The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #38263

Patricia H. David, PhD, Natalia V. Vartapetova, MD, PhD, and Rimma Potemkina, MD, PhD. Center for Health Information, Monitoring and Evaluation, John Snow, Inc., 44 Farnsworth St., Boston, MA 02210, 617-482-9485, pdavid@jsi.com

Russian health care providers have not readily incorporated women's views and wishes into their care. A project in three Russian cities trained women's health care providers in evidence-based medical practices. The project aims to improve the effectiveness and 'family-friendliness' of maternal and infant health services, to increase client participation, and influence providers to involve women in their own care. The project's monitoring and evaluation system included information from clients, and presented their views as part of reports to participating facilities. This paper discusses some of the inconsistencies highlighted by the use of multiple data sources, and describes how information from clients included in these monitoring and evaluation data were employed to contribute to achieving the project objectives. Pre- and post intervention surveys of provider practices and client experiences and a routine health information monitoring system collected monitoring and evaluation data in the 20 participating facilities. More than 500 providers, including all physicians who provide prenatal, abortion, and delivery and neonatal care, and 1300 clients in 20 health facilities were interviewed in early 2000 and again in early 2002 using structured questionnaires. All consenting women attending for these services during a three-week period were also interviewed. Baseline and end-line indicators from surveys were compared with reports from the routine monitoring system. Information obtained from provider interviews about 'usual practices' (survey) and from the routine HIS was sometimes inconsistent with client reports. Findings were reported to facility staff and policy-makers to stimulate discussion and action during the course of the project.

Learning Objectives: Participants will

• assess the role of information concerning women's opinions of the care they receive in promoting change;
• recognize the utility of multiple sources of monitoring and evaluation data; and 3.increase their understanding of gains obtained by establishing and using baseline and periodic monitoring measures of program performance for advocacy.

Keywords: Evaluation, Women's Quality Care

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.