What type of evaluation is primarily concerned with long-term effects and outcomes of a health program?

Outcome evaluation is primarily focused on assessing the long-term effects and outcomes of a health program. This type of evaluation seeks to understand whether the program has achieved its intended goals and objectives over time, measuring changes in health status or behaviors attributable to the program's implementation.

Outcome evaluations are essential for determining the effectiveness and sustainability of health initiatives, as they provide evidence regarding the extent of the program's impact on the target population. By examining these long-term effects, stakeholders can make informed decisions about the continuation, scaling, or modification of health programs.

In contrast, process evaluation concentrates on the implementation aspects of a program, assessing how well the program is delivered and if it follows the planned procedures. Formative evaluation is conducted during the development or early stages of the program to gather feedback for improvement. Impact evaluation falls between outcome and process evaluations, focusing on the immediate and intermediate effects of a program but not solely its long-term consequences. Thus, to capture long-term results effectively, outcome evaluation is the most appropriate choice.