DATA VALIDATION
A comprehensive review of the national Reports was conducted by evaluation specialists at UNAIDS to ensure the completeness, accuracy and harmonization of data in relation to the core indicators. UNAIDS contacted 150 countries with follow-up data questions. The majority of issues regarding reported data were resolved through these communications. Data issues that were not resolved as of the publication date were not included in the data analyses summarized in this report. In addition, a reconciliation process took place for data reported to UNAIDS, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, UNICEF, the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, WHO and Measure DHS (data collected through the Demographic and Health Survey programme). As a result of discrepancies identified in this reconciliation, direct communications were undertaken with national focal points for UNGASS reporting in 113 countries to obtain clarification and resolution of outstanding questions. Over 85% of these 113 countries responded with clarifying information. Due to their complex nature, separate validation processes were undertaken for the National AIDS Spending Matrix and the National Composite Policy Index, a questionnaire that assesses progress in the development of national HIV policies and strategies. A comprehensive data review was undertaken at UNAIDS to check the completeness and accuracy of the funding matrices submitted. One hundred and eleven countries were contacted with follow-up data questions, the majority of which were resolved through these communications. The Policy Index reports were checked for internal consistency and completeness of the response. Confusing or illogical values were corrected; countries were contacted in cases of substantial missing data and multiple, non-consolidated Policy Index submissions. To resolve data issues relating to the Policy Index, 67 countries were contacted, the majority of countries responded. NATIONAL COMPOSITE POLICY INDEX (NCPI)
The National Composite Policy Index, (NCPI), is a questionnaire completed through a review of relevant
documents and interviewing people most knowledgeable about the topics covered. One part1 of the NCPI is completed by government officials, while another part2 is completed by representatives from civil society and bilateral or multilateral organizations. The recommended consultative process for completing the NCPI aims to foster an environment conducive to including both government and nongovernment perspectives in the consolidated NCPI response that is eventually submitted by the government as part of its UNGASS report. It is strongly recommended that a final workshop is organized with key stakeholders, including representatives from networks of people living with HIV and from populations at higher risk of HIV and other vulnerable populations, to present, discuss and validate the NCPI responses and write-up before the final submission. In general, NCPI responses provided by the government are often more optimistic than those provided by nongovernment respondents. As there are over 200 data points for each country NCPI, not all data are included in the data tables presented in this report, but are available alongside individual country reports on the UNAIDS website and on AIDSInfoOnline. org. Validated data from 171 UN member states were included in the analyses summarized in this report. CHALLENGES IN MONITORING KEY POPULATIONS AT RISK
Ensuring country-level representative samples and establishing a global information system regarding programme coverage and risk behaviours for key populations at higher risk for HIV3 present significant technical and ethical challenges. Methods are being developed to improve sampling of these often hard-toreach populations, such as respondent-driven sampling. While new methods may lead to samples that are more representative, it is recognized that obtaining a truly representative national sample may never be feasible. However, even though countries may not be able to attest to the national representativeness of samples used for surveys of key populations at higher risk for HIV, repeated measures using the same sampling frame and methodology can produce reliable data on trends in behaviours and service coverage.
1
Government officials complete questions on the national strategic plan, political support, and key policies and strategies of HIV programmes.
2
Nongovernment representatives complete questions on the country’s human rights context in relation to HIV; civil society involvement in the HIV response; and key policies and strategies of HIV programmes.
3
These groups were previously referred to as most-at-risk populations.
Annex 2: Country progress indicators and data, 2004 to 2010 | 2010 GLOBAL REPORT
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