Designing a Logic Model for Mobile Maternal Health e-Voucher Programs in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: An Interpretive Review

Despite the increasing transition from paper vouchers to mobile e-vouchers for maternal health in low- and middle-income countries, few studies have reviewed key elements for program planning, implementation, and evaluation. To bridge this gap, this study conducted an interpretive review and developed a logic model for mobile maternal health e-voucher programs. Pubmed, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases were searched to retrieve relevant studies; 27 maternal health voucher programs from 84 studies were identified, and key elements for the logic model were retrieved and organized systematically. Some of the elements identified have the potential to be improved greatly by shifting to mobile e-vouchers, such as payment via mobile money or electronic claims processing and data entry for registration. The advantages of transitioning to mobile e-voucher identified from the logic model can be summarized as scalability, transparency, and flexibility. The present study contributes to the literature by providing insights into program planning, implementation, and evaluation for mobile maternal health e-voucher programs.

The current landscape of school choice in the United States

Over the last 30 years, the school choice movement has been one of the most prominent large-scale reform efforts in American education. In recent years, charter schools and voucher programs, in particular, have been a focus of policy makers and philanthropists. Mark Berends presents an overview of these two models, their prevalence, and what research says about their effectiveness.

Under the Law: Discriminatory practices in voucher programs

A recent case in Maryland raises the question of how state policies related to school funding apply to religious schools with discriminatory practices. A private Maryland school was denied voucher funds when the state learned that the school’s handbook required that dress codes, pronoun use, and restroom choice align with a student’s sex assigned at birth. The school sued, claiming that the policy was not discriminatory because it does not apply to student admission. Suzanne Eckes and Julie Mead consider this case in light of past cases involving school discrimination.

Side effects in education: Winners and losers in school voucher programs

Even the most effective education reforms and initiatives are unlikely to have a uniform effect on all students. In fact, much like in medicine, some beneficial efforts can have adverse side effects. Yong Zhao takes up this idea as it applies to school choice and voucher programs. When researchers tout the benefits of vouchers, they focus on the average effect of such programs on participating students. But because some students experience negative effects, Zhao argues that vouchers must not be considered a panacea for improving student outcomes.