FINAL REPORT : EVALUATION OF THE TRAINING BY AFRICAN PARTICIPANTS OF THE MEHARRY MEDICAL COLLEGE MATERIAL CHILDHEALTH/FAMILY PLANNING TRAINING CENTER, NASHVILLI, TENN (SEPT.20-OCT.2)

EVAL INCLUDED VISITS TO COLLEGE (SEPT 20-22),AND TO GRADS IN SIERRA LEONE (OCT 3-5),LIBERIA (OCT 7-14),SWAZILAND (OCT 17-20),AND LESOTHO (OCT 24-27). A 1974 EVAL REPORT WAS USED AS BASELINE DATA SOURCE. EVAL EXCLUDES MEHARRY NUTRITION TRNG PROGRAM,COST-EFFECTIVENESS OF MCH/FP PROGRAM,VIABILITY OF TRNG CENTER,AND INDVDL COUNTRY GOALS. THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT PARTICIPANTS,RESPONSIBILITIES HAVE BEEN PROGRESSIVELY EXTENDED,AND THAT THE PROGRAM ENABLES GRADS TO PERFORM DUTIES BETTER. A"MULTIPLIER"EFFECT IS EVIDENCED,WITH MOST PARTCPNTS PROVIDING VALUABLE SRVC TO FAMILIES AND USING SKILLS EFFECTIVELY,ESP IN MCH. LEARNING RESOURCES AND CURRIC PLANS AT NASHVILLE TRNG AND RSRCH CENTER ARE GOOD EXCEPT FOR FP CLINICAL EXPERIENCE. EVALUATOR DOUBTS THAT TRAINEES CAN SAFELY PERFORM INTERUTERINE DEVICE(IUD) INSERTN OR THAT THEY CAN TEACH OTHER HLTH PRSONNEL IN AFRICA. EVALR RCMNDS MORE CLINICAL EXPRNCE AND PRACTCL TRNG IN FP AT MEHARRY. INSUFCNT QUALFCATN OF CANDIDATES (ABOUT 10%) REMAINS A PROBLEM,DUE TO VARYING PARTIC SELECTION PROCESSES IN DIFRNT HOST COUNTRIES. GRADS OF THE TRNG PROBLEM RCMND STANDARDIZED SELECTN CRITERIA TO ELIMINATE UNQUALIFIED CONDIDATES. MINISTRY OF HLTH (MOH) SUPERVISION OF RETURNED PARTCPNTS IS WEAK,AND INADQTE SUPRVSN IS A MAJOR OBSTACLE TO FULL USE OF NURSES AND/OR MIDWIVES. MOST INTRVWD OFFICIALS ADVOCATED EXTENSN OF TRNG COURSE TO 6 MOS & INCREASD RELEVANCE TO AFRICA'S SCARCITY OF FACILS AND EQPMT,DIFRNT DISEASE PATTERNS,AND VARYING LOCAL CUSTOMS. SOME OFFICIALS SUGSTD THAT THE TRNG COURSE BE CONDUCTED IN AFRICA. TERMINAL EVAL SYSTEM AT THE CENTER IS POOR,AND INADQTE CONTACT IS MAINTAINED WITH PARTICIPANTS AFTER THEIR RETURN TO AFRICA. SOLE INVOLVEMENT OF USAID PERSONNEL WITH PARTICIPANTS IS PRE-DEPARTURE BRIEFING,WITH NO MISSION INVOLVEMENT IN DEALINGS BETWEEN THE COLLEGE,THE MOH'S,AND PARTICIPANTS.