A planning cycle in the development of a community health program. An intervention program in mother and child care

The Or Yehuda Intervention Program was developed in accordance with a planning cycle that includes a situation analysis, formulation of objectives, selection of strategies, development of an operational plan, implementation and evaluation, which lead, in turn, to a new situation analysis. The primary aims of the program are to reduce the infant mortality rate in Or Yehuda to the level prevailing in the rest of the area and to promote continuity of care and proper medical management during pregnancy, delivery and the first year of life. Problems in implementation, especially those related to coordination and integration of the several medical facilities involved, the information tools developed, and preliminary results are presented.