Section 24-806 - Collection of data; evaluation of particular issues; methodology.
§ 24-806. Collection of data; evaluation of particular issues; methodology.
(a) Required data.- The Baltimore City Health Department shall include in its Program operating procedures measures to collect the following data:
(1) The number of participants served by the Program;
(2) The length of time a participant is served by the Program;
(3) Demographic profiles of participants served by the Program that include:
(i) Age;
(ii) Sex;
(iii) Race;
(iv) Occupation;
(v) Zip code of residence;
(vi) Types of drugs used;
(vii) Length of drug use; and
(viii) Frequency of injection;
(4) The number of hypodermic needles and syringes exchanged;
(5) The number of participants entering drug counseling and treatment; and
(6) The number of referrals made by the Program for drug counseling and treatment.
(b) Required issues to be evaluated.- With the advice and approval of the oversight committee, the Baltimore City Health Department shall develop and implement a plan for Program evaluation that shall include the following issues:
(1) The prevalence of HIV among Program participants;
(2) Changes in the level of drug use among Program participants;
(3) Changes in the level of needle-sharing among Program participants;
(4) Changes in the use of condoms among Program participants;
(5) The status of treatment and recovery for Program participants who entered drug treatment programs;
(6) The impact of the Program on risk behaviors for the transmission of the HIV infection, the hepatitis B virus, and other life-threatening blood-borne diseases among injecting drug users;
(7) The cost-effectiveness of the Program versus the direct and indirect costs of the HIV infection in terms of medical treatment and other services normally required by HIV-infected individuals;
(8) The strengths and weaknesses of the Program; and
(9) The advisability of continuing the Program.
(c) Methodology.- As part of its plans for data collection and Program evaluation described under subsections (a) and (b) of this section, the Baltimore City Health Department shall develop and implement a methodology:
(1) For identifying Program hypodermic needles and syringes, such as through the use of bar coding or any other method approved by the oversight committee; and
(2) To perform HIV antibody testing on the residue left in a sample of hypodermic needles and syringes returned to the Program.
[1994, ch. 360; 2010, ch. 72.]