Disparities in the implementation of the Health Extension Program in Ethiopia: Doing more and better towards universal health coverage

Large-scale implementation of the Health Extension Program (HEP) has enabled Ethiopia to make significant progress in health services coverage and outcomes. However, evidence on equity disparities HEP is limited. The aim this study was examine Ethiopia. We used data from 2019 National assessment which conducted between Oct 2018 Sept nine regions country. Data were collected 62 districts, 343 posts, 179 centres, 584 Workers (HEWs), 7043 women 7122 Households. This focused selected input, service delivery, indicators. rate differences, ratios index disparity assess across regions. found wide inter-regional implementation. Developing regional states (DRS) had significantly lower availability qualified HEWs (Rate Ratio (RR) = 0.54), proportion households visited by workers (RR 0.40), mothers who received education child nutrition 0.45) as compared national average. There also among DRS past 12 months (Index 1.58) adolescents interacted with 1.43). Despite low overall DRS, contribution for maternal relatively high. level remarkable. To achieve Universal Coverage, it important that these are addressed systematically strategically. recommend a tailored approach DRS.