International Health
Volume 8 Issue 2 March 2016
http://inthealth.oxfordjournals.org/content/current

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REVIEWS
Editor’s choice: Cardiac rehabilitation in low- and middle-income countries: a review on cost and cost-effectiveness
Int. Health (2016) 8 (2): 77-82 doi:10.1093/inthealth/ihv047
Neil B. Oldridge, Maureen T. Pakosh, and Randal J. Thomas
Abstract

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Experiences from the field: maternal, reproductive and child health data collection in humanitarian and emergency situations
Fiona M. Dickinson*, Thidar Pyone and Nynke van den Broek
Author Affiliations
Centre for Maternal and Newborn Health, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
*Corresponding author: Tel: +44 0151 705 3314; Email: fiona.dickinson@lstmed.ac.uk
Received December 12, 2014.
Revision received May 21, 2015.
Accepted May 22, 2015.
Abstract
Background Humanitarian emergencies can disproportionately affect women of reproductive age, and children. Good data on reproductive maternal, newborn and child health (RMNCH) are vital to plan and deliver programmes to address RMNCH needs. There is currently a lack of information regarding the availability, use and applicability of data collection tools.
Methods Key informant interviews (KII) were conducted with participants with experience of data collection in humanitarian settings, identified from relevant publications. Data were analysed using the thematic framework approach.
Results All participants reported challenges, especially in the acute phase of an emergency and when there is insufficient security. Four common themes were identified: the importance of a mixed methods approach, language both with regard to development of data collection tools and data collection, the need to modify existing tools and build local capacity for data collection. Qualitative data collection was noted to be time consuming but considered to be important to understand the local context. Both those who have experienced trauma (including sexual violence) and data collectors require debriefing after documenting these experiences.
Conclusions There were numerous challenges associated with data collection assessing the health status of, and services available, to women and children in humanitarian settings, and researchers should be well prepared.

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Spillover effect of HIV-specific foreign aid on immunization services in Nigeria
Charles C. Chima* and Luisa Franzini
Author Affiliations
Division of Management, Policy and Community Health, The University of Texas School of Public Health, 1200 Pressler Street, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
*Corresponding author: Present address: Healthcare Transformation Initiatives, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 1200 Binz Street Houston TX 77004, USA; Tel: +1 832-231-4955; E-mail: chimacharles@gmail.com
Received December 13, 2014.
Revision received April 20, 2015.
Accepted April 20, 2015.
Abstract
Background
Health aid to Nigeria increased tremendously in the last decade and a significant portion of the funds were earmarked for HIV-associated programs. Studies on the impact of HIV-specific aid on the delivery of non-HIV health services in sub-Saharan Africa have yielded mixed results. This study assessed if there is a spillover effect of HIV-specific aid on childhood vaccinations in Nigeria.
Methods
Multivariate logistic regression models were used to estimate the effect of aid disbursements in a previous year on the receipt of vaccines at the individual level in a given year. Estimations were done for approximately 11 700 children using data from demographic and health surveys conducted in Nigeria in 2003 and 2008.
Results
US$1 increase in HIV aid per capita was associated with a decrease in the probability of receipt of vaccines by 8–31%: polio first dose decreased by 8%; polio final dose by 9%; diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus (DPT) first dose by 11%; DPT final dose by 19%; measles by 31%; final doses of polio and DPT plus measles vaccine by 8%.
Conclusions
HIV-specific aid had a negative spillover effect on immunization services in Nigeria over the study period. Donors may need to rethink their funding strategies in favour of more horizontal approaches.