Costs of publicly provided maternity services in Rosario, Argentina
Salud pública Méx
;
45(1): 27-34, ene.-feb. 2003. tab, graf
Article
in English
| LILACS
| ID: lil-333566
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
This study estimates the costs of maternal health services in Rosario, Argentina. MATERIAL ANDMETHODS:
The provider costs (US$ 1999) of antenatal care, a normal vaginal delivery and a caesarean section, were evaluated retrospectively in two municipal hospitals. The cost of an antenatal visit was evaluated in two health centres and the patient costs associated with the visit were evaluated in a hospital and a health centre.RESULTS:
The average cost per hospital day is $114.62. The average cost of a caesarean section ($525.57) is five times greater than that of a normal vaginal delivery ($105.61). A normal delivery costs less at the general hospital and a c-section less at the maternity hospital. The average cost of an antenatal visit is $31.10. The provider cost is lower at the health centre than at the hospital. Personnel accounted for 72-94 percent of the total cost and drugs and medical supplies between 4-26 percent. On average, an antenatal visit costs women $4.70. Direct costs are minimal compared to indirect costs of travel and waiting time.CONCLUSIONS:
These results suggest the potential for increasing the efficiency of resource use by promoting antenatal care visits at the primary level. Women could also benefit from reduced travel and waiting time. Similar benefits could accrue to the provider by encouraging normal delivery at general hospitals, and complicated deliveries at specialised maternity hospitals
Full text:
Available
Index:
LILACS (Americas)
Main subject:
Public Assistance
/
Health Care Costs
/
Community Health Centers
/
Hospitals, Municipal
/
Maternal Health Services
Type of study:
Health economic evaluation
Limits:
Female
/
Humans
/
Pregnancy
Country/Region as subject:
South America
/
Argentina
Language:
English
Journal:
Salud pública Méx
Journal subject:
Public Health
Year:
2003
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Argentina
/
Switzerland
/
United kingdom
Institution/Affiliation country:
Centro Rosarino de Estudios Perinatales/AR
/
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine/GB
/
Secretaría de Salud Pública/AR
/
Swiss Tropical Institute/CH
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