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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
An Evaluation of the Outcomes of Mutual Health Organizations in Benin
PLoS ONE, Volume 7, No. 10, Article e47136, Year 2012
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Description
Background: Mutual health organizations (MHO) have been seen as a promising alternative to the fee-based funding model but scientific foundations to support their generalization are still limited. Very little is known about the extent of the impact of MHOs on health-seeking behaviours, quality and costs. Methodology/Principal Findings: We present the results of an evaluation of the effects attributable to membership in an MHO in a rural region of Benin. Two prospective studies of users (parturients and hospitalized patients) were conducted on the territory of an inter-mutual consisting of 10 MHOs and as many healthcare centres (one, Ouessé, serving as a referral hospital) and one hospital (Papané). Members and non-members were matched (142 pairs of parturients and 109 triads of hospitalized patients) and multilevel multiple regression was used. Results show that member parturients went to healthcare centres sooner (p = 0.049) and were discharged more quickly after delivery (p = 0.001) than non-members. Length of stay in some cases was longer for hospitalized member parturients (+41%). Being a member did not shorten hospital stay, total length of episode of care, or time between appearance of symptoms and recourse to care. Regarding expenses, member parturients paid one-third less than non-members for a delivery. For hospitalized patients, the average savings for members was around $35 US. Total expenses incurred by patients hospitalized at Papané Hospital were higher than at Ouessé but the two hospitals' relative advantages were comparable at -36% and -39%, respectively. Conclusion/Significance: These results confirm mutual health organizations' capacity to protect households financially, even if benefits for the poor have not been clearly determined. The search for scientific evidence should continue, to understand their impacts with regard to services obtained by their members. © 2012 Haddad et al.
Authors & Co-Authors
Haddad, Slim
Canada, Montreal
Centre Hospitalier de L'universite de Montreal
Ridde, Valéry
Canada, Montreal
Centre Hospitalier de L'universite de Montreal
Yacoubou, Ismaïlou
Benin
Centre D'étude et D'appui Technique Aux Institutions de Micro Assurance Santé
Mák, Geneviève
Canada, Montreal
Centre Hospitalier de L'universite de Montreal
Gbetié, Michel
Benin
Centre National Hospitalier et Universitaire de Cotonou
Statistics
Citations: 14
Authors: 5
Affiliations: 3
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1371/journal.pone.0047136
e-ISSN:
19326203
Research Areas
Health System And Policy
Study Design
Cohort Study
Study Locations
Benin