Compendium of indicators for evaluating reproductive health programs. Volume 2.

The general objective of this Compendium is to encourage program evaluation and to improve the quality of work in this area. To this end the Compendium provides a comprehensive listing of the most widely used indicators for evaluating reproductive health programs in developing countries. Moreover the indicators are organized according to a revised version of the conceptual framework originally developed under the Evaluation Project. This framework maps the pathways through which programs achieves results and it constitutes a logical framework for developing an evaluation plan with appropriate indicators. The original framework created for family planning programs is readily adaptable to other areas of reproductive health. Many sections of the Compendium contain more detailed frameworks that explain the pathways for program effects specific to the topic area in question. Whereas some past evaluation efforts have treated the operations of reproductive health programs as a "black box" this framework specifies how those who design the program expect it to work to achieve results at both the program and population level. Moreover the framework draws attention to the different aspects of programs (operational areas access to services quality of care) that must be working satisfactorily to achieve the desired end result. The specific objectives of this Compendium are: To compile in a single publication a menu of reproductive health indicators judged most useful in evaluating reproductive health programs at both the program level and population level; To define these indicators in an effort to enhance the consistent use of terms across programs countries and donor agencies; and To promote evaluation of programs by making indicators readily available to evaluators. (excerpt)