Evaluation of Perinatal Services: An Application of Social Area Analysis

A design for evaluating the impact of perinatal projects is developed using social area analysis. Social area analysis permits the simultaneous investigation ofproject effects and concomitant variation by two approaches. The typology approach enables grouping of similar social areas and, within the groupings, comparison of perinatal outcomesfor areas with and without a project. Areas aggregated by presence or absence of a project can also be examined by investigating the effect of the social environment on outcomes. A preliminary example of the typology approach provides support for the application of social area analysis in evaluating the Improved Pregnancy Outcome Project.