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  5. The Price of Labor: Evaluating the Impact of Eliminating User Fees on Maternal and Infant Health Outcomes

The Price of Labor: Evaluating the Impact of Eliminating User Fees on Maternal and Infant Health Outcomes

  • Anne Fitzpatrick
AEA Papers and Proceedings
vol. 108, May 2018
(pp. 412-15)
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Abstract

Since 2001, several sub-Saharan African countries have eliminated user fees for childbirth. Although intended to improve maternal and infant health outcomes, service quality also fell as facilities became overburdened. In this paper I combine DHS surveys on births from countries eliminating user fees. I identify the effect of user fee elimination using (i) a maternal fixed effect and (ii) an event study within a small geographic area. I find that user fees increase the likelihood of delivery at public sector facilities by 2–7 percentage points. I also find that user fee elimination reduces maternal mortality but may increase neonatal mortality.

Citation

Fitzpatrick, Anne. 2018. "The Price of Labor: Evaluating the Impact of Eliminating User Fees on Maternal and Infant Health Outcomes." AEA Papers and Proceedings, 108: 412-15. DOI: 10.1257/pandp.20181118

Additional Materials

JEL Classification

  • I12 Health Behavior
  • I18 Health: Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
  • J13 Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
  • J16 Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
  • O15 Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration