Services on Demand
Article
Indicators
Related links
- Cited by Google
- Similars in Google
Share
Curationis
On-line version ISSN 2223-6279
Print version ISSN 0379-8577
Curationis vol.33 n.2 Pretoria Jan. 2010
RESEARCH ARTICLE
An information system to manage the rollout of the antiretroviral treatment programme in the Free State
JE Kotzé; T McDonald
Ph.D. Department of Computer Science and Informatics, University of the Free State
ABSTRACT
The Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome epidemic, caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, is a global crisis which threatens development gains, economies, and societies. Within sub-Saharan Africa, where the epidemic began the earliest and the HIV prevalence is the highest, African countries have death rates not seen before. In South Africa the epidemic has a devastating impact which creates profound suffering on individuals and their families, and the impact on the socio-economic level is of great concern. The eradication of HIV/AIDS represents one of humanity's greatest challenges, which requires co-operation and comprehensive collaboration between many different role players. In this endeavour clinical information plays a major role.
To combat the effect of the disease, the Free State Department of Health started with the provisioning of antiretroviral therapy in the public health sector. The objective of this paper was to address the challenges they faced in order to develop and implement an information system to manage the rollout of antiretroviral treatment effectively. They started with a paper-based system to collect vital information. It was followed by a palm computer project that was initiated to electronically capture the data collected by the paper-based system. This system was then replaced by a comprehensive Hospital and Clinic Information System which was acquired and customised for the antiretroviral data collection process. Research partners developed a standalone antiretroviral data warehouse for collecting information associated with the monitoring and evaluation of the Free State antiretroviral and HIV/ AIDS treatment programme. The data warehouse successfully produced several management information reports to the antiretroviral management team. A need was identified to design a comprehensive antiretroviral data warehouse that will integrate data from several operational sources which are all associated with HIV/AIDS.
Key words: HIV/AIDS, Antiretroviral Treatment Programme, Paper-based Information System, Palm Computer System, Hospital Information System, Data Warehouse
“Full text available only in PDF format”
References
BASKERVILLE, RL1999: Investigating Information Systems with Action Research. Communications of the Association for Information Systems, 2( 19). http://cais.isworld.org/articles/2-19/default.asp?View=pdf&x=78&y=17 Accessed 17 September 2007. [ Links ]
BUTLER, T; FELLER, J; POPE, A; MURPHY, C & EMERSON, B 2006: An action research study on the design and development of core IT artifacts for knowledge management systems. http://csrc.lse.ac.uk/asp/aspecis/20060044.pdf Accessed 8 October 2007. [ Links ]
CHAPMAN, RD 2003: Plan for Implementation of ARV's in the Free State Province. Bloemfontein: Free State Department of Health. (Unpublished internal report). [ Links ]
FAIRALL, L; BOTHA, S; BATEM AN, E; DONQ K; CHAPMAN, R; KOTZE, E & VAN DER BANK, L 2004: Free State Anti-Retroviral Treatment Programme: Collection and Analysis of Routine Data. Bloemfontein: Free State Department of Health. (Unpublished internal report). [ Links ]
LOWRANCE, D; FILLER, S; MAKOMBE, S; HARRIES, A; ABERLE-GRASSE, J; HOCHGESANG, M & LIBAMBA, E 2007: Assessment of a national monitoring and evaluation system for rapid expansion of antiretroviral treatment in Malawi. Tropical Medicine and Internationa] Health. 12(3):377-381. [ Links ]
NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH (SOUTH AFRICA) 2003: Cabinet's decision on the operational plan for comprehensive care and treatment of people living with HIV and AIDS, http://www.doh.gov.za/docs/pr/2003/prl119.html. Accessed 16 July 2008. [ Links ]
NATIONAL HEALTH INFORMATION SYSTEM OFSOUTH AFRICA COMITTEE (NHIS/SA) 2006: National Health Care Management Information System of South Africa (NHC/MIS). http://www.doh.gov.za/nhis/docs/nchmis.htm. Accessed 15 May 2006. [ Links ]
SHAI-MHATU, P 2006: Fighting AIDS with Evidence, http://www.idrc.ca/en/ev-101161-201-l-DO_TOPIC.html. Accessed 23 June 2010. [ Links ]
SEEBREGTS, CJ; ZWARENTEIN, M; MATHEWS, C; FAIRALL, L; FLISHER, AJ; SEEBREGTSs, C; MUKOMA, W & KLEPP, K 2009: Handheld computers for survey and trial data collection in resource-poor settings: Development and evaluation of PDACT, a PalmTM Pilot interviewing system. To appear in the International Journal of Medical Informatics in 2009. [ Links ]
SIIKA, AM; ROTICH, JK; SIMIYA, CJ; KIGOTHO, EM; SMITH, FE; SIDLE, JE; WOOLS-KALOUSTIAN, K; KIMAIYO, SN; NYANDIKO, WM; HANNAH, TJ & TIERNEY, WM 2005: An electronic medical record system for ambulatory care of HIV-infected patients in Kenya. International Journal of Medical Informatics. 74: 345-355. [ Links ]
SUSMAN, G & EVERED, R 1978: An Assessment of the Scientific Merits of Action Research. Administrative Science Ouarterly. 23(4), 582-603. [ Links ]
TSHABALALA-MSIMANG, M 2003: Statement of Cabinet on a Plan for Comprehensive Treatment and Care for HIV and Aids in South Africa, http://www.info.gov.za/speeches/2003/03111916531001.htm. Accessed 23 June 2010. [ Links ]
UNAIDS 2004: Report on Global AIDS epidemic, http://www.unaids.org/bangkolc2004/report_pdf.html. Accessed 1 February 2006. [ Links ]
UNAIDS 2008a: Report on the global AIDS epidemic 2008 - Executive summary. http://www.unaids/org/en/KnowledgeCenter/HIVData/GlobalReport/2008/. Accessed 30 October 2008. [ Links ]
UNAIDS 2008b: HIV and AIDS Estimates and data, 2007 and 2001. Annexure 1. http://data.unaids.org/pub/GlobalReport/2008/jcl510_2008_gl(M_report_pp211_234_en.pdf Accessed 30 October 2008. [ Links ]
UNAIDS 2008c: Status of the global HIV epidemic. Annexure 2. http://whqlibdoc.who.int/unaids/2008/9789291737116_eng_Chapter2A.pdf. Accessed 30 October 2008. [ Links ]
Correspondence:
Prof. Theo McDonald
Department of Computer Science and Informatics
University of the Free State
P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9300
Tel:(051)401-2297; Fax:(051)401-2297
E-mail: theo@ufs.ac.za