ART Data Quality Assessment and Patient Folder Audit

Description of the Project:

The progress made by PEPFAR and The Global Fund countries in HIV treatment and prevention services has been significant, with many countries reaching the point where the number of people needing HIV treatment services is not growing. Nigeria is one such country, having made impressive strides in treatment outcomes and service coverage.

However, as highlighted by the concerns, there is still a need for further understanding of the success factors and data quality assurances to ensure that the reported improvements are accurate and reliable. The wide variation of ART coverage across the states is a particular concern, with some states having less than 70% coverage, while others have over 100%. This suggests that there may be disparities in access to treatment services, and a more targeted approach may be needed to reach underserved populations.

The limitations of the National Data Repository in capturing core indicators also highlight the need for a more comprehensive data system to monitor and evaluate the HIV response in Nigeria. This will enable policymakers to make informed decisions and allocate resources effectively.

Additionally, the discrepancies between PMTCT and pediatric ART coverage and the overall treatment coverage indicator raise concerns about the accuracy of the reported data. The engagement of a Technical Service Organization to implement the ART data quality assessment and patient folder audit will help to identify areas where improvements can be made and ensure that the reported data is consistent and reliable.

Overall, while Nigeria has made significant progress in HIV treatment and prevention services, there is still work to be done to ensure that the gains made are sustained and that all populations have access to these life-saving services.

The objectives of the project:

The technical support to NACA entails:

1. determining the accurate number of PLHIV currently on ART, nationally and sub-nationally (if applicable)
2. determining the quality of the ART data and selected indicators to inform better program planning.
3. gathering the information that helps further improve ART client registration, follow-up, recording keeping, and reporting system.
4. aligning the numbers for PLHIV currently on ART and that of the logistics drug data.

Interventions: PGS is providing its technical expertise to implement the national Data Quality Assessment (DQA) and folder audit of patients on Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) for the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) and other departments, programmes and partners with a mandate for ART services. PGS is assisting NACA and partners to further understand service coverage and proffer improvement guidance for data quality and the national programme. Our services are sure to lead to the desired results of (a) determining the accurate number of PLHIV currently on ART, nationally and sub-nationally (if applicable) (b) determining the quality of the ART data and selected indicators to inform better program planning (c) gathering information that will help to further improve ART client registration, follow-up, recording keeping, and reporting system and (e) aligning the numbers for PLHIV currently on ART and that of the logistics drug data.

Related Activities: Monitoring evaluation and learning, HIV, DQA