SWOT analysis of program design and implementation: a case study on the reduction of maternal mortality in Afghanistan

Abstract

This case study analyzes the design and implementation of the Basic Package of Health Services (BPHS) in Afghanistan by synthesizing the literature with a focus on maternal health services. The authors are a group of graduate students in the Brandeis University International Health Policy and Management Program and Sustainable International Development Program who used the experience in Afghanistan to analyze an example of successfully implementing policy; two of the authors are Afghan physicians with direct experience in implementing the BPHS. Data is drawn from a literature review, and a unique aspect of the case study is the application of the business-oriented SWOT analysis to the design and implementation of the program that successfully targeted lowering maternal mortality in Afghanistan. It provides a useful example of how SWOT analysis can be used to consider the reasons for, or likelihood of, successful or unsuccessful design and implementation of a policy or program. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Scaling up primary health services for improving reproductive, maternal, and child health: a multisectoral collaboration in the conflict setting of Afghanistan

“…The multisectoral collaboration of BPHS implementation in Afghanistan has generally been positively received. 7 8 33 Inequities are described in box 3 .…”

“…Two midwifery schools were established in 2002; by 2014, there were 34 institutions, one in each province, which collectively trained several thousand midwives. 7 …”

“…This package is one of the first and longest running primary healthcare models of its kind, and has been cited as a success, despite reported limitations and ongoing challenges. 7 8 9 …”

Improving Afghanistan Midwifery - Midwifery Care during Childbirth and Postpartum Period in Afghanistan: Based on the Results of the Interviews Conducted in Estonia

“…Based on the results of the current empirical study and on literature Speakman et al 9, Rahmani et al [10], Wood et al [11], Ahmadi et al [5] research, it can be said that despite of the development of the country there is a lack of the midwifery care in Afghanistan and it is concentrated in cities. More than 50% of childbirths in Afghanistan are still home births, mostly because almost 70% of the population lives in rural areas.…”

“…Based on data collected from 2014, there are 7 trained health care employees per 10,000 inhabitants in Afghanistan [4]. Provision of midwifery care is complicated and inaccessible in many areas [5]. Main problems causing maternal and neonatal mortality are midwives´ lack of knowledge and skills for providing care, as well as lack of technical equipment and/or not enough skills for using it, and lack of midwives.…”