Impact on child mortality of removing user fees: simulation model.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate how many child deaths might be prevented if user fees were removed in 20 African countries


METHODS
Simulation model combining evidence on key health interventions' impacts on reducing child mortality with analysis of the effect of fee abolition on access to healthcare services.


RESULTS
Elimination of user fees could prevent approximately 233,000 (estimate range 153,000-305,000) deaths annually in children aged under 5 in 20 African countries.


CONCLUSIONS
Given the relatively low cost of abolition, replacing user fees with alternative financing mechanisms should be seen as an effective first step towards improving households' access to health care and achieving the millennium development goals for health.
James
Chris
C
Save the Children UK, London EC1M 4AR. chrisjamesuk@hotmail.com
Morris
Saul S
SS
Keith
Regina
R
Taylor
Anna
A
D000349:Africa; D046688:Child Mortality; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000191:economics*; D005251:Fees, Medical; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018803:Models, Economic