Return on investment of the electronic vaccine intelligence network in India.

The electronic vaccine intelligence network (eVIN) was introduced by India's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in 12 states and was implemented by the United Nations Development Programme through the Gavi health system strengthening support during 2014-17 to replace the traditional paper-based cold-chain management system with an electronic vaccine logistics management system. An economic assessment was conducted as part of the overall assessment of eVIN. The objective of the economic assessment was to conduct a return on investment analysis of eVIN implementation.

Programmatic assessment of electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network (eVIN).

eVIN is a technology system that digitizes vaccine stocks through a smartphone application and builds the capacity of program managers and cold chain handlers to integrate technology in their regular work. To effectively manage the vaccine logistics, in 2015, this technology was rolled-out in 12 states of India. This study assessed the programmatic usefulness of eVIN implementation in the areas of vaccine utilization, vaccine stock and distribution management and documentation across selected cold chain points.

Business not as usual: how multisectoral collaboration can promote transformative change for health and sustainable development.

present findings across 12 country case studies of multisectoral collaboration, showing how diverse sectors intentionally shape new ways of collaborating and learning, using “business not as usual” strategies to transform situations and achieve shared goals

Improving vaccination coverage in India: lessons from Intensified Mission Indradhanush, a cross-sectoral systems strengthening strategy.

report an analysis from the Intensified Mission Indradhanush strategy in India, showing that cross-sectoral participation can contribute to improved vaccination coverage of children at high risk

Measles-Rubella Supplementary Immunization Activity Readiness Assessment - India, 2017-2018.

In 2013, during the 66th session of the Regional Committee of the World Health Organization (WHO) South-East Asia Region (SEAR), the 11 SEAR countries* adopted goals to eliminate measles and control rubella and congenital rubella syndrome by 2020 (1). To accelerate progress in India (2,3), a phased nationwide supplementary immunization activity (SIA) using measles-rubella vaccine and targeting approximately 410 million children aged 9 months-14 years commenced in 2017 and will be completed by first quarter of 2019. To ensure a high-quality SIA, planning and preparation were monitored using a readiness assessment tool adapted from the WHO global field guide** (4) by the India Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Strategies for reducing police arrest in the context of an HIV prevention programme for female sex workers: evidence from structural interventions in Karnataka, South India.

Introduction: Female sex workers (FSWs) frequently experience violence in their work environments, violating their basic rights and increasing their vulnerability to HIV infection. Structural interventions addressing such violence are critical components of comprehensive HIV prevention programmes. We describe structural interventions developed to address violence against FSWs in the form of police arrest, in the context of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation's India AIDS Initiative (Avahan) in Karnataka, South India.

Community mobilization, empowerment and HIV prevention among female sex workers in south India.

Background: While community mobilization has been widely endorsed as an important component of HIV prevention among vulnerable populations such as female sex workers (FSWs), there is uncertainty as to the mechanism through which it impacts upon HIV risk. We explored the hypothesis that individual and collective empowerment of FSW is an outcome of community mobilization, and we examined the means through which HIV risk and vulnerability reduction as well as personal and social transformation are achieved.

Methods: This study was conducted in five districts in south India, where community mobilization programs are implemented as part of the Avahan program (India AIDS Initiative) of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

An integrated structural intervention to reduce vulnerability to HIV and sexually transmitted infections among female sex workers in Karnataka state, south India.

Background: Structural factors are known to affect individual risk and vulnerability to HIV. In the context of an HIV prevention programme for over 60,000 female sex workers (FSWs) in south India, we developed structural interventions involving policy makers, secondary stakeholders (police, government officials, lawyers, media) and primary stakeholders (FSWs themselves). The purpose of the interventions was to address context-specific factors (social inequity, violence and harassment, and stigma and discrimination) contributing to HIV vulnerability.

Morbidity Profiles of People Living With HIV/AIDS in Urban and Rural Inpatient and Outpatient Settings in Karnataka, South India.

We examined the morbidity profiles associated with people living with HIV infection in an urban HIV inpatient treatment site near the city of Bangalore, in southern Karnataka state, south India, and in a rural outpatient site in northern Karnataka. Data from March 2007 until July 2008 were analyzed. The urban cohort comprised 432 patients, and the most common comorbid conditions were unexplained prolonged fever (50.

Violence against female sex workers in Karnataka state, south India: impact on health, and reductions in violence following an intervention program.

Background: Violence against female sex workers (FSWs) can impede HIV prevention efforts and contravenes their human rights. We developed a multi-layered violence intervention targeting policy makers, secondary stakeholders (police, lawyers, media), and primary stakeholders (FSWs), as part of wider HIV prevention programming involving >60,000 FSWs in Karnataka state. This study examined if violence against FSWs is associated with reduced condom use and increased STI/HIV risk, and if addressing violence against FSWs within a large-scale HIV prevention program can reduce levels of violence against them.

Assessing HIV risk in workplaces for prioritizing HIV preventive interventions in Karnataka State, India.

Objective: To develop a model for prioritizing economic sectors for HIV preventive intervention programs in the workplace.

Methods: This study was undertaken in Karnataka state, India. A 3-stage survey process was undertaken.

Impact of an intensive HIV prevention programme for female sex workers on HIV prevalence among antenatal clinic attenders in Karnataka state, south India: an ecological analysis.

Objectives: To examine the impact of an intensive HIV preventive intervention (IPI) among female sex workers (FSW) on community HIV transmission, as represented by HIV prevalence among young antenatal clinic (ANC) attenders in Karnataka state, south India.

Methods: The IPI was initiated in 18 of the 27 districts in Karnataka in 2003, and was generally at scale by mid-2005, covering over 80% of the urban FSW population. We examined trends over time in HIV prevalence from annual HIV surveillance conducted among ANC attenders in Karnataka under the age of 25 years from 2003 to 2007, comparing the IPI with the other districts.