The effect of power outages on in-facility mortality in healthcare facilities: Evidence from Ghana
The effect of power outages on in-facility mortality in healthcare facilities: Evidence from Ghana
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DOI：
10.1080/17441692.2016.1217031
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发表时间：
2018-01-01
影响因子：
3.3
通讯作者：
Afriyie-Gyawu, Evans
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Apenteng, Bettye A.;Opoku, Samuel T.;Afriyie-Gyawu, Evans
世界银行估计，非洲撒哈拉以南地区至少有 25 个国家长期停电。然而，人们经常在工业和经济混乱的背景下讨论电力短缺的影响，而很少关注其对健康的影响。本研究利用 2012 年加纳医疗机构准入、瓶颈、成本和公平 (ABCE) 医疗机构调查中具有全国代表性的医疗机构数据，旨在评估断电对加纳医疗机构内死亡率的影响，该国在过去几十年中经历了日益严重的能源危机。调查结果显示，停电频率与设施内死亡率之间存在正相关关系，停电超过 2 小时每增加一天，死亡率风险就会增加 43%。此外，与经历相同停电频率的城市医疗机构相比，农村机构的死亡风险较低。这些调查结果呼吁所有利益相关者共同努力，确保医疗机构提供稳定的电力供应，从而为加纳公民成功提供医疗保健提供必要的环境。
The World Bank estimates that at least 25 countries in the Sub-Saharan region of Africa experience chronic power outages. However, the implications of power shortages are often discussed within the context of industrial and economic disruptions, with little attention given to the health impact. Using a nationally representative data of healthcare facilities from the 2012 Ghana Access, Bottlenecks, Cost and Equity (ABCE) Health Facility Survey, this study aims to assess the impact of power outages on in-healthcare facility mortality in Ghana, a country that has experienced worsening energy crises in the last few decades. Findings revealed a positive association between the frequency of power outages and in-facility mortality, with the risk for mortality estimated to increase by 43% for each day the power was out for over 2h. Further, when compared to an urban healthcare facility experiencing the same frequency of power outages, the risk of mortality was found to be lower in the rural facility. These findings call for a concerted effort among all stakeholders to ensure the availability of consistent power supply in healthcare facilities, in order to provide the necessary environment for the successful provision of healthcare for the citizens of Ghana.