Effect of synergy between provider and consumer quality of healthcare on child health in Kenya

Besides access to health services, quality of health care is recognized as a key element in putting an end to preventable childhood illnesses. While the quality of health care and its effects on health is often assessed at the facility level, consumers of health care are co-producers of quality health care since they are capable of using their knowledge and resources to enhance their own health and that of their children. Using the 2014 Kenya Demographic Health Survey data, this study sought to examine the interaction effect of the provider and consumer quality of health care on child health as measured by child weight-for-age (WAZ). Controlling for potential endogeneity, the results of the Two-Stage-Residual-Inclusion model show that the coefficient of the interaction between provider quality of health care as indicated by a dispensary, a health center and a private clinic and consumer quality of healthcare index was positive and significant. This suggests that consumer quality of health care enhances child health given the provider quality of health care. Policies targeted at addressing quality of health care should thus focus on simultaneously improving both supply and demand side quality of health care. Other variables that were key in influencing child nutritional status include; child sex and sex, twin birth and belonging to a higher wealth index.