Tracy Maureen Rutogire, Samuel Gidudu, Gloria Bahizi, Jackson Were, Irene B Kyamwine, Lilian Bulage, Alex Riolexus Ario
Staff orientation and WhatsApp reminders were associated with improved HIV commodity reporting at the study site. While these interventions appear promising, further evaluation across multiple sites and under controlled conditions is needed to confirm their effectiveness. Institutionalising such low-cost strategies may offer potential benefits for strengthening HIV commodity stock management.
BACKGROUND: Timely reporting of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) commodity stock status is critical for effective supply chain management. However, only four (12%) of 31 HIV-accredited sites in the region submitted all weekly reports in quarter one 2024 using the Real-time Antiretrovirals (ARV) Stock Status Monitoring (RASS) tool.
AIM: To improve weekly reporting from 0% to 100% by August 2024 at a non-reporting HIV-accredited regional referral hospital using a continuous quality improvement (CQI) approach.
SETTING: The project was conducted at a regional referral hospital in Kampala, Uganda, an HIV-accredited facility serving approximately 1354 HIV patients as of March 2024.
METHODS: A CQI team conducted a baseline assessment in March 2024 using RASS dashboard data and identified non-reporting causes using fishbone and 5 Whys techniques. Interventions, implemented from April 2024 to July 2024, included orienting new staff and introducing WhatsApp reminders. Progress was monitored weekly using the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle, with data analysed monthly to assess trends.
RESULTS: Baseline reporting was 0% in March 2024 because of a lack of staff orientation. Orientation of two RASS users in April 2024 increased reporting to 80% by May 2024, and with WhatsApp reminders in June 2024, it reached 100% and was sustained through August 2024.
CONCLUSION: Staff orientation and WhatsApp reminders were associated with improved HIV commodity reporting at the study site. While these interventions appear promising, further evaluation across multiple sites and under controlled conditions is needed to confirm their effectiveness. Institutionalising such low-cost strategies may offer potential benefits for strengthening HIV commodity stock management.
CONTRIBUTION: These low-cost, scalable interventions can enhance HIV commodity management across HIV-accredited sites, thus supporting 95-95-95 HIV targets.