Evaluation of the implementation of reproductive health services in Maringa, Parana State, Brazil

The aim of this study was to develop a tool to evaluate the implementation of a contraceptive program in health services and apply it to the 23 public health services in Maringa, Parana State, Brazil. A theoretical-logical model was developed, corresponding to a "target image" for the family planning program. Using the Delphi technique and consensus conference, six experts validated the program's target image, which included three dimensions and 60 evaluation criteria. A data collection instrument was prepared, in addition to a spreadsheet to evaluate the degree of the family planning program's implementation, constituting the Questionnaire for the Evaluation of Reproductive Health Services. The vast majority of the primary health units (91.3%) received an "intermediate" score on implementation of the family planning program, while 8.7% were classified as "incipient" and none were scored as "advanced". The "advanced" degree of implementation in the structural dimension contrasted with the organizational and patient care dimensions. The instrument can be useful for evaluating reproductive health programs and is applicable to the health services planning and management processes.