Planning, Supporting, and Evaluating HIV Prevention
Macro provided technical support to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), its grantees, and other partners in the delivery of HIV prevention programs and related prevention services. Our work supports these entities' ability to strengthen their capacity to assist in the implementation of systems to ensure the quality and integration of HIV services. We also assist with aspects of program planning, operations, and evaluation. Macro provides ongoing technical support in the form of consultation; guidelines; training; capacity building; performance of surveillance; prevention interventions; and program planning, management, and evaluation.

AIDS Outreach Needs Assessments and Trainings
Working with AIDS Service Organizations (ASOs) in four cities under a contract with the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), Macro conducted needs assessments at each site to develop training that would assist the staff in developing innovative outreach programs. Components of these 1-day training sessions included understanding cultural nuances of hard-to-reach populations, effective outreach strategies, interviewing skills, communication skills, and appropriate conflict avoidance skills.

HIV/AIDS Survey Indicator Database
The HIV/AIDS Survey Indicators Database provides an easily accessible comprehensive source of information on HIV/AIDS indicators derived from sample surveys. The database allows the user to produce tables for specific countries by select background characteristics as well as country reports.

Currently, the main sources of HIV/AIDS indicators in the database are the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS, Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS), Reproductive Health Surveys (RHS), Sexual Behavior Surveys (SBS), and Behavioral Surveillance Surveys (BSS). The database is designed to be global in scope, eventually covering all countries for which indicators are available. The database is overseen by a technical advisory committee that includes representatives from USAID, UNICEF, CDC, UNAIDS, WHO, U.S. Census Bureau, Family Health International, MEASURE Evaluation, The Synergy Project, and MEASURE DHS (the implementing organization). USAID currently is the primary funder for the initiative, with UNAIDS and UNICEF providing additional support.

More than 152 surveys are available in the database, and it will continue to grow.

HIV/AIDS Blood Sample Survey
Macro has tested for HIV/AIDS prevalence as part of the second phase of the U.S. Agency for International Development’s MEASURE DHS program. This involves anonymous collection of capillary blood on filter paper and testing of the samples at a central laboratory. While many countries have surveillance systems, the resulting data may be incomplete if it comes only from individuals with access to health facilities. Macro’s interviewers visit people in their homes to create reporting that is more accurate and complete since results are based on valid nationally representative samples. These surveys provide methodologically sound statistics that are comparable across the developing world. Biomarkers, such as children’s height and weight, have long been used as part of our DHS surveys to check on nutritional status and stunting. HIV/AIDS prevalence studies have been undertaken in seven countries since 2000. Similar surveys are being done on anemia. Future surveys may target syphilis, diabetes, and other conditions that impact pregnancy and postnatal outcomes for mothers and children.