The impact of aid on maternal and reproductive health

A systematic review to evaluate the effect of aid on the outcomes of Millennium Development Goal 5

From:
Department for International Development
Published
1 January 2011
Document Type:
Systematic Review
Theme:
Health
Authors:
Smith, J., Hayman, R., Jeffery, P., Taylor, E.M., Crawford, F., Harper, I.

Abstract

Background

The Millennium Development Goal 5 (MDG 5) aims to improve maternal and reproductive health outcomes by: (a) reducing the maternal mortality ratio by 75%; and (b) achieving universal access to reproductive healthcare, by 2015. Current estimates suggest that only 23 countries out of 181 are likely to reduce maternal mortality by 75%. The adoption of the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness in 2005 represented a global agenda to improve aid management and delivery, partly in order to address the slow progress towards the MDGs. In 2008, the Principles set out in the Paris Declaration to guide changes in international aid were re-affirmed in the Accra Agenda for Action.

Conclusions and Recommendations

  • On systematic reviews and research methodology:
    There was considerable variation in the design and objectives of the studies included. Impact evaluation literature asserts that studies based on experimental design (e.g. randomised control trials) present the most plausible evidence of impact. A more flexible approach to evaluating the impact of aid is required in order to capture contextual factors affecting how aid works.
  • On evaluating on aid effectiveness:
    Future primary studies seeking to explore the impact of aid on outcomes in specific sectors need to provide full information about the aid intervention. Likewise studies on aid effectiveness and aid modalities need to go further in providing robust data for evaluating outcomes.
  • On interventions in maternal and reproductive health:
    Before claims about cause and effect can be made, we need robust baseline data to couple with later data. Most of the studies reviewed had a strong emphasis on healthcare interventions. Other factors that affect maternal and reproductive health, such as gender politics, income and class are neglected by robust research, which if undertaken, could add significant insight into our understanding of the interactions that shape maternal and reproductive health in developing countries and consequently our efforts to improve outcomes and assess our interventions.

There is a protocol for this systematic review

Citation

Hayman, R.; Taylor, E. M.; Crawford, F.; Jeffery, P.; Smith, J.; Harper, I. The impact of aid on maternal and reproductive health. A systematic review to evaluate the effect of aid on the outcomes of Millennium Development Goal 5. EPPI-Centre, Social Science Research Unit, Institute of Education, University of London, London, UK (2011) 165 pp. ISBN 978-1-907345-23-4

The impact of aid on maternal and reproductive health. A systematic review to evaluate the effect of aid on the outcomes of Millennium Development Goal 5.

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Published 1 January 2011
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