Needle Syringe Program National Minimum Data Collection (NSP NMDC)

The challenge: 

Needle and syringe programs (NSPs) are a key component of current and previous National Strategies for reducing blood-borne viral infections. The aims of the National Strategies are to reduce the transmission of HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C and to reduce associated morbidity, mortality and personal and social impacts. Each National Strategy outlines a set of indicators for monitoring progress towards these aims and reporting against the indicators through the National Surveillance and Monitoring Plan is a key step in the implementation process.

The project: 

The NSP National Minimum Data Collection (NSP NMDC) provides information on Australian NSP service provision to enable reporting against key NSP indicators as outlined in the National Surveillance and Monitoring Plan.

The method: 

Following a meeting with key stakeholders in 2015, the NSP NMDC identifed and agreed on annual collection and collation of data in relation to the following three broad areas of NSP operations: 

  1. Agency-level administrative data (NSP service type and location)
  2. Client-level data (demographic characteristics of NSP attendees [age, gender and Indigenous status], drugs injected by NSP attendees and health education interventions and referrals provided)
  3. National needle and syringe distribution.
The results: 

The inaugural NSP NMDC National Data Report was published in 2016.

The impact: 

The project provides key indicators to enable monitoring and evaluation of the impacts of Australia’s National HIV and Hepatitis C Strategies and Australia’s commitments to the UNAIDS Global AIDS Response.

Project contact: 
Research Officer

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