ABSTRACT
PROBLEM: The paper tools used to monitor outreach work in all major cities in Viet Nam had substantial writing requirements for each contact with difficulty maintaining confidentiality. ACTION: This paper describes the development of a Unique Identifier Code (UIC), a field data collection notebook (databook) and a computer data entry system in Viet Nam. The databook can document 40 individual clients and has space for commodity distribution, group contacts and needles/syringe collection for each month. OUTCOME: Field implementation trials of the UIC and databook have been undertaken by more than 160 peer outreach workers to document their work with people who inject drugs (PWID) and sex workers (SW). Following an expanded trial in Hai Phong province, there have been requests for national circulation of the databook to be used by peer educators documenting outreach to PWID, SW and men who have sex with men. The standardized UIC and databook, in a variety of locally adapted formats, have now been introduced in more than 40 of the 63 provinces in Viet Nam. DISCUSSION: This development in Viet Nam is, to our knowledge, the first example of the combination of a confidential UIC and an innovative, simple pocket-sized paper instrument with associated customized data-entry software for documenting outreach.
ABSTRACT
Problem: The paper tools used to monitor outreach work in all major cities in Viet Nam had substantial writing requirements for each contact with difficulty maintaining confidentiality. Action: This paper describes the development of a Unique Identifier Code (UIC), a field data collection notebook (databook)and a computer data entry system in Viet Nam. The databook can document 40 individual clients and has space forcommodity distribution, group contacts and needles/syringe collection for each month. Outcome: Field implementation trials of the UIC and databook have been undertaken by more than 160 peer outreachworkers to document their work with people who inject drugs (PWID) and sex workers (SW). Following an expanded trialin Hai Phong province, there have been requests for national circulation of the databook to be used by peer educators documenting outreach to PWID, SW and men who have sex with men. The standardized UIC and databook, in a variety of locally adapted formats, have now been introduced in more than 40 of the 63 provinces in Viet Nam. Discussion: This development in Viet Nam is, to our knowledge, the first example of the combination of a confidential UIC and an innovative, simple pocket-sized paper instrument with associated customized data-entry software for documenting outreach.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Discussion about coverage has primarily focused on answering the question: what level of coverage is required to reduce the spread of HIV among people who inject drugs? This paper documents the process involved in designing a Monitoring Information System (MIS) that provides a tool to estimate coverage, frequency of contacts as well as provides a mechanism for correlating these data with changes in risk behaviour among the surveyed population. METHODS: The system uses paper and pencil data collection forms to record information about the type and location of a contact. Information about the content of the contact such as the services, equipment or education that is delivered is also collected. This data is then entered into a computer program that manages the information and allows for simple standardised reports to be generated. The reports provide a simple mechanism for analysing process indicators such as the number and frequency of contacts, where the contact occurred as well as what the contact consisted of (i.e. education content or distribution of equipment). The system also allows correlations to be made between exposure to services and changes in behaviour thus providing a mechanism for assessing impact indicators. CONCLUSION AND DISCUSSION: We present a brief description of the Monitoring Information System, its structure and functions and encourage practitioners to consider the importance of adopting standardised monitoring systems to measure coverage. We also explore some potential ethical limitations around using the system.
