Botswana
The southern African country of Botswana has one of the continent’s most robust economies and one of its most stable governments. It’s also afflicted with the world’s second highest HIV prevalence rate among adults. According to UNAIDS nearly 25 of every 100 adults is infected with the virus, making Botswana’s HIV rate more than 5 times that of the regional average and more than 30 times the global average. The epidemic is not limited to adults – HIV/AIDS is the 3rd leading cause of death for Botswana children under the age of five.
Population
2,098,018
Population Growth Rate
1.477% - (2012 est.)
Age Structure
33.5 % (0–14 years)
62.5% (15–64 years)
3.9% (65 years and over)
Death Rate
12 deaths/1,000 population
HIV-RELATED DATA
Adult HIV Prevalence
24.8% (2009 est.)
People Living with HIV (aged 15+)
300,000 (2009 est.)
OTHER RELEVANT DATA
Infant Mortality Rate
36 infant deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Total Fertility Rate
2.8 children born/woman (2010 est.)
Maternal Mortality Ratio
200 maternal deaths/100,000 live births – (2006 – 2010 reported rate – UNICEF) (2008 adjusted rate = 190)
In response to Botswana’s hyper-epidemic, the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) began supporting HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care programs in the country early on. Verifying the quality of data that countries report from these programs remains a major priority for PEPFAR. High quality data is vital to a strong health information system, and enables government and health officials to make well-informed policy and budgetary decisions.
MEASURE Evaluation in Botswana
In 2010, MEASURE Evaluation began assisting efforts at the Botswana Ministry of Health to strengthen the quality of data reported by HIV/AIDS programs in the country. MEASURE Evaluation assessed data quality for multiple HIV/AIDS program indicators at 14 different PEPFAR-funded implementing organizations at that time.
Subsequently, in recognition of the importance of accurate, complete and timely system-wide health information, Botswana’s Ministry of Health invested in a systematic approach to assess and maintain data quality routinely across all health areas, including nutrition, family planning, reproductive health, HIV/AIDS and maternal-child health.
To support this effort, MEASURE Evaluation collaborated with the Ministry of Health to customize the global Routine Data Quality Assessment (RDQA) tools specifically for Botswana. MEASURE Evaluation also worked with the Ministry to draft standard operating procedures for maintaining data quality and conducting routine data quality assessments. This cross-cutting initiative was driven by health officials in Botswana, making it a truly local and sustainable effort. Country buy-in and investment, in the process of developing the data quality materials and supporting the first data quality workshop in November 2012, have been key to the success of these activities.
MEASURE Evaluation continues to provide technical assistance and training in Botswana, as Ministry of Health officials implement the routine data quality assessment process. Read more about MEASURE Evaluation’s work with RDQA in Botswana on the Evaluate blog and in a Monitor news story.
