A Critical Analysis of HIV/AIDS Training Data for Three Regions in Northern Ethiopia from April 2005-February 2012

Abstract

Background: The Ethiopia Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) demonstrated strong leadership and commitment in using the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) funds to develop a health workforce that is sufficient to cope with the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Ethiopia. This support is focused on expanding in-service training to address needs across all the health systems. However, the in-service training efforts-keeping record of what types of training and how many trainings healthcare workers received-of various PEPFAR funded organizations lacks coordination and collaboration. Method: This study used data from the International Training and Education Center for Health (I-TECH). I-TECH uses Training System and Monitoring and Reporting Tool (TrainSMART) to track data on training programs, trainers, and trainees. The software was developed to accurately track training efforts, evaluate programs, and report activities to various stakeholders. TrainSMART data from HIV/AIDS related in-service trainings in Ethiopia between April 2005 and February 2012 were analyzed. Results: A total of 7,062 individuals attended a wide range of HIV/AIDS related trainings in Ethiopia from April 2005 to February 2012. Of the total number of trainees, 61% attended one training, 17 % attended two trainings, and 11% attended three trainings. There were 13 individuals who attended 10 or more training sessions. A total of 417 trainees took the same training more than once. This was most common amongst the mid-level clinicians (4%), laboratory staff (4%), and social service workers (4%), followed by nurses (3%). Taking the same training more than once was more common for the topics of National Comprehensive ART-HIV Care (11%), the HIV Advanced Nurse Specialist Program (7%), Prevention with Positives Training (6%), and PMTCT (5%). Conclusion: It is important for FMOH and national and international partners to work toward greater efficiency and effective use of training resources. Duplication of training wastes resources, creates loss of opportunity for those who really need training, and results in unnecessary absence of staff from healthcare facilities, impairing a health system that is already understaffed.