Final evaluation of an HIV prevention project across 7 provinces/cities, funded by DFID and NORAD

Project Overview

• Field: Communicable Disease Prevention
• Duration: 05/2009 (project implemented 2004–2009)
• Funder: UK Department for International Development (DFID) and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD)
• Implementing agency: Center for Environmental and Health Studies (CEHS)
• Location: 7 provinces/cities: Quảng Ninh, Hà Nội, Hải Phòng, Đà Nẵng, An Giang, Cần Thơ, Hồ Chí Minh City

Introduction

The Prevention of HIV/AIDS in Vietnam Project (PHP) was implemented by the Ministry of Health from 2004 to 2009 with funding from DFID and NORAD to help limit the spread of HIV/AIDS in Vietnam through harm reduction models, behavior-change communication, and strengthening the HIV/AIDS response system. The project focused on high-risk groups such as people who inject drugs, sex workers and their clients.

To assess implementation effectiveness after 5 years, CEHS was selected to conduct the final evaluation, determining the extent of objective achievement, assessing intervention effectiveness, and impact on policy and the HIV/AIDS response system.

CEHS's Role

CEHS designed the methodology and final evaluation framework against project objectives and indicators; developed quantitative and qualitative research tools; coordinated and conducted surveys in project provinces; assessed the effectiveness of behavior-change communication programs, harm reduction interventions, STI management, policy development and system capacity building; and developed the final evaluation report with recommendations.

Key Activities

• Reviewing project documentation, reports and related technical materials.
• Conducting a quantitative survey of 2,470 subjects, including people who inject drugs, sex workers, their clients, peer educators, service establishment owners and health workers.
• Conducting qualitative research with 460 subjects plus 35 focus group discussions.
• Assessing the effectiveness of behavior-change communication, harm reduction programs, STI management and treatment, staff capacity building, and policy impact.

Key Results

• Over 80% of subjects had been reached by communication activities, and over 93% correctly understood HIV transmission routes through injection and unsafe sex.
• 96.9% of sex workers used a condom at their last sexual encounter; HIV prevalence among sex workers in project provinces fell from 5.75% (2006) to 3.5% (2008).
• 77–94% of surveyed people who inject drugs had not shared needles at their last injection, with 70–92% not sharing in the past month.
• 94.3–97.4% of STI cases were treated, expanding access to free examination and treatment services for high-risk groups.
• Provided important evidence for developing harm reduction policy and proposed lessons learned to support scaling up effective intervention models nationwide.