Antiretroviral drugs logistics management and HIV/AIDS service delivery in Baylor-Uganda supported health facilities in eastern Uganda
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The number of people receiving antiretroviral treatment (ART) continues to grow as the global effort to fight HIV/AIDS continues to overcome barriers to ART and ensure that drugs are available to those infected with the virus. As part of its systems strengthening program, Baylor-Uganda provided technical support in ARV logistics management to health facilities. This improved service delivery and ensured HIV-positive pregnant women and exposed infants got the drugs they needed to survive. RESEARCH QUESTIONS: The study sought to answer the questions: Can an intervention effectiveness study on the ARV logistics management program and HIV/AIDS management services be done? What sources of data and key personnel are available to conduct such a study? How does the ARV logistics management program affect starting ART for mothers and exposed infants? How does the program impact reporting and ordering of HIV commodities from the national supply chain agencies? STUDY DESIGN: This was a feasibility/pilot study to estimate the parameters needed to design a larger intervention effectiveness study and determine whether the research questions could be answered. The study was conducted among 25 Baylor – Uganda supported health facilities in eastern Uganda. RESULTS: Improvement in the ARV logistics management at the health facilities was reported. The number of HFs submitting complete and correct order forms to NMS has increased. This has in turn increased the number of HIV positive pregnant women and exposed infants started on ART although not all of them are started as required under the new treatment guidelines. CONCLUSIONS: Although there are still areas that need improvement in ARV logistics management, improvements have been observed in the supported health facilities including timely submission of order forms, and increased number of HIV positive pregnant women and exposed infants started on ART. A larger study involving patient-level data would provide greater insights into the impact of this program.
Subject Area
Management|Health sciences|Public health
Recommended Citation
Nakalema, Hilda Sekabira, "Antiretroviral drugs logistics management and HIV/AIDS service delivery in Baylor-Uganda supported health facilities in eastern Uganda" (2015). Texas Medical Center Dissertations (via ProQuest). AAI1604125.
https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/dissertations/AAI1604125