Title: The Bangladesh Family Planning and Health Services Project (388-0071): evaluation report.

POPLINE Document Number: 110400

Author(s):

Pinkham F
Ahsan SS
Begum R
Crowley J
Epstein E
Kocher J
Metz-Krencker L
MacManus K
Mosley H
Nath DK

Source citation:

Arlington, Virginia, Population Technical Assistance Project [POPTECH], 1995 Sep. [2], xiv, 34, 17 p. (POPTECH Report No. 95-040-027|USAID Contract No. CCP-3024-C-00-3011)

Abstract:

In April 1995, the USAID-funded Bangladesh Family Planning (FP) and Health Services Project (August 31, 1987, through August 30, 1997) was evaluated to assess progress to date and to generate recommendations for the final two years. In general, the project has met or exceeded the following goals for 1997: 1) decreasing the total fertility rate of 4.6 in 1991 to 3.8 (3.4 was achieved in 1993-94); 2) reducing the infant mortality rate of 118 in 1991 to 107 (87 was achieved in the early 1990s); 3) increasing the contraceptive prevalence rate of 40% in 1991 to 50% (44.6 was reached in 1993-94); 4) increasing acceptors from 9.9 million in 1991 to 14.5 million (the initial framework contained an error, and the baseline rate actually was 7.8 million in 1991; 12.1 million are expected for 1997); and 5) increasing immunization of urban women and children from 25% in 1988 to 85%. Other project impacts were a drop of 26% in under-5 mortality and achievement of a maternal mortality rate of 5.5/1000. This report describes the project organization (as too complex), the four components of the project structure (assistance to the public sector, the social marketing company, nongovernmental organizations, and support services), and includes 12 recommendations of ways to take advantage of significant socioeconomic changes, strengthen service quality, stimulate the use of longterm methods, and create a more manageable structure for the follow-on period. The overall assessment is that the project has been a major factor in the expansion of population and health services and has demonstrated how USAID can stimulate the growth of a national program.

Keywords:

Bangladesh
Evaluation Report
Technical Report
Recommendations
Family Planning Programs
Maternal-Child Health Services
Public Sector
Logistics
Immunization
Social Marketing
Nongovernmental Organizations
Contraception
Research Activities
Evaluation
Monitoring
IEC
Asia, Southern
Asia
Developing Countries
Family Planning
Programs
Organization and Administration
Primary Health Care
Health Services
Delivery of Health Care
Health
Macroeconomic Factors
Economic Factors
Management
Marketing
Organizations
Research Methodology
Program Activities