Scaling-up health information systems to improve HIV treatment: An assessment of initial patient monitoring systems in Mozambique
AIDS res. ther; 97 (322), 2016
Ano de publicação: 2016
Introduction—The rapid scale-up of HIV care and treatment in resource-limited countries
requires concurrent, rapid development of health information systems to support quality service
delivery. Mozambique, a country with an 11.5% prevalence of HIV, has developed nation-wide
patient monitoring systems (PMS) with standardized reporting tools, utilized by all HIV treatment
providers in paper or electronic form. Evaluation of the initial implementation of PMS can inform
and strengthen future development as the country moves towards a harmonized, sustainable health
information system.
Objective—This assessment was conducted in order to 1) characterize data collection and
reporting processes and PMS resources available and 2) provide evidence-based recommendations
for harmonization and sustainability of PMS.
Methods—This baseline assessment of PMS was conducted with eight non-governmental
organizations that supported the Ministry of Health to provide 90% of HIV care and treatment in
Mozambique. The study team conducted structured and semi-structured surveys at 18 health
facilities located in all 11 provinces. Seventy-nine staff were interviewed. Deductive a priori
analytic categories guided analysis.
Results—Health facilities have implemented paper and electronic monitoring systems with
varying success. Where in use, robust electronic PMS facilitate facility-level reporting of required
indicators; improve ability to identify patients lost to follow-up; and support facility and patient
management. Challenges to implementation of monitoring systems include a lack of national
guidelines and norms for patient level HIS, variable system implementation and functionality, and
limited human and infrastructure resources to maximize system functionality and information use.
Conclusions—This initial assessment supports the need for national guidelines to harmonize,
expand, and strengthen HIV-related health information systems. Recommendations may benefit
other countries with similar epidemiologic and resource-constrained environments seeking to
improve PMS implementation.