Strategies for more effective monitoring and evaluation systems in HIV programmatic scale-up in resource-limited settings: Implications for health systems strengthening.
Program monitoring and evaluation (M&E) has the potential to be a cornerstone of health systems strengthening and of evidence-informed implementation and scale-up of HIV-related services in resource-limited settings. We discuss common challenges to M&E systems used in the rapid scale-up of HIV services as well as innovations that may have relevance to systems used to monitor, evaluate, and inform health systems strengthening. These include (1) Web-based applications with decentralized data entry and real-time access to summary reporting; (2) timely feedback of information to site and district staff; (3) site-level integration of traditionally siloed program area indicators; (4) longitudinal tracking of program and site characteristics; (5) geographic information systems; and (6) use of routinely collected aggregate data for epidemiologic analysis and operations research. Although conventionally used in the context of vertical programs, these approaches can form a foundation on which data relevant to other health services and systems can be layered, including prevention services, primary care, maternal-child health, and chronic disease management. Guiding principles for sustainable national M&E systems include country-led development and ownership, support for national programs and policies, interoperability, and employment of an open-source approach to software development.
Nash
Denis
D
International Center for AIDS Care and Treatment Programs, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA. dn2145@columbia.edu
Elul
Batya
B
Rabkin
Miriam
M
Tun
May
M
Saito
Suzue
S
Becker
Mark
M
Nuwagaba-Biribonwoha
Harriet
H
D003906:Developing Countries; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006295:Health Resources / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans