REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
Computer-based Tools

Computer-based Tools to Improve Supervision, Monitoring, and Evaluation of Reproductive Health Programs  

The Population Council and The Pubcomm Group, Inc. have developed simple, inexpensive, user-friendly computerized job aids to assist supervisors in improving the quality of family planning, maternity care, and postabortion care services. The software is free and can be downloaded below. It is available in three languages: English, Spanish, and French.

English-language version

Click here for download instructions. (Page will open in new window.)

The success of reproductive health services relies on effective supervision and program monitoring, yet supervisors frequently lack adequate training about the content of quality of care and how to evaluate the quality of services. User-friendly tools can assist supervisors in accomplishing their jobs.

Handheld (or laptop) computers are loaded with user-friendly programs that are composed of simple checklists that provide the content and evaluation of the service performance. This tool allows supervisors to easily identify strengths and weaknesses and instruct service providers or administrators on how best to improve their services.

Handheld computers are small (approximately 5"x8"x1"), inexpensive ($800–$1,000), powerful (16–32 MB RAM, color screens, windows), and useful (contain Word and Excel software from which data can be transferred to a desktop with Windows 95/98, Windows NT, or Windows 2000 operating systems). They can be used with a modified touch screen and have an extended (up to 20 hours) battery life. The programs were written (and are easily modifiable) in Excel, and have been used to monitor provider knowledge, behavior, and the infrastructures' capacity to provide reproductive health services.

Sample of how the programs work
The guide programs analyze data as the observations are recorded in the computer. This permits immediate review of provider knowledge, behavior, and the infrastructure's capacity to provide family planning, maternal care, or postabortion care services. This can facilitate immediate feedback regarding provider performance and facility readiness. Observation checklists have been set up in a simple dichotomous (yes/no) fashion to enable the supervisor to easily identify all negative ("no") responses where the provider or infrastructure need improvement. The data collected are also analyzed for the percent of each service adequately delivered. Data collected from different facilities and over time can be aggregated and analyzed through simple cut and paste mechanisms using the "eval" programs to produce statistics for program monitoring and evaluation. Examples below are from the Maternity Care Supervisory Aid and Evaluation Tool (OB Guide).

 

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This page updated 13 June 2005

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