Rono, J., Kamau, L., Mangwana, J., Waruguru, J., Aluoch, P., & Njoroge, M. (2022). A policy analysis of policies and strategic plans on Maternal, Newborn and Child Health in Ethiopia. International journal for equity in health, 21(1), 73.
Overview: To assess equity in health policy development and implementation, an analysis framework like the Health Equity Impact Assessment (HEIA), Health Equity Assessment Tool (HEAT), and EquiFrame framework is essential. The EquiFrame framework provides a scoring criterion and core concepts for evaluating health policies and plans. It has been used to evaluate sexual and reproductive health policies in various countries, revealing significant inequalities in vulnerable groups and human rights coverage.
Methodology: The EquiFrame framework was used to assess five key health policies and plans on MNCH in Ethiopia, aiming to determine their support for mother and child health-related human rights and identify necessary revisions. The framework was applied to recent public domain policies relevant to MNCH.
Findings: The study found that four of five health policies and plans ranked moderate, with the Ethiopia Health Sector Transformation Plan (2016-2020) being high. All policies mentioned 80% of equity concepts, but did not outline implementation plans or demonstrate monitoring evidence.Ā
The other findings from the study is that, the policies and plans lack focus on cultural responsiveness and intersectionality, which are crucial for social justice. Intersectionality can unite people from different backgrounds and promote social justice. Community engagement, including health workers, religious organizations, traditional leaders, and educational institutions, can help address disparities. However, these policies lack pro-equity monitoring and evaluation frameworks and indicators, tracking macro-population-wide metrics.
The review highlights progress in MNCH outcomes, but inequities persist across different population groups, such as women and children. Policies and plans in Ethiopia score moderately in equity-related provisions, with most failing to consider equity throughout the development and implementation lifecycle. A life cycle approach in policy is crucial for better uptake of MNCH services. Ethiopia needs urgent attention to address financial and regulatory constraints, strengthen political will, increase financial and human resources, and improve government accountability.
Conclusion: In conclusion, future Ethiopian policy development should prioritize equity considerations in policy development and implementation, including M&E, to improve health outcomes and meet the SDGs’ commitment to leaving no one behind.