Equity in Health Care in Namibia
Author Information
Author(s): Zere Eyob, Mandlhate Custodia, Mbeeli Thomas, Shangula Kalumbi, Mutirua Kauto, Kapenambili William
Primary Institution: World Health Organization
Hypothesis
Can a needs-based resource allocation formula improve health care equity in Namibia?
Conclusion
The Ministry of Health and Social Services should adopt a needs-based resource allocation mechanism to rectify inequities in health care resource distribution.
Supporting Evidence
- Regions with higher levels of need currently receive fewer resources than regions with lower need.
- The study identified Caprivi, Ohangwena, and Omusati as the most deprived regions.
- The asset indices developed reflect levels of material deprivation and correlate with health care needs.
Takeaway
This study shows that some regions in Namibia need more health care resources than they currently get, and a new way to share resources could help fix this.
Methodology
Principal components analysis was used to compute asset indices from health-related variables based on data from the Namibia demographic and health survey of 2000.
Potential Biases
Potential biases may arise from the historical context of resource allocation and the reliance on asset indices as proxies for health care needs.
Limitations
The study focused on regional data, which may mask inequalities within regions, and lacked micro-geographic data.
Participant Demographics
The study utilized data from the Namibia Demographic and Health Survey 2000, which included various demographic indicators.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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