The role of health insurance in the coverage of oral health care in Senegal

Oral diseases costs are among the most expensive health care benefits. In Senegal, households contribute up to 37.6% of the national health spending through direct payments. The aim of this work was to study the role of health insurance in the coverage of oral health care in Senegal. The study was based on health insurance agents and policyholders. The study reveals that oral health care coverage through health insurance still does not meet requirements for treatment of oral infections. In financial terms, oral health care costs health insurance too much. As a result, carriers cover them partially. On top of that, the majority of the population's lack of knowledge about mutual, because they have a little background on oral health care, the latter weighs heavily on health insurance leading to the use of self-medication, traditional medicine and handicraft prosthetists. The analysis reveals an unequal access to oral health care through the health insurance system. To bring under control the expenditure for oral health care, carriers and dental surgeons must work together to raise the populations' awareness on community solidarity

Using Lot Quality Assurance Sampling Methodology to Evaluate the Uthukela District Child Survival Project of Kwazulu-Natal

Abstract:Health services programmes and interventions require objective measures on coverage and quality to ensure that managers have the evidence to adopt and expand health interventions effectively and efficiently. Over the past 15 years; the uThukela District Child Survival Project of South Africa achieved this through regular two- to three-year project evaluations using cluster sampling. Results of these surveys have improved the ability of Child Survival Projects to identify priorities; define objectives based on data; and measure progress towards these objectives. However; the inability to disaggregate information to composite Supervision Areas (SAs) was a limitation. Lot quality assurance sampling (LQAS) was adopted as an improved method based on its ability to assess performance in disaggregated units within a study population and to reliably compare coverage and health status indicators for routine monitoring of child survival activities. This study assessed the feasibility and reliability of LQAS to evaluate the Child Survival Project and compare the results of a rapid manual analysis with a secondary electronic analysis of the same data. The accuracy of the manual analysis was comparable and provides evidence that LQAS and rapid manual analysis can be used to evaluate intervention programmes; particularly in settings of limited electronic technology and expertise