title: Evaluation barriers and facilitators among community-based HIV prevention programs.
abstract: Funding agencies are using technical assistance to promote evaluation of their community-based HIV prevention programs. Using qualitative methods, we identified 11 factors that hinder and facilitate evaluation within community-based organizations (CBOs): staff perceptions, availability of funding, data collection, data validity, data utility, technical assistance, effects on services, effects on funding, staff skills, tools and technology, and expectations of the funding agency. Using these factors, we developed eight strategies to promote CBO evaluation. These strategies go beyond the traditional role of technical assistance and address the broader context within which CBOs evaluate their programs. Funding agencies and technical assistance providers can use these strategies to enhance CBO evaluation, which may result in more and better quality evaluations and, ultimately, improvements in the effectiveness of HIV prevention services.
authors.affiliation: Practical Applications of Public Health, Durham, NC 27701, USA. dnapp@aol.com
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Napp
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gibbs
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jolly
authors.forename: Bonita
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Westover
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Uhl
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003256:Community Participation; D003625:Data Collection; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods*; D036301:Qualitative Research