Data Demand and Information Use in the Uptake of Hiv Services: a Case Study of Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (Prep) Among Sex Workers in Nairobi County.

Abstract

This study evaluated existing methods for data demand and information usage in the provision of HIV-related care in the County of Nairobi. The core study objective was to examine current practices regarding data request and use of information in the provision of PrEP services in Nairobi County. The specific aim of the research was to assess if the existing practices complied with data request principles and the use of information while offering PrEP services. Questionnaires were administered to data officers and M&E officers, program managers and the management staff from SWOP Kenya. The study established that the current practices conform to principles of data demand and use of information in the process of offering PrEP services in Nairobi County. Some of the practices that were noted include constant review of data during the monthly data review meetings, data cleaning and checking of data completeness. The opinions of the data practitioners and data users on the demand and use of data in implementing PrEp program in Nairobi County showed that staff need to have positive attitude on data demand and use; the need to have well trained staff on data collection, cleaning, analysis and presentation. Data practitioners need to understand the power of data in making informed decisions, also if the information is not well disseminated then users lack enough knowledge and hence low PrEp uptake rate. There is need to educate PrEp users through support groups and inform them the important of taking the pill. The vigor with which data is indicated, collected, analyzed and reported supports uptake of PrEP as a service. The study recommended training of the data practitioners and staff on data analysis, data presentation and in data use (planning and quality improvement) and on the element of data qualities