The efficiency of immunization of infants by local government

Abstract

The paper makes use of data envelopment analysis (DEA) to measure the cost and production efficiency of local government programmemes for childhood immunization in urban and rural settings in Australia. Model specification is tested for validity, methods are used for ranking efficient units and advanced statistical methods are used to establish confidence intervals around the efficiency estimates. Given the small data set, the cost and production models are valid, and it is concluded that while neither urban nor rural programmes are particularly efficient, there is more room for improvement in rural programmes. Ways of changing methods of delivery are suggested which may increase efficiency.