Population Council Research that makes a difference

AIDSImpact 2011
12–15 September

Abstract

"Increasing utilization of maternal, newborn and child health services in Bangladesh: Performance-based incentive works"
Ubaidur Rob, Laila Rahman, Md. Noorunnabi Talukder, Ismat Ara Hena, and Farhana Akter

In Bangladesh, sub-optimal performance of service providers is the key barrier to improve availability and quality maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) services. This operations research tests the feasibility of pay-for-performance (P4P) approach, which offers financial incentive to reward service providers for meeting certain performance targets. Under this study, P4P approach is being tested in 12 government health facilities for 12 months. Quarterly targets for MNCH services are set for the institution as a whole, which take into account both quantity and quality of services. Incentives vary across providers according to their level of efforts. Currently, the intervention is in the third quarter. Assessment of the performance in first two quarters indicates that 11 out of 12 study facilities have improved their performance and achieved targets. This indicates that incentive has the potential to entice the service providers to perform to reach the target within stipulated time.

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