Methodological problems in evaluation of family planning, materanal and child health programmes in Africa

Abstract

The objective of the present study is to review methodological problems in evaluating the impact of family planning programmes and whether these methodologies can be applied to evaluate the impact of integrated MCH/FP programmes„ The review is intended to provide information that may be useful to those concerned with the evaluation of MCH/FP programmes. It is-being undertaken as one of the approved ECA work programme for the biennium-1986/87 under .programme element 1.3 output (i) “Methodological Problems in evaluating integrated maternal and. child health/family planning programmes, in Africa”, The next .sections of this study will-deal with the following aspects respectively the concept of evaluation in MCH/FP programmes and statistical data needs for evaluation; review-of available-methodologies for evaluating -the impact of family planning programmes on fertility; evaluation of the impact of integrated MCH/FP programmes on the health of the child and mother; evaluation problems unresolved; conclusion and recommendations.