Wawer M J, McNamara R, McGinn T, Lauro D
Columbia University Center for Population and Family Health (CPFH), New York, New York 10032.
Stud Fam Plann. 1991 Sep-Oct;22(5):279-93.
Between 1979 and 1990, Columbia University conducted 26 family planning operations research (OR) projects in 13 sub-Saharan African countries. Most of these projects were implemented in settings where family planning service delivery had not yet been initiated or was new and poorly developed. In keeping with program needs in the early stages of development, the majority of the OR projects were based on demonstration or diagnostic designs. Only four of the 23 projects were comparative or quasi-experimental in design. Projects demonstrated the growing demand for family planning, and the feasibility and acceptability of a range of service delivery models. Sixteen of the projects have been sustained or replicated by national or local governments and institutions following the initial OR phase, replication of two others is planned, and another four resulted in policy formulation or improvements in existing national programs. OR in Africa played an important role in generating political and medical support for contraceptive services, and served to improve project management. OR proved more useful in the implementation and strengthening of individual programs than in generating universal lessons regarding service delivery. In order to maximize OR's utility in Africa, simple research designs and methods should be adopted.
1979年至1990年间，哥伦比亚大学在撒哈拉以南非洲的13个国家开展了26个计划生育运筹学（OR）项目。这些项目大多在尚未启动计划生育服务或服务刚刚起步且发展不完善的地区实施。为满足发展初期的项目需求，大多数运筹学项目基于示范或诊断设计。23个项目中只有4个采用了比较性或准实验性设计。这些项目表明了对计划生育的需求不断增长，以及一系列服务提供模式的可行性和可接受性。在最初的运筹学阶段之后，16个项目已由国家或地方政府及机构持续开展或进行了复制，另外两个项目计划进行复制，还有四个项目促成了政策制定或现有国家项目的改进。非洲的运筹学在为避孕服务争取政治和医疗支持方面发挥了重要作用，并有助于改善项目管理。事实证明，运筹学在单个项目的实施和强化方面比在总结服务提供的通用经验方面更有用。为了最大限度地发挥运筹学在非洲的效用，应采用简单的研究设计和方法。
