Field Activity | HIV Desk Reviews, India

At the request of the USAID Mission in India, AIDSTAR-One conducted six desk reviews examining human resource performance management, private sector options for health care, recruitment/retention to improve rural service, task shifting in health care settings, HIV services integration, and private-sector engagement. These desk reviews are available for download below.

Human Resource Performance Management

This article summarizes key review articles in the area of performance management (PM) in health. While most interventions focus on what health workers “can do,” performance failures more often occur in what health workers “will do.” Supervision appears to be the most effective PM intervention.

Download the Desk Review (PDF, 216 KB)

Private Sector Options for Health Care

This document summarizes the evidence from key review articles for private sector success in providing health care services in low-income countries. While the strength of the evidence for contracting out is weak, contracting out can increase access to services even in remote areas. Evidence for franchising, efficiency of contracted services, and direct provider or client payments is also weak, but all seem to offer some possibility of future success.

Download the Desk Review (PDF, 118 KB)

Recruitment/Retention to Improve Rural Service

This document summarizes the evidence from key review articles on interventions to improve recruitment and retention of health workers in rural areas. There is no strong evidence to support any of the interventions tested, but selection of medical students with parents in the rural area is somewhat effective in improving rural retention. Most studies found that simple interventions are introduced to attract/retain staff when, in fact, rural service incentives are complex.

Download the Desk Review (PDF, 129 KB)

Task-shifting in Health Care Settings

This document summarizes the evidence from key review articles on interventions to improve health care personnel availability through the use of task-shifting. Although delegation of tasks from physicians to paramedical personal and from clinical staff to layworkers has proven effective, there are criteria that make task-shifting more effective.

Download the Desk Review (PDF, 112 KB)

HIV Services Integration with Sexually Transmitted Infection/Tuberculosis/Reproductive Tract Infection Services

This document details how integration of sexual and reproductive health, tuberculosis, maternal and child health, and HIV referrals, communications, and services can provide opportunities for increased value to clients, providers, and programs.

Download the Desk Review (PDF, 492 KB)

Public-Private Partnerships and Corporate Social Responsibility in the HIV Response

The purpose of this document is to provide a broad overview of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in India. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, though not typically categorized as PPPs, often are a result of PPPs and thus are included in this document. The paper highlights challenges, opportunities, models, and guidelines.

Download the Desk Review (PDF, 492 KB)