Validating the implementation of an indicator reporting policies and laws on free public maternal health-related services in the era of universal health coverage: A multi-country cross-sectional study

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  • Odikro M.A
    • Other Affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Disease Control, University of Ghana School of Public Health, Greater Accra, Ghana
  • Kenu E
    • Other Affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Disease Control, University of Ghana School of Public Health, Greater Accra, Ghana
  • Adanu R.M
    • Other Affiliation: Department of Population, Family, and Reproductive Health, University of Ghana School of Public Health, Accra, Ghana
  • Bandoh D.A.B
    • Other Affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Disease Control, University of Ghana School of Public Health, Greater Accra, Ghana
  • Berrueta M
    • Other Affiliation: Institute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy, Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Chakraborty S
    • Other Affiliation: Population Council, New Delhi, India
  • Gausman J
    • Other Affiliation: Women and Health Initiative, Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard University T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
  • Khan N
    • Other Affiliation: Population Council, New Delhi, India
  • Langer A
    • Other Affiliation: Women and Health Initiative, Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard University T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
  • Nigri C
    • Other Affiliation: Institute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy, Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Pingray V
    • Other Affiliation: Institute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy, Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Ramesh S
    • Other Affiliation: Population Council, New Delhi, India
  • Saggurti N
    • Other Affiliation: Population Council, New Delhi, India
  • Vázquez P
    • Other Affiliation: Population Council, New Delhi, India
  • Williams C.R
    • Affiliation: Gillings School of Global Public Health, Department of Maternal and Child Health
  • Jolivet R.R
    • Other Affiliation: Women and Health Initiative, Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard University T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
Abstract
  • Background The concept of universal health coverage (UHC) encompasses both access to essential health services and freedom from financial harm. The World Health Organization’s Maternal Newborn Child and Adolescent Health (MNCAH) Policy Survey collects data on policies that have the potential to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality. The indicator, “Are the following health services provided free of charge at point-of-use in the public sector for women of reproductive age?”, captures the free provision of 13 key categories of maternal health-related services, to measure the success of UHC implementation with respect to maternal health. However, it is unknown whether it provides a valid measure of the provision of free care. Therefore, this study compared free maternal healthcare laws and policies against actual practice in three countries. Methods and findings We conducted a cross-sectional study in four districts/provinces in Argentina, Ghana, and India. We performed desk reviews to identify free care laws and policies at the country level and compared those with reports at the global level. We conducted exit interviews with women aged 15–49 years who used a component service or their accompanying persons, as well as with facility chief financial officers or billing administrators, to determine if women
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  • Article
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  • In Copyright
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  • Attribution 4.0 International
Journal title
  • PLoS ONE
Journal volume
  • 19
Journal issue
  • 3-Mar
Language
  • English
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  • Publisher
ISSN
  • 1932-6203
Publisher
  • Public Library of Science

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