The impact of a reproductive health voucher in Uganda using a quasi-experimental matching design

TL;DR

A voucher program in Uganda improved newborn survival by providing subsidized access to reproductive health services for poor pregnant women.

Contribution

The study demonstrates a significant reduction in infant mortality using a quasi-experimental matching design in a real-world setting.

Findings

The voucher project reduced infant mortality by over 65%.

Newborn survival rates were 5.4 percentage points higher in the treatment group.

The program provided access to antenatal, delivery, and postnatal services for vulnerable pregnant women.

Abstract

This study assesses the impact of a voucher project that targeted vulnerable and poor pregnant women in Uganda. Highly subsidised vouchers gave access to a package of safe delivery services consisting of four antenatal visits, safe delivery, one postnatal visit, the treatment and management of selected pregnancy-related medical conditions and complications, and emergency transport. Vouchers were sold during the project’s operational period from 2016 to 2019. This study covers 8 out of 25 project-benefiting districts in Uganda and a total of 1,881 pregnancies, including both beneficiary and non-beneficiary mothers. Using a matching design, the results show a positive effect on the survival of new-born babies. The difference in the survival rate between the control group and the treatment group is 5.4% points, indicating that the voucher project reduced infant mortality by more than 65 per cent.

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