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Leveraging IDPoor for Enhanced Child Outcomes in Cambodia

Leveraging IDPoor for Enhanced Child Outcomes in Cambodia

Introduction

The intersection of poverty and health is a well-documented phenomenon, with poverty often leading to poor health outcomes, particularly in maternal and child health (MCH). The IDPoor program in Cambodia stands as a testament to how strategic poverty identification can catalyze multisectoral collaboration to improve health outcomes. This blog delves into the research findings from the IDPoor program and discusses how practitioners can leverage these insights to enhance their practice and outcomes for children.

The IDPoor Program: A Data-Driven Approach

Launched in 2007, the IDPoor program is a poverty identification initiative that aims to improve equity in access to social services, including healthcare. By identifying poor households through a combination of proxy means testing and community-based targeting, IDPoor creates a comprehensive social registry. This registry serves as a critical tool for various sectors, including health, education, and agriculture, to target their services effectively.

Impact on Maternal and Child Health

According to the research article "IDPoor: a poverty identification programme that enables collaboration across sectors for maternal and child health in Cambodia," the program has significantly contributed to improving MCH outcomes. By providing equity cards to identified poor households, IDPoor facilitates access to essential health services, including antenatal care, delivery, and family planning, through the Health Equity Fund (HEF).

Data from Cambodia's Health Management Information System between 2014 and 2017 indicate a steady rise in the use of MCH services among HEF-supported patients. For instance, the number of HEF-covered deliveries doubled during this period. This increase suggests that IDPoor's strategy of reducing financial barriers has contributed to improved equity in MCH services.

Lessons for Practitioners

Encouraging Further Research

The IDPoor program serves as a valuable case study for practitioners interested in data-driven approaches to improving child outcomes. However, the program also highlights areas for further research, such as understanding the non-financial barriers to service uptake and exploring the potential for IDPoor data to inform geographical targeting and cross-referrals among services.

Practitioners are encouraged to engage in further research to explore these areas and to consider how similar data-driven approaches could be implemented in their contexts to improve outcomes for children.

Conclusion

The IDPoor program in Cambodia exemplifies how data-driven poverty identification can enhance multisectoral collaboration and improve maternal and child health outcomes. By leveraging data and fostering collaboration, practitioners can create significant positive impacts on children's health and well-being.

To read the original research paper, please follow this link: IDPoor: a poverty identification programme that enables collaboration across sectors for maternal and child health in Cambodia.


Citation: Kaba, M. W., Baesel, K., Poch, B., Bun, S., Cerceau, S., Bury, L., Schwarz, B., Keo, O., Tung, R., Cheang, K., & Rasanathan, K. (2018). IDPoor: a poverty identification programme that enables collaboration across sectors for maternal and child health in Cambodia. BMJ, 363, k4698. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.k4698
Marnee Brick, President, TinyEYE Therapy Services

Author's Note: Marnee Brick, TinyEYE President, and her team collaborate to create our blogs. They share their insights and expertise in the field of Speech-Language Pathology, Online Therapy Services and Academic Research.

Connect with Marnee on LinkedIn to stay updated on the latest in Speech-Language Pathology and Online Therapy Services.

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