Infant mortality and risk factors in Nigeria in 2013-2017: A population-level study.

Background: Globally, over the past two decades, many countries have significantly reduced the rate of infant mortality. Yet, in Africa, Nigeria remains one of the countries with the highest infant mortality rate (IMR). Methods: We conducted a population-level study using the 2018 Nigeria Demographic Health Survey (NDHS). A total of 41,668 household data were analyzed retrospectively. The association between each exposure and infant mortality was analyzed in logistic regression models (independently adjusted by demographic and socioeconomic status variables) and confirmed by the multiple comparisons analysis. Findings: The overall IMR of 2013-2017 was 61.5 (95% CI 58.0, 65.3) per 1000 live births. In general, the North-West and North-East regions had the highest IMR, whereas the South-West, South-East and South-South regions had the lowest IMR. The regression analysis found women who delivered their babies at the age <=18 years old (odds ratio (OR): 1.37 [1.17, 1.62]), had religion of Islam (OR: 1.35 [1.10, 1.65]), no ANC visit (OR: 1.69 [1.21, 2.35]), >4 ANC visits (OR: 1.70 [1.23, 2.34]), ANC not at home or skilled provider (0.40 [0.35, 0.46]) and the babies as the first child (OR: 1.23 [1.07, 1.42]) to be associated with higher IMR. Interpretation: Our findings imply that Nigeria is not on track to achieving the SDG target of reducing child mortality by 2030. Sustainable interventions are urgently needed to address the challenges for women of reproductive age, particularly those that are living in the rural areas and Northern regions, having limited/no access to health care/skilled providers, and delivered their first child. Funding: None.

Determinants and perception of health insurance participation among healthcare providers in Nigeria: A mixed-methods study.

BACKGROUND: To accelerate universal health coverage, Nigeria's National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) decentralized the implementation of government health insurance to the individual states in 2014. Lagos is one of the states that passed a State Health Insurance Scheme into law, in order to expand the benefits of health insurance beyond the few residents enrolled in community-based health insurance programs, commercial private health insurance plans or the NHIS. Public and private healthcare providers are a critical component of the Lagos State Health Scheme (LSHS) rollout. This study explored the determinants and perception of provider participation in health insurance programs including the LSHS. METHODS: This study used a mixed-methods cross sectional design. Quantitative data were collected from 60 healthcare facilities representatively sampled from 6 Local Government Areas in Lagos state. For the qualitative data, providers were interviewed using structured questionnaires on selected characteristics of each health facility in addition to the managers' opinions about the challenges and benefits of insurance participation, capacity pressure, resource availability and financial management consequences. RESULTS: A higher proportion of provider facilities participating in insurance relative to non-participating facilities were larger with mid to (very) high patient volume, workforce, and longer years of operation. In addition, a greater proportion of private facilities compared to public facilities participated in insurance. Furthermore, a higher proportion of secondary and tertiary facilities relative to primary facilities participated in insurance. Lastly, increase in patient volume and revenue were motivating factors for provider facilities to participate in insurance, while low tariffs, delay and denial of payments, and patients' unrealistic expectations were mentioned as inhibiting factors. CONCLUSION: For the Lagos state and other government insurance schemes in developing countries to be successful, effective contracting and quality assurance of healthcare providers are essential. The health facilities indicated that these would require adequate and regular provider payment, investments in infrastructure upgrades and educating the public about insurance benefit plans and service expectations.

What medicines do households keep in their cabinets? Understanding the possession and use of medicines at home and the role of health insurance in Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Globally, the possession of medicines stored at home is increasing. However, little is known about the determinants of possessing medicines, their usage according to clinical purpose, which we term 'correct drug match', and the role of health insurance. METHODS: This study uses data from a 2013 survey evaluating a health insurance program in Kwara State, Nigeria, which upgraded health facilities and subsidized insurance premiums. The final dataset includes 1,090 households and 4,641 individuals. Multilevel mixed-effects logistic regressions were conducted at both the individual level and at the level of the medicines kept in respondents' homes to understand the determinants of medicine possession and correct drug match, respectively, and to investigate the effect of health insurance on both. RESULTS: A total of 9,266 medicines were classified with 61.2% correct match according to self-reported use, 11.9% incorrect match and 26.9% indeterminate. Most medicines (73.0%) were obtained from patent proprietary medicine vendors (PPMVs). At 36.6%, analgesics were the most common medicine held at home, while anti-malarial use had the highest correct match at 96.1%. Antihistamines, vitamins and minerals, expectorants, and antibiotics were most likely to have an incorrect match at respectively 35.8%, 33.6%, 31.9%, and 26.6%. Medicines were less likely to have a correct match when found with the uneducated and obtained from public facilities. Enrolment in the insurance program increased correct matches for specific medicines, notably antihypertensives and antibiotics (odds ratio: 25.15 and 3.60, respectively). CONCLUSION: Since PPMVs serve as both the most popular and better channel compared to the public sector to obtain medicines, we recommend that policymakers strengthen their focus on these vendors to educate communities on medicine types and their correct use. Health insurance programs that provide affordable access to improved-quality health facilities represent another important avenue for reducing the burden of incorrect drug use. This appears increasingly important in view of the global rise in antimicrobial resistance.

Can Changes in Service Delivery Models Improve Program Quality and Efficiency? A Closer Look at HIV Programs in Kenya and Uganda.

BACKGROUND: With the scale-up of antiretroviral treatment, many health facilities in low- and middle-income countries have implemented innovative practices targeted at overcoming operational challenges and delivering efficient quality HIV services. However, many of these practices remain largely unexplored as a means to better reach the global 90-90-90 targets. SETTING: A study was conducted on selected facilities in districts of country programs supported by The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. The aims of the study were to understand how facilities seek to improve the delivery and uptake of HIV services and to examine what innovative practices might be contributing to their success. METHODS: The study used a qualitative approach through observations, document reviews, and semistructured interviews with site management and clinical staff to identify service delivery innovations in 30 health facilities in Kenya and Uganda. RESULTS: Eleven innovative practices were observed along the HIV care cascade. These practices led to improvements in the quality of testing, treatment, and retention across the facilities. Effective human resource and data management processes also enabled the implementation of these innovative practices. CONCLUSIONS: Many facilities use innovative practices along the HIV care cascade to address bottlenecks and challenges. These have the potential to improve the quality and efficiency of service delivery and support the attainment of the 90-90-90 treatment targets. Replicating these practices would require further implementation research and a mind shift of donors, governments, and implementers from a metric of coverage to a stronger focus on efficiency and impact.

Benefits and Limitations of Text Messages to Stimulate Higher Learning Among Community Providers: Participants' Views of an mHealth Intervention to Support Continuing Medical Education in Vietnam.

BACKGROUND: A randomized controlled trial was conducted in 2015 to evaluate a mobile continuing medical education (mCME) intervention that provided daily text messages to community-based physicians' assistants (CBPAs) in Thai Nguyen Province, Vietnam. Although the intervention failed to improve medical knowledge over a 6-month period, a companion qualitative study provided insights on the views and experiences of intervention participants. METHODS: We conducted focus group discussions (FGDs) and in-depth interviews (IDIs) among participants randomized to receive text messages containing either simple medical facts or quiz questions. Trained interviewers collected data immediately following the conclusion of the trial in December 2015. Using semi-structured question guides, respondents were queried on their views of the intervention, positive and negative, and perceived impacts of the intervention. During analysis, after learning that the intervention had failed to increase knowledge among participants, we also examined reasons for lack of improvement in medical knowledge. All analyses were performed in NVivo using a thematic approach. RESULTS: A total of 70 CBPAs engaged in one of 8 FGDs or an IDI. One-half were men; average age among all respondents was 40 years. Most (81%) practiced in rural settings and most (51%) focused on general medicine. The mean length of work experience was 3 years. All respondents made positive comments about the intervention; convenience, relevance, and quick feedback (quiz format) were praised. Downsides encompassed lack of depth of information, weak interaction, technology challenges, and challenging/irrelevant messages. Respondents described perceived impacts encompassing increased motivation, knowledge, collegial discussions, Internet use to search for more information, and clinical skills. Overall, they expressed a desire for the intervention to continue and recommended expansion to other medical professionals. Overreliance on the text messages, lack of effective self-study, and technical/language-based barriers may be potential explanations for intervention failure. CONCLUSION: As a form of mCME, daily text messages were well-received by community-level health care providers in Vietnam. This mCME approach appears very promising in low-resource environments or where traditional forms of CME are impractical. Future models might consider enhancements to foster linkages to relevant medical materials, improve interaction with medical experts, and tailor medical content to the daily activities of medical staff.