Maternity waiting homes as a cost‐effective intervention in rural Liberia

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the cost-effectiveness of maternity waiting homes (MWHs) in rural Liberia by examining the cost per life saved and economic effect of MWHs on maternal mortality. METHODS: A cost-effectiveness analysis was used to evaluate costs and economic effect of MWHs on maternal mortality in rural Liberia to guide future resource allocation. A secondary data analysis was performed based on a prior quasi-experimental cohort study of 10 rural primary healthcare facilities, five with a MWH and five without a MWH, that took place from October 30, 2010 to February 28, 2015. RESULTS: Calculations signified a low cost per year of life saved at MWHs in a rural district in Liberia. Total population-adjusted number of women's lives saved over 3 years was 6.25. CONCLUSION: While initial costs were considerable, over a period of 10 or more years MWHs could be a cost-effective and affordable strategy to reduce maternal mortality rates in Liberia. Discussion of the scaling up of MWH interventions for improving maternal outcomes in Liberia and other low- and middle-income countries is justified. Findings can be used to advocate for policy changes to increase the apportionment of resources for building more MWHs in low resource settings.