An Assessment of Age-Specific Health Interventions in Developing Nations.

Abstract

This dissertation is an exploratory investigation of a resource allocation model. It addresses the problem of determining program effect on health status with available data. The analysis uses a path analytic model to test specific relationships between the independent and the dependent variables as well as the relative contribution of each of the independent variables towards the explanation of total variance. The model assesses the effect of seven socio-economic programs in terms of improving mortality in five age-specific population groups. The seven programs are: education, vector-interrupt and control, housing, potable water, sanitation, immunization and nutrition. The age-specific target groups are: infants, children, the school age population, the working age population, and retirees. Hypotheses were posited about the positive effect of these programs on health status. A secondary analysis is performed to investigate the impact of these programs on the use of tertiary services. Findings confirm the hypotheses of education, vector-interrupt, housing, potable water, sanitation, and nutrition. They reject the hypothesis of immunization. Findings also reveal that these programs reduce the use of tertiary services. This research is useful for planners in lesser developed countries (LDCs) since they are normally hampered in recommending specific socio-economic programs which address developmental needs and have a known effect on health status. There are seveal reasons for this problem including political considerations, paucity of reliable information, and infrequent dissemination of available studies. One response from LDCs has been to seek advice from industrialized nations. However, this has resulted in an emphasis on tertiary services which do not address the basic health needs of a majority of the population in a LDC. Research results from this preliminary investigation suggest that the development of a model to simulate socio-economic policy is feasible, thereby providing planners with useful information in allocative decisions. However, the residuals in the model indicate that the independent variables used in this analysis must be augmented before actual policy determinations can be made. Also, the dependent variables must be further disaggregated by sex, cause, and age, before the model is definitive enough.