Table 1

Location and characteristics of the 7 study hospitals

Hospital identifier

(location)

Hospital type (referral level)

Number

of beds (bed occupancy)

Malaria endemicity

Funding source

User charging policy

H1

(Nairobi province)

National (tertiary)

1520

(138%)

Low

Government budgetary allocation, user fees and occasional donations.

To offer free health care services to all children under 5 years.

H2

(Rift valley province)

Provincial (secondary)

453

(80%)

Moderate

H3

(Nyanza province)

District (primary)

234

(80%)

High

H4

(Central province)

District

(primary)

208

(120%)

Moderate

H5

(Eastern province)

District

(primary)

182

(108%)

Moderate

H6

(Rift valley province)

Mission (primary)

308

(49%)

Moderate

User fees (approx 80% of the budget), government seconded staff, donations (unpredictable and occasional).

Operate waiver and credit facilities for patients not able to pay.

H7

(Rift valley province)

Mission (primary)

160

(59%)

Moderate

Ayieko et al. Cost Effectiveness and Resource Allocation 2009 7:3   doi:10.1186/1478-7547-7-3