Assessment of effectiveness of the Rede Mãe Paranaense Program

ABSTRACT

Assessing the implementation of policies and programs for improving child health is essential. This study aimed at assessing the effectiveness of the Rede Mãe Paranaense Program, creating an evaluative index for the objectives of the program regarding child follow-up, in order to stipulate the degree to which they were implemented. 139 women who used the program were interviewed. The research used data from the elaborated instrument and analyzed the Child Health Handbook. Data analysis was performed by comparing the relative frequencies obtained in the study and those proposed by the program, calculating the ratio between these frequencies to obtain the evaluative index, i.e., to find out how much was achieved from the stipulated goal. The variables were categorized into domains defined in the program, generating an evaluative index for each of these. In the ‘Maternal Satisfaction’ domain, the goal was 68% achieved; in ‘Follow-up in childcare’, 67% was achieved; in ‘Quality and Resolvability in Care’ 55%; and ‘Risk Stratification’, only 6% of the goal was achieved. It is concluded that the evaluative indexes portray low efficacy in following the child. The study evidenced the need to review the strategies used in the follow-up of child health to improve care indices in Primary Health Care.

KEYWORDS
Program evaluation; Child health; Health status indicators; Primary Health Care