Research Article: User Fee Exemption Policy Significantly Improved Adherence to Maternal Health Service Utilization in Bahir Dar City, Northwest Ethiopia: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study
Abstract:
User fees for healthcare have been implemented in low- and middle-income countries since the s as a strategy to enhance healthcare delivery by raising funds. However, studies indicated that user fees attributed to a decline in health services utilization, particularly in Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries. It was evidenced that user fees were linked to reduced use of advanced treatment during pregnancy and childbirth. Hence, the exempted services that should be provided free of charge at public health facilities have been introduced by the essential health services package to address the prioritized health goals. A study has demonstrated that user fee exemption has a positive effect on adherence to maternal health service utilization; user fee removal has been shown to increase the use of maternal health services in many SSA countries.
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