학술논문

The use of monitoring data and community feedback mechanisms to increase HIV testing among men during a cluster-randomised community mobilisation trial in South Africa.
Document Type
Article
Source
African Journal of AIDS Research (AJAR). Apr2023, Vol. 22 Issue 1, p1-8. 8p.
Subject
*HIV infections
*HEALTH services accessibility
*COUNSELING
*RURAL conditions
*MEDICAL screening
*COMMUNITY health services
*MEN
*HUMAN services programs
*RESEARCH funding
*SECONDARY analysis
Language
ISSN
1608-5906
Abstract
This short communication describes the development and implementation of a programme monitoring and feedback process during a cluster-randomised community mobilisation intervention conducted in rural Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga, South Africa. Intervention activities took place from August 2015 to July 2018 with the aim of addressing social barriers to HIV counselling and testing and engagement in HIV care, with a specific focus on reaching men. Multiple monitoring systems were put in place to allow for early and continuous corrective actions to be taken if activity goals, including target participation numbers in events or workshops, were not reached. Clinic data, intervention monitoring data, team meetings and community feedback mechanisms allowed for triangulation of data and creative responses to issues arising in implementation. Monitoring data must be collected and analysed carefully as they allow researchers to better understand how the intervention is being delivered and to respond to challenges and make changes in the programme and target approaches. An iterative process of sharing these data to generate community feedback on intervention approaches was critical to the success of our programme, along with engaging men in the intervention. Community mobilisation interventions to target the structural and social barriers impeding men's uptake of services are feasible in this setting, but must incorporate a continuous review of monitoring data and community collaboration to ensure that the target population is reached, and may need to also be supplemented by changes in the structure of care provision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]