Evaluation of Antiretroviral Therapy Information System in Mbale Regional Referral Hospital, Uganda

Type Thesis or Dissertation - Master Thesis
Title Evaluation of Antiretroviral Therapy Information System in Mbale Regional Referral Hospital, Uganda
Author(s)
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2008
URL http://etd.uwc.ac.za/xmlui/bitstream/handle/11394/2776/Olupot-Olupot_MPH_2008.pdf?sequence=1
Abstract
HIV/AIDS is the largest and most serious global epidemic in the recent times. To date, the epidemic has affected approximately 40 million people (range 33 – 46 million) of whom 67%, that is, an estimated 27 million people are in the Sub Saharan Africa. The Sub Saharan Africa is also reported to have the highest regional prevalence of 7.2% compared to an average of 2% in other regions. A medical cure for HIV/AIDS remains elusive but use of antiretroviral therapy (ART) has resulted in improvement of quality and quantity of life as evidenced by the reduction of mortality and morbidity associated with the infection, hence longer and good quality life for HIV/AIDS patients on ART. The Uganda Ministry of Health (MoH) in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Joint Programme on AIDS (UNAIDS) and other local and international partners have established a comprehensive HIV/AIDS care programme to benefit people living with HIV/AIDS. To date the 3 year old roll-out programme in the country has covered all the eleven regional referral hospitals, one of which is the Mbale Regional Referral Hospital. The expanding ART programmes have come with complementary information systems; the ART – information systems. This system is part of the Health Management Information System. Such a system has been in operation in Mbale Regional Referral Hospital for the last 3 years; the purpose of which is to generate information for informed decision making, planning and management. In order for the data collected to achieve this function, it is important for such data to be of good quality. Currently the quality of data generated by the ART – IS at Mbale hospital is of doubtable quality. Furthermore, little evidence does exist on use of the data collected for effective planning and management of the Art services. Against the background, an evaluation study has been designed to assess quality of data generated by ART-IS at the hospital.

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