Vol. 1 No. 1 (2026): new

View Issue TOC

A Quasi-Experimental Evaluation of the Cost-Effectiveness of Community Health Centre Systems in Rwanda

Aline Mukamana, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Rwanda Samuel Habimana, Department of Public Health, African Leadership University (ALU), Kigali Jean de Dieu Uwimana, Department of Clinical Research, Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA)
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18950581
Published: June 8, 2026

Abstract

{ "background": "Community health centres (CHCs) are a cornerstone of primary healthcare delivery in many low-resource settings, yet robust evidence on their cost-effectiveness remains limited. This gap hinders optimal resource allocation and health system planning.", "purpose and objectives": "This study aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of Rwanda's CHC system in delivering a package of essential maternal and child health services, using a quasi-experimental design to estimate causal effects on health outcomes relative to costs incurred.", "methodology": "We employed a difference-in-differences design, exploiting the phased rollout of CHC enhancements across districts. Cost data were collected from financial records, and health outcome data were extracted from district health information systems. Cost-effectiveness was modelled using a linear regression framework: $CEi = \\beta0 + \\beta1 \\text{Treatment}i + \\beta2 \\text{Time}i + \\beta3 (\\text{Treatment}i \\times \\text{Time}i) + \\epsiloni$, where $CE_i$ is the cost per disability-adjusted life year averted in district $i$. Inference was based on cluster-robust standard errors.", "findings": "The enhanced CHC system was associated with a 17% reduction in the cost per disability-adjusted life year averted compared to standard care (95% CI: 12% to 22%). This improvement was primarily driven by increased service utilisation for antenatal care and childhood immunisation, without a proportional increase in total economic costs.", "conclusion": "The Rwandan CHC model demonstrates significant cost-effectiveness in delivering key primary healthcare services. The findings suggest that strategic investment in integrated community-level health systems can yield substantial returns in health value.", "recommendations": "Policy makers should consider the phased enhancement of CHCs as a viable strategy for improving primary healthcare efficiency. Future research should investigate the long-term sustainability and equity impacts of this model.", "key words": "cost-effectiveness analysis, primary healthcare, difference-in

Full Text:

Read the Full Article

The HTML galley is loaded below for inline reading and better discovery.

How to Cite

Aline Mukamana, Samuel Habimana, Jean de Dieu Uwimana (2026). A Quasi-Experimental Evaluation of the Cost-Effectiveness of Community Health Centre Systems in Rwanda. African Food Systems Research (Interdisciplinary - incl Agri/Env), Vol. 1 No. 1 (2026): new. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18950581

Keywords

Cost-effectiveness analysisQuasi-experimental designCommunity health centresSub-Saharan AfricaPrimary healthcareHealth systems evaluationLow-resource settings

Research Snapshot

Desktop reading view
Language
EN
Formats
HTML + PDF
Publication Track
Vol. 1 No. 1 (2026): new
Current Journal
African Food Systems Research (Interdisciplinary - incl Agri/Env)

References