Introduction

"The public have an insatiable curiosity to know everything, except what is worth knowing”
Oscar Wilde (1854-1900)

Surveys and surveillance are on the middle ring – the collection, capture and verification of data – of the 12 components of a functional HIV M&E system. Data for the national HIV response can be collected through a range of methods, from informal (such as conversation with colleagues), onto observation, through to structured (such as surveys and surveillance) (see Figure 7.1). More structured methods are preferred for national HIV M&E systems, as this approach means that data can be compared year after year.

Figure 7.1:  From less to more structured methods of data collection

Source: Kusek and Rist, 2004
 

---