Monitoring and evaluation

(56) Brown, Lori DiPrete ; Hurtado, Elena Development of a behaviourbased monitoring system for the health education component of the rural water and health project, CAREGuatemala / WASH (Arlington, VA, US). Arlington, VA, USA : Water and Sanitation for Health Project, 1992. 97 p. : fig., tab., ill. (WASH field report ; no. 364) CARE Rural Water and Health Project, (Guatemala)
10 references

This WASH project, in conjunction with CAREGuatemala, was to develop a simple monitoring system to track diarrhoea prevalence over time, and to assess progress towards reduction of waterborne diarrhoeal diseases. The monitoring approach is a continuous approach in contrast to traditional project midpoint and end evaluations. The choice was made to monitor health behaviour, by means of observations, i.e. if latrine seats showed stains and/or signs of wear, or if cleaning materials were present. Some of the other data acquisition instruments include surveys, checklists, community assessments and home visits, most of which are performed by CARE extension and promotion staff. Some of the recommendations for the continuation of the project are: redesigning latrines for children younger than 5 years, community participation in some of the more technical areas (choice of latrine type) and formative research in health education.

(57) Kurup, K. Balachandra ; Leena, M.L. (1991) Jeevadhara (fountain of life) : report of the evaluation of radio broadcast on protected water supply and environmental sanitation / Socio Economic Units, Kerala (Trivandrum, IN). Trivandrum, India : Kerala Water Authority, Socio Economic Units, Kerala, 42, iv p. : tab. (Research report / SocioEconomic Units, Kerala ; no. 5)
Bibliography: p. 4142

The Jeevadhara (Fountain of Life) Programme was conceived by the All India Radio and the SocioEconomic Units, Kerala. The report represents an evaluation of a series of weekly broadcasts on Protected Water Supply and Environmental Sanitation. These broadcasts were relayed to all radio stations in Kerala in the period from 14 November 1988 to 2 June 1989. The general aim was to create awareness among people about the importance of protected water supply and environmental sanitation. The two main intentions were: (a) Change some of the undesirable health practices prevalent among the people; (b) Educate the people and make them understand and gain some control over factors that affect community health. Questionnaires were distributed to some 1,500 registered listeners to evaluate the impact of the series on the people. It was also used to gauge the suitability of radio in information sharing and for educating people in habits connected with drinking water and sanitation. The main aim being to assess the extent to which the messages in the broadcasts had been understood and indentified by the listeners. A total of 1,035 questionnaires were returned. The report also includes a review of similar studies carried out in this field in other countries.

(58) LaPin, Deirdre (1992) Final evaluation of the Peace Corps Guinea Worm Eradication Program / WASH -Arlington, VA, US. - Arlington, VA, USA, Water and Sanitation for Health Project, - xvii, 159 p.: 1 map, 3 tab.. - (Wash field report; no. 369)
47 ref.

The Peace Corps Guinea Worm Eradication Program begun in 1989 under the USAID Africa Bureau. The guinea worm is a parasite transmitted by water fleas, which are ingested by drinking contaminated water. Preventative measures include filtering water through cloth or nylon, protecting water sources and chemical control. Since the Peace Corps Volunteers work on a village level, it was decided that the Guinea Worm Eradication Program was appropriate for their administration. Eleven countries participated in the programme. This report outlines the methodology of the program, training aids and their effectiveness, and participation by volunteers and APCDs. Conclusions and recommendations are given for each participating country, most of which are in West Africa. The community-based, person-to-person communication was found to be effective, and the combination of health education and safe water supply was responsible for significantly more reduction in the disease than either factor alone. The strategy was country-specific, while the monitoring and programme support was global.

(59) McIntyre, Peter (1996) Facts for Life - Lessons from experience /UNICEF, New York , USA (Research report)

This book aims to look critically at issues and lessons from the distribution and use of some 12 million copies in 213 languages of the WHO/UNESCO/UNICEF book Facts for Life , so that people and teams working with it in the field do not feel that they only come up against the same barriers and constraints. By looking at these lessons it can help it can help people to perform more effectively and suggest some key ways for monitoring and evaluation of Facts for Life.

From the examples in this book, it can be seen that Facts for Life reaches out to people in a variety of ways, in words and pictures, through mass media, face-to-face discussion, schools and community movements of all kinds. One of the themes of this book is that the way in which messages are conveyed is as important as their content, so that people are able to combine their life experiences with the knowledge base of Facts for Life, and are in control of the search for solutions.

Each of the chapters contain useful boxes with field examples, key points and action points.

(60) Seidel, Renata E. (1993) Notes from the field in communication for child survival (Books/Monographs) /Academy for Educational Development -Washington, DC, US ; USAID (Washington, DC, US. - Washington, DC, USA, Academy for Educational Development, - x, 246 p.: fig., tab., photogr.
ISBN 0894921029
Includes references and bibliography (p. 243-246)

This book presents practical lessons from 15 years of experience on the part of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in promoting the health of infants and children in developing countries. It has been compiled by the Academy for Education Development which conducts the Communication for Child Survival or HEALTHCOM project for USAID. The book is a collection of 24 case studies and anecdotes produced by developing country and U.S. programme implementors in confronting the challenges of diarrhoeal dehydration, vaccine-preventable diseases, acute respiratory infection, malaria and inadequate nutrition. It illustrates different aspects of a systematic approach to influencing behaviour among the family, the community, and the health care provider. The examples demonstrate the importance of balancing demand creation activities with service delivery support, and the need for advocacy at the highest leadership levels. The field notes are divided into six categories: 1) research: the foundation of decisions; 2) strategies for behaviour change; 3) designing effective materials; 4) principles and tools for training; 5) new policies, new products, new markets; and 6) management for the long term.