Assessing the Efficiency of Health-care Facilities in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review
Background: The provision of health-care services is dependent on the effective and efficient functioning of various components of a health-care system. It is therefore important to evaluate the functioning of these various components. Hence, the aim of this study was to review studies on health-car...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SAGE Publishing
2020-04-01
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| Series: | Health Services Research & Managerial Epidemiology |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/2333392820919604 |
| _version_ | 1818449188758749184 |
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| author | Tesleem K. Babalola Indres Moodley |
| author_facet | Tesleem K. Babalola Indres Moodley |
| author_sort | Tesleem K. Babalola |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The provision of health-care services is dependent on the effective and efficient functioning of various components of a health-care system. It is therefore important to evaluate the functioning of these various components. Hence, the aim of this study was to review studies on health-care facilities efficiency in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) with respect to the methodologies used as well as outcomes and factors influencing efficiency. Methods: The review was conducted through a comprehensive search of electronic databases which included PubMed, Web of science, academic search complete via EBSCOhost, Science Direct, and Google scholar. A search was also conducted by looking into citations in the reference list of selected articles and through gray literature. Studies were screened by examining their titles, abstracts, and full-text based on stated inclusion and exclusion criteria. The concurrent screening and data extraction were conducted by the two authors. Results: A total of 40 studies were shortlisted for the review. The majority (90.0%) of the studies employed the data envelopment analysis technique for their efficiency measurements. The input and output variables utilized by most of the studies were predominantly human resources and health-related services respectively. The outcome from majority of the studies showed that less than 40% of the studied facilities were efficient. The leading influencing factors reported by the studies were catchment population, facility ownership, and location. Conclusions: The review showed that there was a marked degree of inefficiency across the health-care facilities. Consequently, due to severe resource constraints facing SSA, there is a need to determine how to use the available resources optimally to improve health systems performance. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T20:31:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7cddd55676844d87b737ad3319ffdc77 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2333-3928 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T20:31:26Z |
| publishDate | 2020-04-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Health Services Research & Managerial Epidemiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-7cddd55676844d87b737ad3319ffdc772022-12-21T22:48:31ZengSAGE PublishingHealth Services Research & Managerial Epidemiology2333-39282020-04-01710.1177/2333392820919604Assessing the Efficiency of Health-care Facilities in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic ReviewTesleem K. Babalola0Indres Moodley1 Department of Public Health Medicine, School of Nursing and Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa Department of Public Health Medicine, School of Nursing and Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South AfricaBackground: The provision of health-care services is dependent on the effective and efficient functioning of various components of a health-care system. It is therefore important to evaluate the functioning of these various components. Hence, the aim of this study was to review studies on health-care facilities efficiency in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) with respect to the methodologies used as well as outcomes and factors influencing efficiency. Methods: The review was conducted through a comprehensive search of electronic databases which included PubMed, Web of science, academic search complete via EBSCOhost, Science Direct, and Google scholar. A search was also conducted by looking into citations in the reference list of selected articles and through gray literature. Studies were screened by examining their titles, abstracts, and full-text based on stated inclusion and exclusion criteria. The concurrent screening and data extraction were conducted by the two authors. Results: A total of 40 studies were shortlisted for the review. The majority (90.0%) of the studies employed the data envelopment analysis technique for their efficiency measurements. The input and output variables utilized by most of the studies were predominantly human resources and health-related services respectively. The outcome from majority of the studies showed that less than 40% of the studied facilities were efficient. The leading influencing factors reported by the studies were catchment population, facility ownership, and location. Conclusions: The review showed that there was a marked degree of inefficiency across the health-care facilities. Consequently, due to severe resource constraints facing SSA, there is a need to determine how to use the available resources optimally to improve health systems performance.https://doi.org/10.1177/2333392820919604 |
| spellingShingle | Tesleem K. Babalola Indres Moodley Assessing the Efficiency of Health-care Facilities in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review Health Services Research & Managerial Epidemiology |
| title | Assessing the Efficiency of Health-care Facilities in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review |
| title_full | Assessing the Efficiency of Health-care Facilities in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review |
| title_fullStr | Assessing the Efficiency of Health-care Facilities in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessing the Efficiency of Health-care Facilities in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review |
| title_short | Assessing the Efficiency of Health-care Facilities in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review |
| title_sort | assessing the efficiency of health care facilities in sub saharan africa a systematic review |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/2333392820919604 |
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