysis revealed significant positive effects of environmental factors on technical efficiency. The number of fertile women per health facility (t = 3.59, p = 0.001) and community workers per fertile woman (t = 2.20, p = 0.038) emerged as influential factors. After controlling these variables, efficient districts maintained their status, underscoring the pivotal role of environmental factors and managerial capacity in sustaining efficiency. These findings offer valuable insights for strategic decision-making in underdeveloped rural health centers, advocating for resource-efficient interventions and robust management practices. Conclusion: Our findings underscore the imperative of prioritizing community health worker engagement and bolstering health center management to strengthen the rural health system effectively. These efficiency indicators are significant in shaping foreign policy, guiding project development, and ensuring enduring performance management. Leveraging DHIS2 data, our study designates the central regions of Senegal for targeted interventions. The nuanced analysis of maternal and child health systems, facilitated by DHIS2, establishes a sturdy foundation for post-project impact assessment. This attests to DHIS2’s value in furnishing objective evidence, facilitating informed decision-making, and fostering sustained advancements in public health systems.
Primary Author: Sunjoo Kang
Keywords:
Technical Efficiency, Maternal and Child Health, Strengthening Health System, DHIS2, Data Envelopment Analysis, Senegal
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