The second round of monitoring the health-for-all strategy: the experience of the Americas.

The WHO Region of the Americas comprises 34 Member States and a number of other countries and territories. For the 1988 monitoring of the health-for-all strategy (HFA), 27 Member States which included almost 100% of the population of the Region submitted reports. Data from other sources were used by the Regional Office to supplement these reports and to compile reports for all the countries of the Region for inclusion in the regional monitoring report. It was noted that sometimes data were available from outside sources on items that had not been reported on by the countries themselves. The common framework for monitoring (CFM) was used by the countries to prepare these reports. A number of problems were found with this instrument. A conflict was perceived between the assessment of the value of the global indicator for a given country, and its value in terms of the goal set for that indicator. It is also suggested that a number of more qualitative indicators be eliminated, and case studies substituted. A new indicator on coverage by vital registration is proposed, since it is argued that coverage with birth and death registration is directly correlated with coverage by primary health care (PHC). Regarding the availability, quality and comparability of the data provided by the countries, the results of the monitoring process showed great variability. Immunization data were generally available, but several countries reported on fewer doses or different target ages than those recommended by the global Expanded Programme on Immunization.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)