Approaches to integrated programs: health family planning and development: a strategy workshop for private voluntary organizations April 12-14 1982 Washington D.C.

A workshop attended by 34 representatives of 27 private voluntary organizations was held in April 1982 to compare the advantages and disadvantages of vertical and integrated health projects. This report is an edited synopsis of the final presentation and group discussions of the workshop. The major topics examined include program setting community involvement and program design constraints on integration and political issues. Major themes are identified and conclusions and recommendations presented. Integration was found to be a way of life at the village level and the design and management of integrated programs need to reflect the interrelation of nutrition health water supply income generation and family planning. True community involvement must be sought beginning in the earliest feasibility assessment. Approaches to selection of community workers should be culture and situation-specific but some generalizations have been found through experience to be useful. Income-generating activities are extremely important despite their difficulty. Despite ethical questions raised by working within politically repressive governments and grossly inequitable economic systems such work may be justifiable because the needs of the poorest people in such settings are likely to be the greatest. Project planning and implementation should be carried out with existing constraints in mind and should work toward the goal of an ongoing program. These issues and general principles have definite program implications for donor agencies and PVOs.