The World Health Organization and UNAIDS have released a new publication to enhance the ability of countries to collect, analyse and disseminate gender-responsive data.
A tool for strengthening gender-sensitive national HIV and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) monitoring and evaluation systems helps countries to assess whether their monitoring and evaluation systems are capturing data on gender inequality and HIV and to analyse data on the HIV epidemic and response from a gender perspective.
The gender-sensitive data analysis described in the publication uses existing data, including sex- and age-disaggregated data, to help identify whether inequalities exist in HIV outcomes by gender, as well as by age or key populations, and potential contributing factors.
The publication is a complement to the UNAIDS gender assessment tool.
In order to achieve the Fast-Track commitment to eliminate gender inequalities and end all forms of violence and discrimination against women and girls, people living with HIV and key populations by 2020, it will be important to ensure that data are available to assess whether inequalities exist in HIV outcomes.
More than 25 countries have piloted the tool. Countries noted that it could also be used to inform national strategic plan reviews and the development of concept notes for submission to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
