Planning emergency for children medical services in Bolivia - Part I - The use of rapid assessment procedures

Objectives: To describe an expedited process for collecting social and cultural data before program planning to develop emergency medical services for children in La Paz, Bolivia. The overall goal was to understand the relevant issues from the point of view of those most affected. Methods: An interdisciplinary collaborative research team used several qualitative data collection tools in gathering and interpreting data. Results: Information was collected from a wide variety of stakeholders that will allow for planning of programs that are Bolivian-driven, culturally appropriate, and socially feasible. Conclusions: By adhering to a systematic process of team building and data gathering from a variety of sources using a mix of methods, culturally appropriate information can be integrated into program planning.