This article is the second of a two-part series describing the development of a ten-year plan for primary health care facility development in Soweto. The first article concentrated on the political problems and general methodological approach of the project. This second article describes how the technical problem of planning in the context of scanty information was overcome. The reasoning behind the various assumptions and criteria which were used to assist the planning of the location of facilities is explained, as well as the process by which they were applied. The merits and limitations of this planning approach are discussed, and it is suggested that the approach may be useful to other facility planners, particularly in the developing world.
PIP: The first part of this two-part series described the context and general research approach to planning primary health care facility development in Soweto during 1992 and 1993. The purpose of this second article is to present the step-by-step process by which the size, number, and location of clinics were determined. The process involves attempting to integrate objective planning procedures with the more subjective opinions of stakeholders. How to overcome the technical problem of planning in the context of very limited information is explained. The authors then offer the reasoning behind the various assumptions and criteria used to help the planning of facility location. The application of these assumptions and criteria is discussed, followed by consideration of the pros and cons of this planning approach. This approach may be useful to other facility planners, particularly in the developing world.