The Impact of a Microfinance Program on Client Perceptions of the Quality of Care Provided by Private-Sector Midwives in Uganda

This study aims to assess the impact of a microfinance program that provided business-skills training and revolving loans to private-sector midwives on the perceived quality of care received by clients, and client loyalty to the clinics.

The study used the following methods:

• A quasi-experimental study with a pre-test post-test design to evaluate the impact of the intervention;
• Exit interviews at fifteen clinics that used the intervention and seven clinics that did not;
• The provision of business-skills training and loans to midwives;
• Follow-up clinic visits to assess whether the midwives were implementing what they had learnt at the training;
• Repayment of the loans within six to twelve months at standard local interest rates;
• Usage of multivariate logistic regression analysis to assess the net impact of the intervention.

The study found that:

• The intervention resulted in a significant net improvement in clients' perceptions of the quality of care received at intervention clinics;
• The intervention was associated with higher client loyalty.

The study concludes that a microfinance program that provides business-skills training and revolving loans to small-scale private providers, such as midwives, can increase client loyalty by increasing client perceptions of the quality of care they receive.