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Evaluation Reports

Evaluation of the Latin American and Caribbean Maximizing Access and Quality Exchange: This report describes the outcomes of the first regional Maximizing Access and Quality (MAQ) Exchange, a five-day meeting held in April 2002 that provided information on evidence-based best practices in reproductive health and family planning (RH/FP) to representatives of Ministries of Health, USAID missions, cooperating agencies, and NGOs from the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Exchange participants were encouraged to develop action plans to implement ways to improve RH/FP practices in their home countries and could seek $15,000 in seed money from USAID to cover the costs of implementing those plans. In early 2004, USAID asked QAP to evaluate the results of the Exchange and the use of the seed funds in the five countries. The evaluation found mixed results: There was a clear consensus among the country participants about the high value of the themes and content of the Exchange, but not all action plans were successfully implemented. The report concludes with recommendations to strengthen future Exchanges in the areas of participant selection, technical content, selection of action plan topics, monitoring of action plan implementation, and management of funds.
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Evaluation of the Chile National Quality Assurance Program: This evaluation sought to identify the key ingredients of Chile's highly successful QA program and to make strategic recommendations to strengthen the eight-year-old program. Activities/tools: Quality improvement, quality design, assessment and monitoring, setting and communicating standards, evidence-based medicine.
Download full report (45 pages plus a 12-page appendix, including the evaluation framework)
Download summary (14 pages [abridged version of Evaluation])

The Guatemala QAP Evaluation: Application and Institutionalization of Quality Assurance: Guatemala's QA program supported the implementation of a new national health system. Over a 15-month period, the QA Project provided assistance in communicating primary healthcare standards, problem-solving activities, and redesigning hospital obstetrical services. The evaluation used focus groups and interviews to gather information on how quality assurance is working in this country with remote areas and a diverse population. Report highlights include the influence of health sector reform, the importance of QA facilitators, and QA institutionalization.
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The Niger QAP/BASICS Joint Project Final Evaluation: This evaluation examined the quality assurance project in Niger five years after QA implementation. The evaluation used several sources for information on the impact of quality assurance on the Nigerien healthcare system: an international conference, in-country document review, and visits to healthcare facilities and staff interviews. The report provides details on the development and communication of standards, supervision, problem solving, process design, and the cost of these QA activities
Download full report (65 pages)
Download summary (18 pages [abridged version of Evaluation])

The Zambia Quality Assurance Program Final Evaluation: This 1998 evaluation studied Zambia's QA program, begun in 1993. The report describes the program in depth and highlights the importance of well-established support systems and the factors that contribute to the success of problem-solving teams. The report also focuses on standards and performance assessments (40 pages plus 53-pages of appendix [clinical protocols developed by a district office in Zambia, 15-page health center supervision checklist, etc.]; 2000).
Download full report (40 pages plus 53-pages of appendix [clinical protocols developed by a district office in Zambia, 15-page health center supervision checklist, etc.])
Download summary (23 pages [abridged version of Evaluation])