African Rural Health Systems & Practice | 11 April 2002
Methodological Evaluation of Ethiopian Community Health Centre Systems: A Randomized Field Trial on Cost-Effectiveness
M, e, k, u, r, i, a, B, e, f, a, b, e, g, u
Abstract
The Ethiopian healthcare system is underutilized in rural areas due to a lack of accessible and effective community health centers (CHCs). A mixed-methods approach combining quantitative data from surveys with qualitative insights from interviews was employed to assess CHC performance in terms of patient outcomes and operational efficiency. CHCs showed an average cost-effectiveness ratio (CE) of 1.5:1, indicating that for every unit cost incurred, they generated a positive economic benefit by improving health outcomes in the region. The study provides robust evidence on the financial viability and impact of CHC systems in Ethiopia, offering insights for policy makers to enhance service delivery efficiency. Policy recommendations include optimising resource allocation based on regional needs, training programmes for healthcare providers, and integrating digital health solutions to improve accessibility. Treatment effect was estimated with $\text{logit}(p<em>i)=\beta</em>0+\beta^\top X_i$, and uncertainty reported using confidence-interval based inference.