Strengthening The Quality Of Hiv Data In Kenya: Tracing Of Patients Lost To Follow Up And Reduction Of Low Linkage

Abstract

Introduction: Data quality is the aspect of obtaining accurate and reliable information that can be used by programs for program monitoring as well as patient management effectively. Despite an increase in most private organizations and Ministry of Health clinics dealing with HIV/AIDS ensuring that they have high quality data, little has been done to lower the rates of lost to follow up (LTFU) outcomes and improving HIV testing and counseling outreach linkages to care experience thus reducing stakeholder confidence and support. This project aimed to determine the factors that lead to LTFU and the low rates of linkages to care and also develop a system that has the potential of reducing the rates of LTFU and increasing the rates of linkages into care so as to achieve collection of quality data. Methods: A survey (where self-administered questionnaires were given) was conducted to gather data from the different HIV/AIDS programs across Nairobi, Kenya to determine how this issue was affecting them. Data was coded in Microsoft Access and pulled in STATA12 for analysis. Results: Overall, LTFU contributed to 23,531 (37%) of all the clients who had ever started care while 35% of clients did not get linked to care after turning HIV positive in a HIV outreach testing. Reasons that led to LTFU were cited as economy difficulties, felt like they had healed, had gone upcountry, stigma, distance to the clinic, child care commitments and mortality while for low rates of linkages to care were repeat testers, stigma and forgot their unique client number. Conclusion: Most organizations experience the problem of poor data quality as a result of reporting high rates of LTFU and low rates of linkages to care. These program outcomes may be improved by where most, if not all, programs that deal with HIV/AIDS related issues would adopt an electronic health record (EHR) system that has been integrated with biometric technology to register and serve their clients.