Automating the PMTCT processes for Busia County Referral Hospital

Abstract

HIV is still a major cause of death in children under the age of five, the majority of whom contract HIV from their mother during pregnancy, delivery or breast feeding. This transmission of HIV from HIV positive mothers to infants is preventable and with proper interventions the risk can be reduced to zero percent. Effective and efficiency provision of Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) interventions that improves maternal health and infant HIV-free survival is required. At Busia County Referral Hospital the PMTCT data was initialy processed manually with the risk of losing the manual files together with the critical clients’ details. It is very cumbersome to carryout analysis on the manual files by extracting relevant information that could guide in managing the patients. There were challenges of monitoring the HIV mothers comprehensively. For this reason there was need to build a PMTCT application system that will ensure HIV positive mothers’ data is securely maintained and enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the data management. Automating the PMTCT processes will enhance intervention plans with an objective of reducing transmission of HIV from mother to child to zero percent. The tool will ensure that the PMTCT data is accessible to all in a stigma free environment. The system will assist in ensuring that the lost to follow up cases are reduced to zero. The system will optimize the PMTCT data by ensuring that the proper guidelines are adhered to and improve maternal and child health. All the system development phases were adhered to with the user requirements properly gathered and documented. The system was appropriately designed using tools like ERD, Data Flow Diagrams and sequence diagram. The usability principles was used as a guide to ascertain easy use of the system. The system was be implemented in phases after putting up more computers for linkage and train users on proper use of the system. The whole project took a duration of eight months for development and four other months for implementation, system testing and training users. One of the lesson learned is the importance of user involvement in the entire process of developing the system, I also acquired the system design and development skills. The system is approximated to have cost Ksh 500,000.