Effect Of Results-Based Financing On Maternal Health Services Examining Quality Of Care And Patients‟ Satisfaction

ABSTRACT

Background: In 2007 the World Bank launched Results-based financing (RBF) in order to improve the quality of health services. Since its introduction, RBF has gained much attention among countries with limited resources for health. Tanzania introduced RBF in 2015 to incentivize improved quality of services at participating health facilities. Through RBF, health facilities are expected to be having improved availability of essential health commodities for maternal health care and clients satisfied with the services provided, which predetermines the quality of care.

Objective: This study was conducted to determine the effects of RBF on quality of maternal health services and level of patients‟ satisfaction between RBF and non-RBF regions in Tanzania. Methodology: A quasi-experimental study was conducted in Shinyanga and Singida regions of Tanzania from July 2020 to August 2020. A structured questionnaire was administered to 260 women who were receiving obstetric services from 37 health facilities. The facilities were also assessed for the provision of quality maternal health services. Chi-square tests and independent t-tests were used to analyze data in SPSS. Results: The 13 hospitals and health centers that were on the RBF program (Mean = 71.6±4.23) compared to 11 hospitals and health centers that were not in RBF program (Mean = 45.96±3.11) demonstrated significantly (p0.05) relation between region of respondent and satisfaction on clinical maternal services, χ2 = 1.057, p-value = 0.304.

Conclusion: The quality of maternal health services in the RBF region was significantly higher than in non RBF region. Also, patients from RBF region had a significantly higher satisfaction rate to non-clinical services than patients from non RBF region. However, there was no significant difference in satisfaction with clinical services between the two regions.