Research, Monitoring & Evaluation
Demand for monitoring and evaluation (M&E) and applied research is increasing in the international health field. Countries that receive aid want to more accurately measure outcomes. Major donors and development partners emphasize that M&E and applied research are essential for maximizing the impact of development assistance.
Abt Associates is uniquely qualified to respond to the call for better measurement of results.Abt is a leader in health systems strengthening and program implementation, as well as a recognized expert in M&E and applied research. We:
- Develop tools and systems for routine program monitoring of our multimillion-dollar projects;
- Conduct process evaluations and assessments;
- Measure impact through the application of rigorous evaluation methods; and
- Influence program learning and decision making through applied research.
From conducting a randomized evaluation of a health insurance pilot program in Nicaragua to leading qualitative research on zinc for treating pediatric diarrhea in Nepal, our core strengths include:
- Designing and implementing robust M&E systems;
- Framing results for action; and
- Integrating results into decision-management processes.
Abt’s corporate culture includes a dedication to integrity and data quality. Abt is committed to research and evaluation practices that comply with the highest ethical principles and regulatory requirements governing research involving human subjects. Abt maintains its own Institutional Review Board, which conducts prospective reviews of proposed research and monitors continuing research for the purpose of safeguarding research participants’ rights and welfare.
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- Benin: An impact evaluation (Pre-Post) to determine knowledge, attitudes, practices related to the treatment of pediatric diarrhea among caregivers and service providers, document changes over time, and identify the determinants of zinc use in order to develop more effective programs
- Ethiopia: A process & implementation evaluation to assess client satisfaction, stakeholder acceptability, and provider adherence to standards in task shifting tubal ligation to mid-level providers
- Ghana: An impact evaluation (Pre-Post) to understand current knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to caregivers’ treatment of pediatric diarrhea in Ghana, including the current use of ORS, zinc, and other products, and assess the changes in caregivers’ KAP following the implementation of the SHOPS project’s interventions in Ghana
- Ghana: An impact evaluation (Randomized Controlled Trial) to evaluate the impact of SMS mobile phone text messages and interactive quizzes for Licensed Chemical Sellers to encourage appropriate prescription of zinc and ORS for pediatric diarrhea
- Kenya: A process & implementation evaluation to measure the awareness and perceptions of LiveWell’s services, prices, and community outreach and evaluate the relationship between wealth and use of private sector clinics such as LiveWell.
- Madagascar: An impact evaluation (Randomized Controlled Trial) to determine the effect of free pregnancy testing on the uptake of family planning
- Malawi: A provider mapping exercise to document the physical location, personnel, equipment, and services of private sector facilities in order to allow health systems to coordinate and utilize the contributions of the private health sector and make appropriate policy decisions
- Nigeria: An impact evaluation (Randomized Controlled Trial) to evaluate access to finance (loans) among the community pharmacists
- Nigeria: An impact evaluation (Randomized Controlled Trial) to evaluate the impact of clinical training on doctors and nurse-midwives
- Uganda: Formative research to document the ‘demand side’ of pathways to HIV care, and analyze the constraints, barriers and opportunities for effective collaboration between multi-sectorial health care providers
- Bangladesh: Formative research to document the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to Long Acting and Permanent Methods (LAPM) among private providers and LAPM patients
- Jordan: An impact evaluation (Randomized Controlled Trial) to evaluate the impact of Evidence Based Medicine (EBM) methodology focusing on DMPA (3-month injectable contraceptive) using physician roundtables and detailing visits to FP providers
- Jordan: An impact evaluation (Randomized Controlled Trial) to measure the impact of counseling women alone and couples on family planning decisions and uptake, and identify the mechanisms through which counseling – either alone or as a couple – affects family planning use
- Paraguay: A process evaluation to analyze the SHOPS’s project technical assistance in IUD provision to the Paraguayan Social Security Institute selection process, timing, allocation of resources, scale, experience of providers and patients, and performance measures by activity
The publications listed below are a sample of Abt Associates’ work in this area.
Reports:
- Extending Social Insurance to Informal Sector Workers in Nicaragua via Microfinance Institutions: Results from a Randomized Evaluation
Laurel Hatt, Rebecca Thornton, Barbara Magnoni, and Musaleena Islam
Private Sector Partnerships-One project
- Evaluation of GAVI Phase 1 Performance
Grace Chee, Vivikka Molldrem, Natasha Hsi, and Slavea Chankova
- Distribution of Household Water Treatment through Mutual Health Organizations: Results from a Pilot Project in Rwanda. Bethesda, MD: Social Marketing Plus for Diarrheal Disease Control: Point-of-Use Water Disinfection and Zinc Treatment (POUZN) Project
Slavea Chakova, Damascene Butera, Laurel Hatt and Sabine Musange
- Improving Access to Life-saving Maternal Health Services: The Effects of Removing User Fees for Caesareans in Mali
Marianne El-Khoury, Timothee Gandaho, Aneesa Arur, Binta Keita, and Lisa Nichols
Health Systems 20/20
Articles/Books:
- Encouraging maternal health service utilization: an evaluation of the Bangladesh voucher program.
Ha Nguyen, Laurel Hatt, Mursaleena Islam, Nancy L. Sloan, Jamil Chowdhury, Jean-Olivier Schmidt, Atia Hosain and Hong Wang
- Social security health insurance for the Informal sector in Nicaragua: a randomized Evaluation.
Rebecca L. Thornton, Laurel E. Hatt, Erica M. Field, Mursaleena Islam, Freddy Solis Diaz and Martha Azucena Gonzalez.
- User fee exemptions and equity in access to caesarean sections: an analysis of patient survey data in Mali
Marianne El-Khoury, Laurel Hatt and Timothee Gandaho
- National Scale-up of Zinc Promotion in Nepal: Results from a Post-project Population-based Survey
Wenjuan Wang, Vicki M. MacDonald, Mahesh Paudel, and Kathryn K. Banke
- A community-based approach to promote household water treatment in Rwanda.
Slavea Chankova, Laurel Hatt and Sabine Musange.
- Introduction of misoprostol for prevention of postpartum hemorrhage at the community level in Senegal.
Mohamed Diadhiou, Thierno Dieng, Christine Ortiz, Ibrahima Mall, Demba Dione, Nancy L. Sloan
- The financial protection effect of Ghana National Health Insurance Scheme: evidence from a study in two rural districts.
Ha Nguyen, Yogesh Rajkotia and Hong Wang
- Chapter 4: Ghana's National Health Insurance Scheme in The Impact of Health Insurance in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
- Leveraging the private health sector to enhance HIV service delivery in lower-income countries
Pamela Rao, Tesfai Gabre-Kidan, Deus Bazira Mubangizi and Sara Sulzbach
- Utilization of HIV-related services from the private health sector: A multi-country analysis.
Wenjuan Wang , Sara Sulzbach and Susna De
Projects
Ongoing Studies
- Benin: An impact evaluation (Pre-Post) to determine knowledge, attitudes, practices related to the treatment of pediatric diarrhea among caregivers and service providers, document changes over time, and identify the determinants of zinc use in order to develop more effective programs
- Ethiopia: A process & implementation evaluation to assess client satisfaction, stakeholder acceptability, and provider adherence to standards in task shifting tubal ligation to mid-level providers
- Ghana: An impact evaluation (Pre-Post) to understand current knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to caregivers’ treatment of pediatric diarrhea in Ghana, including the current use of ORS, zinc, and other products, and assess the changes in caregivers’ KAP following the implementation of the SHOPS project’s interventions in Ghana
- Ghana: An impact evaluation (Randomized Controlled Trial) to evaluate the impact of SMS mobile phone text messages and interactive quizzes for Licensed Chemical Sellers to encourage appropriate prescription of zinc and ORS for pediatric diarrhea
- Kenya: A process & implementation evaluation to measure the awareness and perceptions of LiveWell’s services, prices, and community outreach and evaluate the relationship between wealth and use of private sector clinics such as LiveWell.
- Madagascar: An impact evaluation (Randomized Controlled Trial) to determine the effect of free pregnancy testing on the uptake of family planning
- Malawi: A provider mapping exercise to document the physical location, personnel, equipment, and services of private sector facilities in order to allow health systems to coordinate and utilize the contributions of the private health sector and make appropriate policy decisions
- Nigeria: An impact evaluation (Randomized Controlled Trial) to evaluate access to finance (loans) among the community pharmacists
- Nigeria: An impact evaluation (Randomized Controlled Trial) to evaluate the impact of clinical training on doctors and nurse-midwives
- Uganda: Formative research to document the ‘demand side’ of pathways to HIV care, and analyze the constraints, barriers and opportunities for effective collaboration between multi-sectorial health care providers
- Bangladesh: Formative research to document the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to Long Acting and Permanent Methods (LAPM) among private providers and LAPM patients
- Jordan: An impact evaluation (Randomized Controlled Trial) to evaluate the impact of Evidence Based Medicine (EBM) methodology focusing on DMPA (3-month injectable contraceptive) using physician roundtables and detailing visits to FP providers
- Jordan: An impact evaluation (Randomized Controlled Trial) to measure the impact of counseling women alone and couples on family planning decisions and uptake, and identify the mechanisms through which counseling – either alone or as a couple – affects family planning use
- Paraguay: A process evaluation to analyze the SHOPS’s project technical assistance in IUD provision to the Paraguayan Social Security Institute selection process, timing, allocation of resources, scale, experience of providers and patients, and performance measures by activity
Publications
The publications listed below are a sample of Abt Associates’ work in this area.
Reports:
- Extending Social Insurance to Informal Sector Workers in Nicaragua via Microfinance Institutions: Results from a Randomized Evaluation
Laurel Hatt, Rebecca Thornton, Barbara Magnoni, and Musaleena Islam
Private Sector Partnerships-One project
- Evaluation of GAVI Phase 1 Performance
Grace Chee, Vivikka Molldrem, Natasha Hsi, and Slavea Chankova
- Distribution of Household Water Treatment through Mutual Health Organizations: Results from a Pilot Project in Rwanda. Bethesda, MD: Social Marketing Plus for Diarrheal Disease Control: Point-of-Use Water Disinfection and Zinc Treatment (POUZN) Project
Slavea Chakova, Damascene Butera, Laurel Hatt and Sabine Musange
- Improving Access to Life-saving Maternal Health Services: The Effects of Removing User Fees for Caesareans in Mali
Marianne El-Khoury, Timothee Gandaho, Aneesa Arur, Binta Keita, and Lisa Nichols
Health Systems 20/20
Articles/Books:
- Encouraging maternal health service utilization: an evaluation of the Bangladesh voucher program.
Ha Nguyen, Laurel Hatt, Mursaleena Islam, Nancy L. Sloan, Jamil Chowdhury, Jean-Olivier Schmidt, Atia Hosain and Hong Wang
- Social security health insurance for the Informal sector in Nicaragua: a randomized Evaluation.
Rebecca L. Thornton, Laurel E. Hatt, Erica M. Field, Mursaleena Islam, Freddy Solis Diaz and Martha Azucena Gonzalez.
- User fee exemptions and equity in access to caesarean sections: an analysis of patient survey data in Mali
Marianne El-Khoury, Laurel Hatt and Timothee Gandaho
- National Scale-up of Zinc Promotion in Nepal: Results from a Post-project Population-based Survey
Wenjuan Wang, Vicki M. MacDonald, Mahesh Paudel, and Kathryn K. Banke
- A community-based approach to promote household water treatment in Rwanda.
Slavea Chankova, Laurel Hatt and Sabine Musange.
- Introduction of misoprostol for prevention of postpartum hemorrhage at the community level in Senegal.
Mohamed Diadhiou, Thierno Dieng, Christine Ortiz, Ibrahima Mall, Demba Dione, Nancy L. Sloan
- The financial protection effect of Ghana National Health Insurance Scheme: evidence from a study in two rural districts.
Ha Nguyen, Yogesh Rajkotia and Hong Wang
- Chapter 4: Ghana's National Health Insurance Scheme in The Impact of Health Insurance in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
- Leveraging the private health sector to enhance HIV service delivery in lower-income countries
Pamela Rao, Tesfai Gabre-Kidan, Deus Bazira Mubangizi and Sara Sulzbach
- Utilization of HIV-related services from the private health sector: A multi-country analysis.
Wenjuan Wang , Sara Sulzbach and Susna De
Contact Us
Questions about our work in international health?
Email our team.