FAMILY PLANNING ACTIVITIES IN PARAGUAY; A PROGRAM EVALUATION

SHORTFALLS IN OUTPUT OCCURRED IN SOME AREAS, WITH SOME OVERAGES IN OTHERS. HOWEVER, THE OVERALL IMPACT OF THE FIRST PHASE OF THE PROGRAM IS VERY GOOD INDEED. THERE IS A REASONABLE BASIS OF DATA AND EXPERIENCE WHICH CAN BE USED TO MODIFY PHASE II TARGETS AND DIRECTIONS. THE EVALUATION CONCENTRATED ON THE FIVE COMPLEMENTARY THRUSTS OF THE PREPARATORY PHASE: RESEARCH, TRIAL CLINICS, NUTRITION, PERSONNEL SELECTION AND TRAINING, AND PUBLIC OPINION. THE PREPARATORY PHASE HAS FULFILLED ITS PURPOSE BY PROVIDING A BASIS OF EXPERIENCE FOR ENTERING THE OPERATIONS PHASE. SOME CONDITIONS HAVE CHANGED SINCE THE ORIGINAL PROP WAS CHANGED AND A GREAT DEAL OF NEW INFORMATION HAS BEEN AND IS BEING GENERATED. THE OPERATIONAL CLINIC PROGRAM SHOULD BE CONTINUED WITH THESE CHANGES: (1)REMOVE THE NUTRITION COMPONENT AND TREAT IT SEPARATELY; (2)INCREASE THE TARGETED NUMBER OF ACCEPTORS TO 175,000; AND (3)EXPAND THE INFORMATIONAL AND MOTIVATIONAL PROGRAM. THE EVALUATORS ALSO RECOMMEND THE FOLLOWING NEW ELEMENTS FOR THE PROGRAM: (1)A PROGRAM OF ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES TO FERTILITY REDUCTION; (2)EXPANDED TREATMENT OF NON-FERTILITY POPULATION PROBLEMS; AND (3)CONTINUED ENCOURAGEMENT TOWARD ADOPTION OF A DE FACTO POPULATION POLICY IN PROGRAM PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION.