Knowing your HIV/AIDS response: A pilot test of a new service mapping toolkit in Ghana

Background

“Knowing” an HIV response in a country is a complex undertaking. This requires knowing what actions key implementers in all sectors (government, non-government, public, and private) are deploying; what populations they serve; what the reach of these programs are, amongst others.

Aim

We aimed to pilot test a set of newly developed data collection tools referred to as the Know Your Response (KYR) toolkit in Ghana. The KYR toolkit addresses three key concepts that are critical for an improved understanding of the HIV-prevention response in terms of location, scale, and needs.

Materials and methods

Data were collected on HIV programming being undertaken in each of the 16 metropolitan, municipal, and district assemblies (MMDAs) in the Greater Accra region of Ghana. Analysis and dissemination of data includes the generation of univariate and bivariate tabulations as well as production of maps of HIV services using Geographic Information System (GIS) technology.

Results

The toolkit was successful in collecting a great deal of data that describe, at the district level, who is working in HIV prevention, what interventions they are providing, where these interventions are being provided, and to whom the interventions are being targeted. The data generated allows for mapping and understanding of the scope and scale of the HIV-prevention response at the district level. It also identifies challenges and opportunities for scaling the exercise nationally.

Conclusions

The study provides information needed to guide prioritization, and/or adjustment of the national HIV-prevention programs and interventions being carried out in the Greater Accra region.

Abbreviations

AIDS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; ARCGIS, Geographic Mapping Software; ARVs, antiretroviral medications; CBOs, community-based organizations; CCM, Country Coordinating Mechanism; CEO, Chief Executive Officer; CERSGIS, Centre for Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Services; DHS, Demographic and Health Survey; eTWG, Expanded Technical Working Group; FGDs, focus group discussions; FSW, female sex worker; GAC, Ghana AIDS Commission; GIS, Geographic Information System; HIV, Human Immune Deficiency Virus; IBBSS, Integrated Biological, Behavioral Surveillance Survey; KYER, Know Your Epidemic, Know Your Response; KYR, Know Your HIV Response; MARP, Most At Risk Population; MICS, Multi-Indicator Cluster Survey; MMDAs, metropolitan, municipal, and district assemblies; MoE, Ministry of Education; MoFA, Ministry of Food and Agriculture; MOH, Ministry of Health; MoI, Ministry of Information; MoWAC, Ministry of Women and Children Affairs; MoYS, Ministry of Youth and Sports; MSM, men who have sex with men; NACP, National AIDS and STIs Control Programme; NGOs, Non-Governmental Organizations; NSP, national strategic plan; OP, Operational Plan; PEPFAR, The United States President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief; PLHIV, people living with HIV; PMTCT, Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV; SI, strategic information; TB, tuberculosis; TWG, Technical Working Group; UG-SPH, University of Ghana School of Public Health; UNAIDS, The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS; USAID, United States Agency for International Development