Assessing the Impact of Task-Shifting on Infant, Maternal and Child Health Outcomes in Rural Nigeria

Abstract

   By using a longitudinal panel data approach, this study assesses how task-shifting affects maternal, infant, and child health outcomes in underdeveloped Nigeria. An analysis was done of data from administrative health records, national health surveys, and reports from the Federal Ministry of Health, UNICEF, and WHO. By means of a difference-in-differences (DiD) econometric technique, the study aims to estimate the impact of task-shifting by analyzing health results before and after implementation in institutions with and without the intervention. Key dependent variables are maternal mortality rate, infant mortality rate, under-five mortality rate, and immunization coverage. Independent variables include the degree of training given, the number of non-physician health care providers, and the status of task-shifting implementation. Regional fixed effects, facility characteristics, and socioeconomic variables are among the control variables. In facilities where task-shifting was applied, the outcomes show a statistically significant decrease in maternal and child death rates as well as an increase in immunization coverage. The validity of the results is confirmed by robustness checks including placebo tests and sensitivity analyses. Task-shifting is shown in the research to be a successful tactic for bettering health results in rural areas with limited resources. It recommends policies to strengthen training and support for non-physician healthcare workers and urges more widespread adoption of task-shifting initiatives to more effectively improve maternal and child health.