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  Basics of health planning / Class 2. Situational analysis

 

2. Collecting information

We now have a general understanding of what information needs to be collected for the situational analysis. Now let's see what the main sources are for this information, where it can be obtained (we already mentioned some of the sources earlier in the text). Let's try to make a general list of them

  • Population Censuses
  • Vital Registration Systems
  • Government Reports
  • Non- government Reports
  • Professional Associations
  • Treatment Records
  • Surveys: National, District, Community
  • Other data collected for planning process (formative research- both qualitative and quantitative)
  • Experts

    The preceding discussion was devoted to the major pieces of information required for the planning process.

    3. Analysis of the collected information

    The third step of the situational analysis (after the decision about what information to collect and the collection process is made) is the analysis of information. It should include:

  • a commentary on the situation
  • identification of key problem areas
  • analysis of the causes of the problem

    A thorough description of the current situation plays a crucial role in furthering the correct selection of priorities and actions. The commentary will

    (1) highlight key problem areas(social problems, deaths, sicknesses, wasting, etc)
    (2) reveal the immediate, underlying and basic causes leading to them

    Immediate causes are the direct causes of the problem. Corresponding actions here usually
    (a) operate at an individual level, (b) should be repeated in order to have a sustainable effect. They act as a short-term remedy to the problem.

    Underlying causes include beliefs; attitudes; behavior; coverage and use of health and education services; water supply, etc. Actions at any level of the society (household, local, regional, central) may be needed to target underling causes.

    Basic (structural) causes are related to the structure of the country, society, socio-cultural factors, structure and role of the state, macroeconomics

    The analysis of the situation

    (attempts to match current and projected health needs with present service-provision
    (4) reveals likely gaps both in terms of services and resources
    (5) comments on efficiency and equity of current health provision

    In addition the commentary

    (6) focuses on existing relationships between the health service and other sectors
    (7) addresses the appropriateness of the current organizational arrangements for the health sector

     

    4. Documenting information

    The end point in the situational analysis (fourth step) is producing a document. It will be used (1) for production of a plan, (2) as a feedback to health workers, (3) as a background document, (4) for publicizing important information regarding health (to receive support for programs and ideas).

    In order to carry out the situational analysis, the following interested parties need to be involved:

  • health planners
  • health professionals and service managers
  • representatives of other sectors related to the health sector
  • community representatives

    This team-based approach will ensure inclusion of the views of each group, and act as a preliminary step in insuring their support for final plan.

    After the situational analysis is completed, the phase of priority, goals and objectives setting as well as strategy appraisal follows.

     

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