The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #63451

Nancy E Fronczak, PhD, Demographic Health Survey, ORC/Macro International, 7425 Hallcrest Drive, McLean, VA 22102 and Norma W. Wilson, DrPH, Global Health Bureau, USAID, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave, Washington DC, DC 20523, 202-712-0667, nwilson@usaid.gov.

9) Abstract:

While good quality and comparative information on health status is becoming more readily available for developing countries, information on health service provision that is representative and comparable within and between countries is scarce. The Service Provision Assessment (SPA) is a tool that provides information on the extent to which health services are being provided at the expected standard, as well as information on factors related to the service delivery environment that may contribute to positive or negative findings. This information, used in conjunction with demographic and health indicators provides indications of areas where health status may be improved by improvement in health service delivery. This is the information that is required by policymakers, program planners, administrators and managers when developing health programs and allocating resources aimed toward improving health status. The tools for the SPA consist of an audit/inventory of a representative sample of health facilities where the systems, infrastructure, equipment, and supplies necessary to maintain capacity and support practice of good quality health service provision are assessed. In addition, observations of service delivery and interviews with clients provide information on actual practices, and client understanding of these practices. Experience from SPA surveys in four countries has highlighted difficulties with developing operational definitions and with implementing data collection so that an accurate picture of the service delivery situation results and findings are comparable between facilities and countries. Lessons have been learned and incorporated into subsequent surveys.

Learning Objectives:

• The participants will discuss the:
• a. issues in collecting information to measure health service capacity and adherence to standards when a variety of means can be used to achieve a standard.
• b. complementary use of population based national demographic and health data and service provisiondata for policy makers, planners and managers.
• c. usefulness of service provision assessments in providing measurements of health services function and quality that can be used by consumers, providers, policy makers, planners, and donors to lever for improving health services.

Keywords: Quality, Health Service

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: USAID Demographic and Health Plus Project; contractor:ORCMACRO International, Calverton, MD
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: employed by Johns Hopkins University