The FGH Evaluation Department comprises a team of researchers and analysts who conduct program evaluations, and research study activities. This group is tasked with generating and analyzing evidence-based scientific data and synthesizing evidence-based results for sharing with and advising program implementers, sponsors and policymakers on successful program interventions.
This work has been supported by PEPFAR through the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as by the United States National Institutes of Health (NIH), UNICEF and other sponsors, with a primary focus on HIV prevention, HIV Care and Treatment and TB services. Program evaluation activities to investigate COVID-19 mitigation and prevention measures and the pandemic’s impact on HIV service implementation in Zambézia Province were added in 2020.
Some examples of FGH’s evaluation portfolio are:
- HIV Prevention
- Evaluating acceptability, feasibility, and linkage to care in a pharmacy-based HIV self-testing program in Zambézia Province (protocol-driven)
- Assessing effectiveness of GBV initiative to improve access and retention to GBV services in Zambézia Province (protocol-driven)
- Evaluating effectiveness of lay counselor-led intensified HIV risk screening on coverage and yield of HIV testing in Zambézia Province (secondary data analysis)
- Evaluating effectiveness of a Mentor Mothers Program on retention in care, viral suppression and HIV-exposed infant outcomes in Zambézia Province (secondary data analysis)
- Evaluation of the effect of a storytelling intervention on the retention of serodiscordant couples in ART/PrEP in prenatal consultations in Zambézia Province (protocol-driven)
- HIV/TB Care & Treatment
- Assessing patient satisfaction and correlation with retention in care and viral suppression in Zambézia Province (protocol-driven)
- Evaluating effectiveness of Community Adherence Groups on retention in care and viral suppression in Zambézia Province (secondary data analysis)
- Evaluating effectiveness of SMS reminders on timely pick-up of antiretroviral therapy in Zambézia Province (secondary data analysis)
- Evaluating ion access to tuberculosis (TB) and HIV testing services among patients with presumptive TB in Zambézia Province (secondary data analysis)
- Partners-based HIV treatment for sero-concordant couples attending antenatal care services: a cohort study in Zambézia Province (2017-2022) (protocol-driven)
- COVID-19 Response
- Impact of COVID-19 on clinical outcomes and health care services among people living with HIV and health care workers (HCWs) in 5 provinces in Mozambique: a cohort study (2021-2022) (protocol-driven)
- Knowledge, attitude, practices and perceptions regarding COVID-19 prevention measures and access to health care among the adult population and HCWs in high-risk districts in Zambézia Province (protocol-driven)
- Acceptability of COVID-19 vaccination among higher-risk populations in Zambézia Province, Mozambique (protocol-driven)
The secondary data analyses use programmatic data to evaluate effectiveness of currently implemented strategies, and protocol-driven evaluations, including surveys and cohort studies, allow for the collection of primary data to generate new information aimed at enhancing existing services and/or improving patient outcomes.
A comprehensive and dedicated team, experienced in qualitative and quantitative methodologies, electronic data capturing, data management, and analysis, is based both in Quelimane (in Zambézia Province), and in the capital of Maputo. The team works with faculty and staff from Vanderbilt University Medical Center for additional support in biostatistical analysis, evaluation design, and results reporting/dissemination, and collaborates closely with the Mozambique Ministry of Health and the Instituto Nacional de Saúde (National Health Institute) at the national, provincial and district levels.
All evaluations are conducted following high international ethical and scientific quality standards and meet local, VUMC IRB, and donor approval requirements.