Thapa, J.K.* ; Stöckl, D. ; Sangroula, R.K.* ; Pun, A.* ; Thapa, M.* ; Maskey, M.K.* ; Delius, M.*
     
    
        
Investment case approach for equitable access to maternal neonatal and child health services: Stakeholders' perspective in Nepal.
    
    
        
    
    
        
        PLoS ONE 16:e0255231 (2021)
    
    
    
      
      
	
	    BACKGROUND: Investment Case is a participatory approach that has been used over the years for better strategic actions and planning in the health sector. Based on this approach, a District Investment Case (DIC) program was launched to improve maternal, neonatal and child health services in partnership with government, non-government sectors and UNICEF Nepal. In the meantime, this study aimed to explore perceptions and experiences of local stakeholders regarding health planning and budgeting and explore the role of the DIC program in ensuring equity in access to maternal and child health services. METHODS: This study adopted an exploratory phenomenography design with a purposive sampling technique for data collection. Three DIC implemented districts and three comparison districts were selected and total 30 key informant interviews with district level stakeholders and six focus groups with community stakeholders were carried out. A deductive approach was used to explore the perception of local stakeholders of health planning and budgeting of the health care expenses on the local level. RESULTS: Investment Case approach helped stakeholders in planning systematically based on evidence through collaborative and participatory approach while in comparison areas previous year plan was mainly primarily considered as reference. Resource constraints and geographical difficulty were key barriers in executing the desired plan in both intervention and comparison districts. Positive changes were observed in coverage of maternal and child health services in both groups. A few participants reported no difference due to the DIC program. The participants specified the improvement in access to information, access and utilization of health services by women. This has influenced the positive health care seeking behavior. CONCLUSIONS: The decentralized planning and management approach at the district level helps to ensure equity in access to maternal, newborn and child health care. However, quality evidence, inclusiveness, functional feedback and support system and local resource utilization should be the key consideration.
	
	
	    
	
       
      
	
	    
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        Article: Journal article
    
 
    
        Document type
        Scientific Article
    
 
    
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        english
    
 
    
        Publication Year
        2021
    
 
    
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        2021
    
 
    
    
        ISSN (print) / ISBN
        1932-6203
    
 
    
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	    Volume: 16,  
	    Issue: 10,  
	    Pages: ,  
	    Article Number: e0255231 
	    Supplement: ,  
	
    
 
    
        
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            Public Library of Science (PLoS)
        
 
        
            Publishing Place
            Lawrence, Kan.
        
 
	
        
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        Reviewing status
        Peer reviewed
    
 
    
        Institute(s)
        Institute of Epidemiology (EPI)
    
 
    
        POF-Topic(s)
        30202 - Environmental Health
    
 
    
        Research field(s)
        Genetics and Epidemiology
    
 
    
        PSP Element(s)
        G-504000-010
    
 
    
        Grants
        UNICEF Nepal, Little Buddha College of Health Science
    
 
    
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        Erfassungsdatum
        2021-11-22