Project Example

In-Kind Incentives and Health Worker Performance in El Salvador

In this project in El Salvador, public sector community health teams were awarded points for targets met on maternal and child health outcomes. Targets were measured at baseline and every six months for the next 18 months, and points were redeemable for in-kind incentives like computers and air conditioners to be shared in the workplace.

After 12 months, teams eligible for in-kind incentives performed better than control teams, with significantly higher average effects across all 4 domains; an increase of 0.17 SD in community outreach, 0.14 SD in quality of care, 0.10 SD in timeliness of care, and 0.096 SD in utilization of health services.

Source: Inter-American Development Bank

Date of Publication: July 9, 2020