42 services, such as congenital heart disease surgery. Argentina’s government hoped that through these key interventions, infant and maternal mortality would decrease and that the population’s overall health would improve (Measham, 2009). Although Plan Nacer significantly fortified the quality of care among uninsured women and children, it remained a challenge to reach the poorest in the most remote areas. As a result, it has become part of Plan Nacer’s objectives to grow to include larger populations of individuals in need. In 2012, Plan Nacer was expanded and renamed Programa Sumar (Additional Plan). This new and expanded version of Plan Nacer broadened coverage to older children ages 6 to 19 and women ages 20 to 64. In mid-2015, it also expanded to cover uninsured men ages 20 to 64. Between 2010 and 2019, Plan Sumar’s health coverage increased from 7% to 50.4% for teenagers and women, and 0% to 13.4% for men (World Bank, 2020). Plan Nacer also inspired organizations to create smaller programs, such as Plan Qunitas (Cribs Plan), that provided cribs made from cardboard to prevent infants from dying of sudden infant death syndrome while sleeping in bed with their parents (personal communication with Dr. Mariana De Maio at Lehigh University). Improved Infant Health After the Crisis Soon after the implementation of Plan Nacer, infant health outcomes revealed immediate improvement. In 2002, infant low birth weights were 77.8 per 1000; after Plan Nacer was introduced in 2004, low birth weights decreased to 75.6, and by 2006 they decreased even further to 71.9 per 1000. In 2002, infant mortality was 16.8 per 1000; however, after the introduction of Plan Nacer in 2004, infant mortality decreased to 14.4 per 1000, and by 2006 it decreased to 12.9 per 1000 (DEIS, 2009). The notable success of Plan Nacer sparked interest among researchers worldwide, and various studies were conducted to further examine the health outcomes after the establishment of the plan. A research team led by Paul Gertler of the University of California, Berkeley, investigated the impact of Plan Nacer on birth outcomes in the nine poor provinces between 2004 and 2008 (Gertler et al., 2014). They studied the impact of incorporating Plan Nacer on the health outcomes of infants and pregnant women. Their research showed that Plan Nacer positively impacted birth outcomes. They estimated that Plan Nacer reduced the probability of low birth weight by 9% for users of clinics that had incorporated the plan, and by 23% for Plan Nacer beneficiaries. Individuals who were Plan Nacer beneficiaries were registered for Plan Nacer’s insurance and therefore received care consistently, whereas those who had care from clinics that incorporated the plan were only just introduced to it the first time at the clinic and were not yet registered members. Data also showed that it reduced neonatal deaths in hospitals by 22% for users of Plan Nacer clinics, and by 74% for Plan Nacer beneficiaries. These statistics show a significant effect of Plan Nacer on the improvement of infant health in Argentina. Graciela Etchegoyen and José María Paganini, both professors and researchers at the faculty of medical sciences of Universidad Nacional de La Plata, analyzed the relationship between maternal/infant health and socioeconomic factors in Argentina (2007). They used a cross-sectional design to study rates for maternal, infant, neonatal, and postnatal mortality as well as the percentages of low birth weights and preterm births. They found a significant correlation between high infant/postnatal mortality rates and poor socioeconomic conditions. The researchers also showed a significant correlation between the quality of health programs and the percentage of low birth weights. This suggested that health programs ameliorated infant health when implemented well, even in unfavorable socioeconomic conditions. The national Ministry of Health also found that infant mortality in the country decreased from 14.4 per 1000 in 2004 to 11.9 per 1000 in 2011 (Cruces et al., 2012). Evaluations suggested an increase in birth weight, improved Apgar scores (which summarize the health of newborns against infant mortality), and a reduction in neonatal mortality. This is a continuous and evident trend indicating improved infant health and mortality after the adoption of Plan Nacer. Nuñez and colleagues (2016) examined
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTA0OTQ5OA==