Reducing gaps in maternal care: evidence from rural health workforce expansion in Thailand

This paper examines the impact of a supply-side health policy in Thailand that increased the availability of doctors and nurses in rural areas. We find significant improvements in maternal healthcare utilization, including increased skilled birth attendance and prenatal care, particularly among Muslim and less-educated women, thereby reducing health inequalities. However, child health outcomes show limited improvement, with only weak evidence of reduced child stunting. These findings suggest that while workforce expansions enhance access to basic maternal care, improving child health requires broader, quality-focused interventions. The study offers important insights for designing equitable healthcare policies in underserved and conflict-affected areas.