Cost is a major barrier to maternal health service utilization for many women in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). However, comparable evidence of the available cost data in these countries is limited. The study is a systematic review and comparative analysis of the costs of utilizing maternal health services in such settings.
Findings of the review show that utilization progressively increased from ante-natal care (ANC) and post-natal care (PNC) to delivery and post-abortion care (PAC), and from public to private providers. Medicines and diagnostics were the main cost drivers for ANC and PNC while cost drivers were variable for delivery. Women experienced the financial burden of utilizing maternal health services and also had to pay some unofficial costs to access care, even where formal exemptions existed.
Any organization or individual working in the field of immunization economics can submit findings, opportunities, calls to action, or other relevant work below to be shared with our community.