QCQ# 10 Alone You are Nobody, Together We Float: The Manuela ...

odies or the number of contraceptives that have
moved through a warehouse. Susan points out,
“Measures such as CYP [couple years of protection]
are used precisely because it is hard to measure
things that indicate deep, sustainable
change.” It is clear that, while as a scholar and
donor she cares deeply about assessing the impact
of ReproSalud, she does not think that the
challenges posed by evaluation should undermine
a commitment to doing the right kind of
work.
THE FIRST RESULTS
When the Maneulas decided to request an
extension of the project for an additional five
years, the demand for some preliminary documentation
was increased and they embarked on
ReproSalud’s first field-level or impact evaluation
activity: case studies in three Andean regions
where ReproSalud had been working for at least
one year. This qualitative effort was complemented
by quantitative studies of knowledge before and
after participation in the community-level workshops,
as well as service utilization statistics over
time, based on the logs at the health posts serving
these villages. All of the findings—summarized
below—were striking, given the short period of
time the ReproSalud project has been active.
Qualitative Impact Studies
Using a semistructured interview guide,
researchers interviewed women, men, youth,
village leaders, health officials, and municipal
authorities about the progress and preliminary
impact of the project in promoting: (1) women’s
empowerment and (2) contraceptive use. To
measure women’s empowerment, researchers
identified indicators at levels of the individual,
family, and community (ReproSalud 1998). Because
this project seeks to empower women to
promote their own reproductive health, healthpromoting
behavior was included as an additional
indicator of empowerment. Data collected
on family planning outcomes included changes
in contraceptive knowledge, attitudes, and use.
Empowerment Outcomes
Individual-level empowerment. The indicators
of women’s empowerment at the individual
level included:
• Increase in self-esteem;
• Female control of cash;
• Knowledge of rights; and
• Knowledge of and comfort with one’s body
and reproductive system.
Aside from their association with general
wellbeing, these indicators are also generally
linked to positive reproductive health outcomes
and family planning use. The following are excerpts
from women’s testimonies:
Once a month we come by foot and bus to
the town of Huaraz to take some of our money
from the bank. . . . The first time we went in, we
were frightened. We are not dressed like the
people in the bank. We speak Quechua. And we
were not used to working with cash. (Pause) But
we’re not nervous anymore. (A big smile lights
up her face) Now we like it.
Aurelia, project coordinator
in Canchabamba
I tell you, my pride follows me home.
Marilena, young coordinator at the
Pucallpa broom factory
Before, we were like burros, not knowing
anything. Now I feel useful for what I know, that
I can know something too. Before, we knew nothing,
we were forgetful, we were crying, crying.
Now, we know the parts of the body and how
they function, contraceptive method, how a baby
is produced, how to care and eat to have a
healthy baby. How to teach other women and to
determine if a woman needs to go to the health
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