Formulation of goals for life expectancy at birth in Costa Rica (report of one experience)

Costa Rican authorities have finished a national adaptation of the goals of the Hemisphere's Ten-Year Health Plan for the Americas and have formulated a National Health Plan for 1974-1980. This work was coordinated by the Health Sector Planning Unit and was assisted by various multidisciplinary and multi-institutional working groups. The methodology set forth in this article was developed by a group responsible for formulating goals with regard to life expectancy--the last of five health-related subjects analyzed, and one regarded as dependent on the rest. In brief, this methodology was as follows: Birth rates, death rates, and life expectancy at birth in the other countries of the Region and in a developed country (Sweden) were compared with those prevailing now and in the past in Costa Rica. This served as a basis for projecting Costa Rica's future prospects if no changes were made, or if certain changes were made through implementation of new programs. This was followed by analysis of leading caused of death in the country--by age group and vulnerability of those dying, and by probably reductions in mortality that would result from achieving the goals established for other programs. On this basis, various alternative reductions in mortality for each age groups were considered. Using these alternative, abridged life tables were devised, and these in turn were used to draw up a table showing the life expectancy at birth that would result from realization of each alternative. This made it possible to derive life expectancy goals that were consistent with the goals for reducing mortality in each age group that were formulated during the sectoral planning process. It is hoped that this general procedure, illustrated here with data from the Costa Rican case, may prove useful to others engaged in health planning work.