Philippines project 492-0406 · 1991–1993 · health systems, policy and finance · Management Sciences for Health (MSH)

Clear and measurable objectives are an important management tool, particularly in health sector programs. This paper examines the effect of setting quantifiable objectives (e.g., increasing the percentage of fully immunized infants from 65% to 85%) on the Philippine Child Survival Program (CSP) and what can be learned from the experience. The CSP objectives were output rather than impact indicators because the former are easier to measure and more directly related to the health system's efforts. Establishment of quantitative indicators had a positive effect on managers' collection and use of data. For example, a new way of doing household surveys was created to measure the contraceptive prevalence rate. On the other hand, the CSP indicators did not appear to give a common direction to staff, because they were not widely known. The targets were infrequently used to make course corrections because baseline data were not readily available and because there were few occasions on which they were discussed by top management. The CSP experience suggests that: (1) much time and effort are needed at the beginning of a project to establish a few easily measured, epidemiologically valid

Source: DEC abstract, PN-ABR-933 (1993). This is the source's own text, not a cited summary of the documents.