Abstract
BACKGROUND: Strengthening health systems and ensuring equity and access to human resources can significantly reduce maternal and child mortality and improve maternal and child health outcomes. This mixed-methods study aimed at the quantity, quality, and equity of the allocation of human resources for health (HRH) in Chinese maternal and child healthcare institutions from 2002 to 2021 while providing a reference for optimally allocating HRH in the new era. METHODS: Relying on health-related data obtained from statistical yearbooks in 2003-2022, the study analysed the allocation status using descriptive statistics, examined the allocation equity with the Gini coefficient and the Health resource agglomeration degree/Health resource population agglomeration degree (HRAD/HRPAD). Finally, the study predicted the future allocation trend by compiling a grey prediction model GM (1,1). RESULTS: HRH quantity in Chinese maternal and child healthcare institutions experienced steady growth. However, the composition of educational background and professional titles was unreasonable. The quality structure needs to be further optimized. The equity of demographic allocation (Gini < 0.2) was superior to the geographic allocation (Gini = 0.631-0.678), with significant regional differences. The HRAD values of HRH in different regions were as follows: eastern region (3.50-3.70) > central region (1.69-1.92) > western region (0.36-0.44); HRPAD (2021): western region (1.150) > central region (0.991) > eastern region (0.912). The equity of sparsely populated regions was superior to that of densely populated regions. The HRH future allocation trend is positive. CONCLUSIONS: Emphasis should be placed on the status quo of unreasonable allocation and unbalanced distribution. Careful consideration must be given to factors like service population, service radius, economic development, and population mobility while considering demographic and geographic equity to promote the reasonable allocation and full utilisation of HRH.