Performance monitoring for family planning and reproductive health programs : an approach paper

This report summarizes some of the changes in performance monitoring taking place in selected countries in response to this policy shift. There is considerable variability in how countries are making this transition. (1) Indonesia has recently made great strides in shifting the focus of its FP program from a target-driven program to one based on understanding and fulfilling the needs and preferences of the family. Work is now underway to operationalize the policy at the field level, incorporate it in national and local planning, and devise strategies for collecting information that will allow assessment of its success. (2) In the Philippines, focus is placed on improving maternal and child health and meeting women"s reproductive intentions. Work is proceeding to improve the national management information systems, make better use of existing data to produce an annual status report for the Philippine FP Program, as well as to strengthen monitoring systems at the local level. The current capabilities of local government units (LGUs) vary widely. While pilot approaches are being tested in a few LGUs, it is unclear to what extent these will be endorsed by either the Department of Health or other LGUs. (3) In Zimbabwe, greater attention is being paid to reproductive health in service provision, particularly sexually transmitted disease treatment and prevention. A new report form is being tested to ascertain more clearly the quality of care provided and patterns of method switching. The next 5-year plan, to be developed during 1996, is expected to formalize this new reproductive health strategy. (4) Increased emphasis is being placed on reproductive health in Mexico, although it is too early to know how the performance monitoring system will evolve to address these new concerns. (Author abstract, modified)