Rāhburdhā-yi Mudīriyyat dar Niẓām-i Salāmat (Dec 2018)
Strategic Analysis of Maternal Health Program Evaluation System for Providing Improvement Strategies using Internal-External Environment Assessment Technique in Iran
Abstract
Background: Maternal health program plays an important role in community health, so this study was conducted to analyze the strategic system of maternal health program evaluation for providing improvement strategies using internal-external environment assessment technique in Iran. Methods: This qualitative study was conducted using the internal-external environment assessment technique. The required data were collected using a qualitative semi-structured questionnaire. The items included the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats, and proposed strategies for improving the performance of the evaluation system. The study experts comprised of 40 health professionals with least 10 years of experience in the maternal health program. They were working in the field of population and family health in the health deputies of Iran medical sciences' universities. The provided points of views by the experts were categorized and reported based on the contents and the internal-external environment assessment matrix was used to develop the strategy. Results: This study resulted in a comprehensive strategic analysis of the positive and negative points in the internal and external environment of maternal health program evaluation system. The proposed strategies by experts were categorized in 7 main domains under the topics of strengthening the monitoring and evaluation tools, enhancing the monitoring and evaluation process, reforming the clinical information system, establishing a national independent evaluation organization, strengthening the motivation of human resources, enhancing the internal and external coordination, and procuring of the sustainable financial and physical resources. Conclusion: The results indicate that there are important internal weaknesses and external threats in this evaluation system, but they can be overcome by designing and implementing the appropriate promotion strategies.
