Epi Info Cloud Data Analytics to improve quality of HIV Surveillance in Vietnam

Objective: To use Epi Info Cloud Data Analytics (ECDA) to improve the management, quality and utilization of the Vietnam National HIV Surveillance data.Introduction: HIV surveillance in Vietnam is comprised of different surveillance systems including the HIV sentinel surveillance (HSS). The HSS is an annual, multi-site survey to monitor HIV sero-prevalence and risk behaviors among key populations. In 2015, the Vietnam Administration on HIV/AIDS Control (VAAC) installed the Epi Info Cloud Data Analytics (ECDA), a free web-based analytical and visualization program developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)(1) to serve as an information management system for HIV surveillance. Until 2016, provincial surveys, recorded on paper, were computerized and submitted to VAAC, which was responsible for merging individual provincial datasets to form a national HSS dataset. Feedback on HSS issues were provided to provinces 3 to 6 months after survey conclusion. With the use of tablets for field data collection in 2017, provincial survey data were recorded electronically and transferred to VAAC at the end of each survey day, thus enabling instant updating of the national 2017 HSS dataset on daily basis. Upon availability of the national HSS dataset on VAAC’s server, ECDA enhanced wider access and prompt analysis for staff at all levels (figure 1). This abstract describes the use of ECDA, together with tablet-based data collection to improve management, quality and use of surveillance data.Methods: After the installation of the ECDA on VAAC’s server in 2015, investments were made at all levels of the surveillance systems to build the capacity to operate and maintain the ECDA. These included trainings on programming, administration, and utilization of ECDA at the central level; creating a centralized database through abstracting and linking different surveillance datasets; developing analysis templates to assist provincial-specific reports; and trainings on access and use of the ECDA to provincial staff. One hundred and eighty five ECDA analyst accounts, authorized for submission, viewing and analysis of data, were created for surveillance staff in 63 provinces and 7 agencies. Six administrator accounts, created for users at central and regional level, were authorized for editing data and management of user accounts. In 2017, more ECDA activities were conducted to: (i) develop analysis dashboards to track progress and data quality of HSS provincial su