The DALY Translation Model (DTM): a model for evaluation and priority setting for international NGOs

Warren Stevens, MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit on AIDS
David Jeffries, MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit on AIDS
Nada Chaya, Population Services International (PSI)

There is a move towards a consensus method of measuring the health impact of NGO interventions in developing countries and to create a more objective and strategic approach to prioritization and resource allocation. To evaluate the health impact of its interventions in 62 countries relative to an internationally recognized measure - the disability-adjusted life year (DALY) - PSI developed a DALY Translation Model (DTM) for each health area it works in. These models estimate for each country both the burden of each disease/condition addressed and impact accrued from the implemention of each PSI intervention. The model combines empirical evidence on efficacy and risk, demographic data on population heterogeneity with process outcomes such as utilization and coverage to estimate the impact of its work across multiple health areas in multiple countries.. It is estimated PSI interventions averted 10.6 million DALYs in 2007, including 2.1 million DALYs from family planning interventions.