‘The MoU between IIHMR and John Hopkins University has been extended by five years’
VIVEKBHANDARI, president, IIHMR University, Jaipur
The Indian Institute of Health Management Research (IIHMR) in collaboration with John Hopkins University is undertaking surveys as part of the Performance Monitoring and Accountability 2020 (PMA2020). The survey focuses on gathering population data on family planning and water, sanitation, and hygiene. The specific study carried out under PMA2020 by IIHMR and partners focuses on the use of contraceptive methods in a population with high sterilization rates. Vivek Bhandari, president, IIHMR University, Jaipur, shares details about the survey. Edited excerpts:
What is the aim of the PMA2020 survey?
One of the most exciting interventions in public health, PMA2020 was originally designed to facilitate annual progress reporting in support of the goals and principles of Family Planning 2020 (FP2020), using an innovative data platform.
This initiative is being implemented by IIHMR in collaboration with the International Institute for Population Sciences and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and conducted in collaboration with the Gates Institute at Johns Hopkins University.
Data is collected at the household and health facilities level via mobile phones through a network of female data collectors known as Resident Enumerators (REs). REs transfer data by phone to a central server using the mobile data network, and data is validated in real time, aggregated, and consolidated through tables and graphs making the results quickly available to stakeholders. PMA2020 is being implementing by local partner universities and research organizations in ten countries across Africa and Asia.
The project is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
In India, PMA2020 PMA2020/Rajasthan is collecting data in 147 sentinel sites which are called Enumeration areas.
It is a sample survey which is representative of the state population in both urban and rural areas. PMA2020 Rajasthan is currently collecting data around family planning and WASH indicators.
How have IIHMR and John Hopkins collaborated as partners on the survey?
IIHMR University and the Bloomberg School of Public Health have been collaborating for over three decades, indeed since Dr. Donald A. Henderson, who led the campaign to eradicate smallpox became associated with IIHMR in the 1980s. IIHMR has been conducting largescale surveys for many years, and this has made us a suitable partner to implement PMA2020 in India/Rajasthan. IIHMR University and Johns Hopkins University also offer a joint Masters in Public Health degree.
Post the data collection and analysis, what do the researchers plan to do?
After data collection and analysis, researchers and program implementers are engaged in disseminating the collected data with government, development agencies and other stakeholders. searchers also use the data collected for publications, advocacy, and institutional outreach.
What are some of the limitations of the survey method in research of this kind?
PMA2020, as of now, provides estimates at the state level for Rajasthan. It is yet to be extended to the district level. Moreover, it is mainly focused on family planning and water & sanitation components. We hope to expand the breadth and depth of the data collected to address other developmental areas.
What other partnerships are IIHMR and John Hopkins engaged in?
IIHMR and Johns Hopkins University have nurtured a long and durable relationship in areas of research, training and academics. They have jointly carried out several research projects in different countries in Asia and Africa.
Besides the degree programme, a project named “PMA Agile” is also being launched in India along with other countries like Kenya, Nigeria and other Francophone West African countries.
The success of this relationship is apparent from the fact that the MoU between both universities was extended by five years earlier this year in Baltimore.