Factors Associated with Incomplete Reporting of HIV/AIDS by Uganda’s Surveillance System
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Date
2017-03-08
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Health Systems Policy Research
Abstract
Background: With support from the United States government, Uganda introduced the District Health Information Software 2 (DHIS2) in 2012 to improve surveillance for better prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS. However, districts have yet to fully adopt this system given a 70.2% reporting completeness achieved nationally between April-June 2013.
Methods: The study has one dependent variable: Districts’ reporting completeness and four independent variables. 1) Number of client visits; 2) Number of district health units; 3) Number of NGOs delivering HIV/AIDS services; and 4) Regional location. We used cross-sectional study design which allows researchers to compare many different variables at the same time. HIV/AIDS program data that were reported by districts into DHIS2 during the period of April to June 2013 were used to assess for statistical analysis.
Findings: Districts reporting the lowest number of client visits (under 2500) achieved the highest mean reporting completeness (81.6%), whereas a range of
2501 – 5000, or over 5001 client visits recorded 72.4% and 51.7% respectively. The higher the number of client visits the lower the reporting completeness (p <0.05).
Districts that were receiving support from only one NGO recorded a mere 56.7% whereas those from two recorded 67.2%. Districts supported by over three NGOs had the highest (80.6%) mean reporting completeness. The number of NGOs was statistically associated with reporting completeness (p <0.05). The number of health units operated by a district was also significantly associated with reporting completeness (p <0.05). The regional location of a district was not associated with reporting completeness (p =0.674).
Conclusion: Results of this study suggest that districts with higher patient volume for HIV/AIDS services should be identified and targeted with additional NGO support. Newly funded NGOs should be established in districts operating over 40 health units. Incomplete reporting undermines identification of HIV- affected individuals and limits the ability to make evidence-based decisions regarding program planning and service delivery for HIV prevention and antiretroviral therapy for this needy population.
Description
This study was in Uganda introduced as the District Health Information Software 2 (DHIS2) in 2012 to improve surveillance for better prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS.
Keywords
Antiretroviral therapy, HIV - Health services, HIV/AIDS - Uganda’s Surveillance System
Citation
Bwesigye. Factors Associated with Incomplete Reporting of HIV/AIDS by Uganda’s Surveillance System. Health Systems Policy Research. Vol. 4. No.1 (2017) ISSN: 22549137 DOI: 10.21767/2254-9137.100070