Assessing the impact of PRSPs on Child Poverty: The Case of Bolivia

The goals for <strong>the</strong> outcome indicators are consistent with <strong>the</strong> intermediate indicators. The
availability <strong>of</strong> greater institutional coverage <strong>of</strong> pneumonia treatment in children under one year
and nutritional programs for pregnant women to prevent low birth weight will make it possible to
reduce <strong>the</strong> infant mortality rate from 67 per 1,000 live births in 1998 to 40 per 1,000 live births
in <strong>the</strong> year 2015. Expanded coverage <strong>of</strong> adequate prenatal care and institutional childbirth will
make it possible to reduce <strong>the</strong> maternal mortality rate from 390 per 100,000 live births in <strong>the</strong>
year 1994 to 200 per 100,000 live births in <strong>the</strong> year 2015 (BPRSP, 176).
Table 1: Outcome indicators
Description
Child Mortality Rate (per
1,000 live births)
Maternal Mortality Rate
(per 100,000 live births)
Table 2: Intermediate Indicators
Description 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
% Of children with low birth
weight
6 % 6 % 5 % 4 % 4 % 3 % 3 %
% Of Pneumonia cases treated
in babies < 1 year old
17 % 18 % 19 % 20 % 21 % 22 % 23 %
% Of Women with adequate
antenatal check-ups
34 % 37 % 40 % 43 % 46 % 49 % 53 %
Coverage <strong>of</strong> Institutional
Deliveries
49 % 53 % 56 % 59 % 62 % 65 % 68 %
The PRSP should incorporate o<strong>the</strong>r complementary health indicators that better measure <strong>the</strong>
development <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> child during her/his first years, such as: nutritional levels (this indicator can
be measured in terms <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> children’s weight and height), coverage <strong>of</strong> vaccines and vitamins,
etc. These indicators may help better monitor <strong>the</strong> progress <strong>of</strong> children as regards both <strong>the</strong>ir
physical condition and <strong>the</strong>ir main cognitive functions. An adequate level <strong>of</strong> nutrition is crucial
for a child’s satisfactory development.
Education Indicators
Area <strong>of</strong>
Incidence
National
National
Baseline
Year Data
The PRSP highlights several reasons why improving education is an important way to reduce
poverty. It emphasizes education as a means to enhance future earnings and “opens <strong>the</strong> door to
<strong>the</strong> labor market and enhances opportunities for future distribution <strong>of</strong> income”(PRSP 2001: 83).
The PRSP specifically links <strong>the</strong> importance <strong>of</strong> education to economic growth and notes that “a
14
GOALS
2000 2005 2010 2015
1998 67 58 50 45 40
1994 390 374 304 246 200