A Performance Analysis of Public Expenditure on Maternal Health in Mexico

A realist synthesis to develop an explanatory model of how policy instruments impact child and maternal health outcomes

BACKGROUND

Child and maternal health, a key marker of overall health system performance, is a policy priority area by the World Health Organization and the United Nations, including the Sustainable Development Goals. Previous realist work has linked child and maternal health outcomes to globalization, political tradition, and the welfare state. It is important to explore the role of other key policy-related factors. This paper presents a realist synthesis, categorising policy instruments according to the established NATO model, to develop an explanatory model of how policy instruments impact child and maternal health outcomes.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was conducted to identify studies assessing the relationships between policy instruments and child and maternal health outcomes. Data were analysed using a realist framework. The first stage of the realist analysis process was to generate micro-theoretical initial programme theories for use in the theory adjudication process. Proposed theories were then adjudicated iteratively to produce a set of final programme theories.

FINDINGS

From a total of 43,415 unique records, 632 records proceeded to full-text screening and 138 papers were included in the review. Evidence from 132 studies was available to address this research question. Studies were published from 1995 to 2021; 76% assessed a single country, and 81% analysed data at the ecological level. Eighty-eight initial candidate programme theories were generated. Following theory adjudication, five final programme theories were supported. According to the NATO model, these were related to treasure, organisation, authority-treasure, and treasure-organisation instrument types.

CONCLUSIONS

This paper presents a realist synthesis to develop an explanatory model of how policy instruments impact child and maternal health outcomes from a large, systematically identified international body of evidence. Five final programme theories were supported, showing how policy instruments play an important yet context-dependent role in influencing child and maternal health outcomes.

Association between the changes in socialsecurity continuity condition and mortality: MHAS 2001-2018 analysis

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the association of changes in social security (SS) continuity and mortality, using the Mexican Health and Aging Study (MHAS) in people aged 60 years and more.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Retrospective cohort. We analyzed the SS continuity condition -classified as stable, unstable with SS, unstable without SS, and without SS- and its relation with mortality; a probit regression model was utilized to obtain marginal effects, taking into consideration covariates related to mortality.

RESULTS

Unstable continuity with and without SS and multimorbidity (two or more diseases) increased the probability of dying by 52.9% (p = 0.000, 95%CI: 0.508,0.551), 50.3% (p = 0.000, 95%CI: 0.474,0.531) and 13.3% (p = 0.000, 95%CI: 0.108,0.159), respectively. Meanwhile, being woman, at least one year of formal education, and marriage reduced it in 8.8% (p = 0.000, 95%CI: -0.106,-0.071), 7% (p = 0.000, 95%CI: -0.091,-0.050) and 7.8% (p = 0.000, 95%CI: -0.096,-0.061), respectively.

CONCLUSION

Belonging to SS was associated with higher mortality, compared to other social health determinants, like education.

Does the Type of Healthcare Financing Systems Matter for Efficiency?

This article aims to identify whether the type of healthcare system financing matters in terms of efficiency. The study covered 35 OECD countries, which follow either the Bismarck system or the Beveridge system. The span of analysis covers the year 2015. Data were derived from OECD statistics and Eurostat databases. In purpose to analyse the impact of the financing method on the overall efficiency of the healthcare system, the developed model of Anderson was employed. Thus, the model allowed us to examine both—the components of the healthcare system, resources, population characteristics, benefits and outcomes, and the relationship of individual components to each other, expressed through efficiency, effectiveness and equality. In addition, statistical methods were used such as descriptive analysis, the independent sample t-test and the Pearson correlation coefficient. It was found that countries of the Bismarck system possess more hospital beds and simultaneously more curative care bed days are provided. It could imply the existence of a supply-induced demand problem. In the case of efficiency, the Bismarck states were found to have a more efficient medical doctor as they provide more consultation per inhabitant than their Beveridge counterparts. However, the Beveridge states were found to have more efficient usage of curative care beds as their bed occupancy rate is higher than Bismarck counterparts.

Continuum of care for maternal, newborn and child health: Evidence from a national survey in Mexico

OBJECTIVE

To compare coverage of maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) continuum of care between women who had experienced adolescent maternity (AM) and those who had not.

METHODS

Using a Mexican probabilistic survey representative at the national level (ENSANUT 2018-19), we developed a cross-sectional analysis of 1,768 women aged 12 to 49 years who had a child within five years before the interview. We used modified Poisson models to estimate prevalence ratios (PRs) and independent and conditional coverage levels based on the probability estimates yielded by these models at different stages of maternal-newborn care process.

RESULTS

PRs for the MNCH continuum of care were approximately 40% lower for women who had experienced AM compared to those who had not (95%CI:0.35, 1.14). The coverage for the MNCH continuum of care was only 7.4% [95%CI: 3.5, 11.2] and 11.7% [95%CI: 9.3, 14.1] in women who had/not experienced AM, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The provision of a continuum of care for mothers and their children can be achieved through a combination of well-defined policies and strategies that improve health care practices and services throughout the life cycle. It is necessary to expand the coverage and quality of care, which will provide the opportunity to shift the focus from vertical programs to integrated continuous care. Policy makers must implement interventions that are consistent with specific problems of population and health-care providers. Our analysis highlights the deficiencies in the care process, making this study a useful reference for countries with similar characteristics.

Methodological considerations for linking household and healthcare provider data for estimating effective coverage: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE

To assess existing knowledge related to methodological considerations for linking population-based surveys and health facility data to generate effective coverage estimates. Effective coverage estimates the proportion of individuals in need of an intervention who receive it with sufficient quality to achieve health benefit.

DESIGN

Systematic review of available literature.

DATA SOURCES

Medline, Carolina Population Health Center and Demographic and Health Survey publications and handsearch of related or referenced works of all articles included in full text review. The search included publications from 1 January 2000 to 29 March 2021.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Publications explicitly evaluating (1) the suitability of data, (2) the implications of the design of existing data sources and (3) the impact of choice of method for combining datasets to obtain linked coverage estimates.

RESULTS

Of 3805 papers reviewed, 70 publications addressed relevant issues. Limited data suggest household surveys can be used to identify sources of care, but their validity in estimating intervention need was variable. Methods for collecting provider data and constructing quality indices were diverse and presented limitations. There was little empirical data supporting an association between structural, process and outcome quality. Few studies addressed the influence of the design of common data sources on linking analyses, including imprecise household geographical information system data, provider sampling design and estimate stability. The most consistent evidence suggested under certain conditions, combining data based on geographical proximity or administrative catchment (ecological linking) produced similar estimates to linking based on the specific provider utilised (exact match linking).

CONCLUSIONS

Linking household and healthcare provider data can leverage existing data sources to generate more informative estimates of intervention coverage and care. However, existing evidence on methods for linking data for effective coverage estimation are variable and numerous methodological questions remain. There is need for additional research to develop evidence-based, standardised best practices for these analyses.

Advances and challenges on the path toward the SDGs: subnational inequalities in Mexico, 1990-2017

BACKGROUND

The sustainable development goals (SDGs) have generated momentum for global health, aligning efforts from governments and international organisations toward a set of goals that are expected to reflect improvements in life conditions across the globe. Mexico has huge social inequalities that can affect access to quality care and health outcomes. The objective of this study is to analyse inequalities among Mexico's 32 states on the health-related SDG indicators (HRSDGIs) from 1990 to 2017.

METHODS

These analyses rely on the estimation of HRSDGIs as part of the Global Burden of Disease study 2017. We estimated the concentration index for 40+3 HRSDGI stratified by Socio-demographic Index and marginalisation index, and then for indicators where inequalities were identified, we ran decomposition analyses using structural variables such as gross domestic product per capita, poverty and health expenditure.

FINDINGS

Mexico has made progress on most HRSDGIs, but current trends in improvement do not appear to fast enough to meet 2030 targets. Out of 43 HRSDGIs, we identified evidence of inequality between Mexico's states for 30 indicators; of those, 23 HRSDGIs were unequal distributed affecting states with lower development and seven affecting states with higher development. The decomposition analysis indicates that social determinants of health are major drivers of HRSDGI inequalities in Mexico.

INTERPRETATION

Modifying current trends for HRSDGIs will require subnational-level and national-level policy action, of which should be informed by the latest available data and monitoring on the health-related SDGs. The SDGs' overarching objective of leaving no-one behind should be prioritised not only for individuals but also for communities and other subnational levels.

Measuring socioeconomic and health financing inequality in maternal mortality in Colombia: a mixed methods approach

Background

Understanding health financing reforms and means is key to evaluate how maternal health has improved. Problems related to health financing policies are contributing to inadequate quality of care and inequitable use of healthcare by pregnant women, resulting in poor maternal health outcomes. The purpose of the study was to measure socioeconomic and health financing related inequality in maternal mortality in Colombia as well as identifying potential epicenters of this inequality.

Methods

The data used was obtained from National Information of Social Protection (Sispro), the Department of Planning and National Statistics Department. Maternal mortality ratios were calculated by health insurance scheme and disaggregated by health spending per capita quintiles to allow for closer examination of inequality. The Slope Index of Inequality and Concentration Index were estimated to express absolute and relative inequality. We conducted interviews with key informants involved in the implementation of health financing and maternal health policies.

Results

The main finding shows inequality in maternal mortality across regions and in particular in the subsidized health insurance. The contributory health insurance scheme is closing gaps over time, but inequality in the subsidized scheme is significantly widening, which impacts the severity of overall measurements of inequality. 20% of territories with the lowest health spending per capita have reached 35% of maternal mortality, and it such rates are worsening. This means that there is a marginal exclusion in which most of maternal deaths still occur in the regions with lowest resources.

Conclusions

Beyond the key issues in health financing, issues of quality of care must be addressed. The country must define its own approach to financing for maternal health coverage given its unique situation and starting point. Potential policy implications that emerged are: i) afro-Colombian, indigenous, poorer and migrant women must be put at the center of the maternal health care services; ii) better skills, Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health RMNCH training and health worker retention strategies and training in rural, insular and remote geographical areas; ii) a better understanding of provider payment mechanisms and the incentives that influence provider behaviors; and iv) inequality prompt calls for a targeted approach, whereby care is directed toward the most disadvantaged regions.

Tackling maternal mortality by improving technical efficiency in the production of primary health services: longitudinal evidence from the Mexican case

Ensuring regular and timely access to efficient and quality health services reduces the risk of maternal mortality. Specifically, improving technical efficiency (TE) can result in improved health outcomes. To date, no studies in Mexico have explored the connection of TE with either the production of maternal health services at the primary-care level or the maternal-mortality ratio (MMR) in populations without social security coverage. The present study combined data envelopment analysis (DEA), longitudinal data and selection bias correction methods with the purpose of obtaining original evidence on the impact of TE on the MMR during the period 2008-2015. The results revealed that MMR fell 0.36% (P < 0.01) for every percentage point increase in TE at the jurisdictional level or elasticity TE-MMR. This effect proved lower in highly marginalized jurisdictions and disappeared entirely in those with low- or medium-marginalization levels. Our findings also highlighted the relevance of certain social and economic aspects in the attainment of TE by jurisdictions. This clearly demonstrates the need for comprehensive, cross-cutting policies capable of modifying the structural conditions that generate vulnerability in specific population groups. In other words, achieving an effective and sustainable reduction in the MMR requires, inter alia, that the Mexican government review and update two essential elements: the criteria behind resource allocation and distribution, and the control mechanisms currently in place for executing and ensuring accountability in these two functions.

Government Expenditure on Maternal Health and Family Planning Services for Adolescents in Mexico, 2003-2015

The purpose of this study was to assess whether government policies to expand the coverage of maternal health and family planning (MHFP) services were benefiting the adolescents in need. To this end, we estimated government MHFP expenditure for 10- to 19-year-old adolescents without social security (SS) coverage between 2003 and 2015. We evaluated its evolution and distribution nationally and sub-nationally by level of marginalization, as well as its relationship with demand indicators. Using Jointpoint regressions, we estimated the average annual percent change (AAPC) nationally and among states. Expenditure for adolescents without SS coverage registered 15% for AAPC for the period 2003–2011 and was stable for the remaining years, with 88% of spending allocated to maternal health. Growth in MHFP expenditure reduced the ratio of spending by 13% among groups of states with greater/lesser marginalization; nonetheless, the poorest states continued to show the lowest levels of expenditure. Although adolescents without SS coverage benefited from greater MHFP expenditure as a consequence of health policies directed at achieving universal health coverage, gaps persisted in its distribution among states, since those with similar demand indicators exhibited different levels of expenditure. Further actions are required to improve resource allocation to disadvantaged states and to reinforce the use of FP services by adolescents.

Improving the effective maternal-child health care coverage through synergies between supply and demand-side interventions: evidence from Mexico

Background

Over the last two decades, the Mexican government has released several efforts to achieve universal health coverage (UHC), based on the principles of fairness and social protection, to reduce the inequities in utilization, access, and quality of care existing in the health system. Two of the most important social public policies that have targeted the population without access to social security include the 1997 conditional cash transfers (CCT) program known as Prospera (formerly Oportunidades or Progresa) and the Seguro Popular de Salud (SPS by its Spanish initials), launched in 2003. These two programs, so far, have survived changes in the federal administrations being the most longstanding social programs targeting poor (or unprotected) populations ever in the history of modern Mexico. We tested the existence of positive synergies between demand-side (or CCT-Prospera) and supply-side (or Seguro Popular de Salud, SPS) social programs in the achievement of effective coverage (EC) of maternal-child health interventions in Mexico.

Methods

We performed a retrospective-cohort analysis to 6413 women aged 12-49 years who participated in a probabilistic survey conducted in 2012. We calculated EC as the product of three indexes: need, utilization and quality of health care. Correlates of EC were identified estimating a logistic regression model. We also presented adjusted EC by specific women groups.

Results

EC among beneficiaries of both programs was similar to estimates in Social Security affiliates (54%). For those not affiliated to any of the programs or those who received benefits for only one of them, the EC was 47.6% and 45.5% respectively. Adjusted estimates of EC suggest that overall, having both programs (Prospera + SPS) has a positive effect on maternal and child care coverage, which makes the observed differences in EC not statistically significant between those affiliated to both programs in comparison with the observed in the population with social security.

Conclusions

Results support positive synergies between Prospera and SPS in the reduction of the gaps in EC. The most vulnerable population groups need to be reached by the combination of these programs so that public health efforts translate into greater EC of maternal health services and better maternal-child outcomes.

Administrative effectiveness in the production of maternal health services in four Mexican states

OBJECTIVE

To generate evidence on the influence of good management of resources in the delivery of maternal health services in Mexico.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We studied the managerial processes involved in the provision of maternal health services in four states of Mexico exhibiting differences in maternal mortality, maternal health service coverage, and maternal health expenditure. Analysis was based on five analytical dimensions of the cyclic process model designed by the National Council for the Evaluation of Social Development Policy in Mexico. We describe the processes, identify areas of opportunity, and discuss opinions concerning the relevance, timeliness, and sufficiency of human and material resources employed in the delivery of maternal health services.

RESULTS

Managerial performance in the four entities was very heterogeneous. In most of the analyzed entities, implementation of the processes was rated from "average" to "very good."

CONCLUSION

In order to contribute to universal coverage of maternal health services, managerial processes at the state level need to ensure an adequate, timely, and sufficient supply of resources.

Going beyond health efficiency: What really matters?

Both citizens and policymakers demand the best possible results from a country's healthcare system. It is of utmost importance to accurately and objectively assess the efficiency of a healthcare system and to note the key indicators, where resources are lost, and possibilities for improvement. This paper evaluates the efficiency of health systems in 38 countries, mainly members of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, using data envelopment analysis (DEA). In the first stage, bootstrapped Ivanovic distance is used to generate weights for the indicators, thus taking into consideration different country's goals, but not to the extent of reducing the possibility of comparison. The analysis shows that human resources are the most important health system resource and countries should pay special attention to developing and employing competent medical workers. The reorganization of human resources and the funds allocated to them could also increase efficiency. The second stage examines environmental indicators to find the causes of inefficiency. No proof is found that any one basic health system funding model produces better health outcomes than the others. Obesity is identified as a major issue.

[Barriers for indigenous women to access obstetric services within the framework of integrated health services networks]

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the barriers that indigenous women face in access to the network of obstetric services in the context of the implementation of integrated healthcare networks (IHN).

METHOD

We designed a cross-sectional descriptive study including quantitative and qualitative methods. Sampling was intentional, no probabilistic. Data collection was carried out in Oaxaca, Mexico, during 2017-2018. A total of 149 indigenous women who used obstetrical services were surveyed and sociodemographic characteristics were obtained. Later were selected 30 cases that had complications during pregnancy and childbirth for a semi-structured interview. Non-participant observation was conducted.

RESULTS

The network of obstetric services comprises four institutions with different models of care and therefore different types of facilities and human resources to assist indigenous women. Nearly 20% of women did not start prenatal care in the first trimester of pregnancy and 27.2% had complications during the gestational period. The main barriers were availability (hours of operation, geographical aspects), accessibility (lack of financial resources), acceptability (ancestral practices vs. medical recommendations), and continuity of service (difficulties for admit patients in hospitals referred from first line of care).

CONCLUSIONS

The networks model allows access to obstetric services but does not guarantee care. For this it is necessary to improve both: the infrastructure of the obstetric service providers, and the care processes. It is necessary to broaden the vision of the IHN management model considering the perspective of human rights and equity in health.

Government expenditure on health and maternal mortality in México: A spatial-econometric analysis

OBJECTIVE

To assess the relationship between government expenditure on maternal health (GE) and maternal mortality (MM) in Mexican poor population between 2000 and 2015 in the 2457 Mexican municipalities.

METHODS

Using administrative data, we performed the analysis in three stages: First, we tested the presence of selection bias in MM. Next, we assessed the presence of spatial dependence in the incidence and severity of MM. Finally, we estimated a spatial error model considering the correction of estimates for the spatial dependence and selection bias assessed before.

RESULTS

MM and GE were not randomly distributed throughout the Mexican territory; the most socially vulnerable municipalities exhibited the highest levels of MM severity but the lowest levels of GE and available human and physical resources for maternal health; the incidence of MM was independent of GE; elasticity of GE-severity in MM was -4% (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Resource allocation for maternal health must move towards a more comprehensive vision, and efforts to achieve an effective delivery of universal health services must improve, particularly regarding the most vulnerable municipalities.

A longitudinal assessment of technical efficiency in the outpatient production of maternal health services in México

We assess technical efficiency (TE) level for Mexican Ministry of Health (MoH) primary care units. Assessment was focused on the production of adequate maternal health services defined as the coverage level of women who received timely and frequent antenatal care, and institutional and medical care during childbirth. We conducted a longitudinal analysis of administrative and socio-demographic information concerning 233 health jurisdictions for the period 2008-15. Crude TE was calculated using window data envelopment analysis (Windows-DEA). Empirical analysis included the description of several factors affecting the production of maternal health services, including the heterogeneity and trends assessment of TE among health jurisdictions. We estimated a pooled regression model with robust standard errors to identify correlates of TE and estimated adjusted performance scores. Results indicate that while the production of adequate maternal-health services and TE in health jurisdictions proved insufficient, they rose by 22% (from 40.9% to 49.8%) and 14% (from 54.3% to 62%), respectively, over time. Furthermore, variance in efficiency among production units diminished and persistent regularities were observed. Performance was highest in the Northern as opposed to the Southern and Southeastern health jurisdictions, but lowest in the most marginalized zones of the country marked by economic inequality and the presence of indigenous populations. The Mexican Health System has reached a paradoxical situation: the steady escalation of financial resources in the public health subsystem over the past 15 years has yielded sub-optimal results as regards coverage for essential maternal health interventions among the poorest. Mexican government must put in place a set of measures to guarantee efficiency in the system's performance without affecting equity gains. This necessarily involves reconsidering, and where necessary replacing, the criteria behind the allocation and distribution of resources, as well as the mechanisms for controlling how resources are used and accountability is fulfilled.

Welfare effects of health insurance in Mexico: The case of Seguro Popular de Salud

This study contributes with original empirical evidence on the distributional and welfare effects of one of the most important health policies implemented by the Mexican government in the last decade, the Seguro Popular de Salud (SPS). We analyze the effect of SPS on households' welfare using a decomposable index that considers insured and uninsured households' response to out-of-pocket (OOP) payments using both social welfare weights and inequality aversion. The disaggregation of the welfare index allows us to explore the heterogeneity of the SPS impact on households' welfare. We applied propensity score matching to reduce the self-selection bias of being SPS insured. Overall results suggest non-conclusive results of the impact of SPS on households' welfare. When we disaggregated the welfare index by different sub-population groups, our results suggest that households' beneficiaries of SPS with older adults or living in larger cities are better protected against OOP health care payments than their uninsured counterparts. However, no effect was found among SPS-insured households living in rural and smaller cities, which is a result that could be attributed to limited access to health resources in these regions. Scaling up health insurance coverage is a necessary but not sufficient condition to ensure the protection of SPS coverage against financial risks among the poor.

Old principles, persisting challenges: Maternal health care market alignment in Mexico in the search for UHC

The purpose of this study is to analyze the alignment of supply and demand for antenatal care (ANC) in Mexico based on the definition of access provided by Donabedian: the "degree of adjustment" between resources and needs. Alignment was studied in the teenage and adult population of Mexico that lacked conventional social security between 2008 and 2015, a period of expanding financial resources for health and public health insurance coverage. Spatial econometric methods were used to analyze data from the Ministry of Health on the supply and demand for ANC in 2,314 municipalities (94% of all municipalities in Mexico). During this period, the relative weight of ANC demand among adolescents increased 37% while the production of antenatal consultations for adolescent and adult women remained unchanged. Bivariate spatial analyses of correlation between supply and demand for ANC services yielded a minimal spatial correlation, or lack of territorial correspondence, between supply and demand among women in both age groups. Spatial econometric analysis confirmed a non-significant association between supply and demand for ANC services. Our findings suggest the existence of misalignment between supply and demand for these services. This requires a reassessment of the management and delivery of ANC services at the local level in order to increase effective coverage and improve the overall performance of the health system.

Use of performance metrics for the measurement of universal coverage for maternal care in Mexico

This study provides evidence for those working in the maternal health metrics and health system performance fields, as well as those interested in achieving universal and effective health care coverage. Based on the perspective of continuity of health care and applying quasi-experimental methods to analyse the cross-sectional 2009 National Demographic Dynamics Survey (n = 14 414 women), we estimated the middle-term effects of Mexico's new public health insurance scheme, Seguro Popular de Salud (SPS) (vs women without health insurance) on seven indicators related to maternal health care (according to official guidelines): (a) access to skilled antenatal care (ANC); (b) timely ANC; (c) frequent ANC; (d) adequate content of ANC; (e) institutional delivery; (f) postnatal consultation and (g) access to standardized comprehensive antenatal and postnatal care (or the intersection of the seven process indicators). Our results show that 94% of all pregnancies were attended by trained health personnel. However, comprehensive access to ANC declines steeply in both groups as we move along the maternal healthcare continuum. The percentage of institutional deliveries providing timely, frequent and adequate content of ANC reached 70% among SPS women (vs 64.7% in the uninsured), and only 57.4% of SPS-affiliated women received standardized comprehensive care (vs 53.7% in the uninsured group). In Mexico, access to comprehensive antenatal and postnatal care as defined by Mexican guidelines (in accordance to WHO recommendations) is far from optimal. Even though a positive influence of SPS on maternal care was documented, important challenges still remain. Our results identified key bottlenecks of the maternal healthcare continuum that should be addressed by policy makers through a combination of supply side interventions and interventions directed to social determinants of access to health care.