Using Health Information Systems for Data Collection and Analysis for HIV/AIDS

People sit around a table watching a woman working on a computer.
Photo credit: Improving Access, Curriculum, and Teaching in Medical Education and Emerging Diseases (IMPACT MED)

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) supports the development of Health Information Systems (HIS) responsible for the collection, aggregation, analysis and use of routine health data. USAID believes that by building human resources for HIS, establishing clear processes for data management and use and supporting the use of appropriate technology, host country governments and other stakeholders are able to manage HIV programs more effectively to achieve better health outcomes.

example of USAID GHSMA Visualization Workbook. CEE Score Proporation by Set.
This dashboard is an example of how USAID is monitoring and assessing the quality of care provided to HIV/AIDS patients at USAID-supported health facilities.
Data source: USAID SIMS visualization workbook

The Agency supports the development of health information systems in a variety of ways, including:

  • The HIS Strengthening Resource Center, developed by MEASURE Evaluation, is an online collection of learning, information sharing and resources for HIS development and strengthening. It also serves as a collaborative space for health professionals to share and exchange information on HIS strengthening.
  • The Health Data Collaborative is a joint effort by multiple global health partners to work alongside countries to improve the availability, quality and use of data for local decision-making and tracking progress toward the health-related goals. The Agency supports the network of working groups addressing key issues such as interoperability and community monitoring systems.
  • USAID collects survey data at U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)-supported sites to assess the quality of HIV services delivered. Site Improvement through Monitoring System (SIMS) assessments are submitted via tablet device and then analyzed to identify service quality gaps and performance trends.

Additional Resources