Abstract:
Background: As the World Health Organization through The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) seeks to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic by 2030, It is key that Health Facilities (HFs) have vital commodities at all times for diagnosis, prevention and treatment. The Study was aimed at assessing the determinants of availability of HIV Tracer Commodities in Health Facilities in Wakiso District, Uganda.
Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in 42 HFs as a Census for all facilities offering HIV/AIDs services in Wakiso District. Semi-structured Questionnaire was used adapted from LIAT and SPARs tools to collect data on availability of HIV Tracer commodities. Data was entered into Microsoft Excel and then exported into SPSS where Descriptive, Bivariate and Multivariate analysis were conducted to obtain results.
Results: Almost 67% HFs (28) had all the seven Tracer commodities. TDF/3TC/DTG 300/300/50 mg was available in all with ABC/3TC 120/30mg, DTG 10mg, and Cotrimoxazole 960mg available in almost 98 facilities. Stat Pak and NVP 10mg/ml had stocked out in most of the facilities at 23.8% and 9.5 respectively. Most HFs (78.6%) were using Manual stock management tools that were fully updated. Delivery Notes, Issue Requisition vouchers were available at all HFs to allow commodity traceability. Good store management practices were witnessed in 100% facilities such as presence of shelves, temperature monitoring, expiries monitoring among others. Good Ordering and reporting practices were recorded in all facilities though timely ordering stood at73.8% HFs. Timely Delivery of commodities also stood at 40.5%. At bivariate level, use of Electronic System and Timely ordering were significant (COR: 0.543, CI: 0.12-0.96, p-value: 0.029) and (COR: 2.037, CI: 1.806-5.147 p-value: 0.025. The two variables still maintained their statistical significance after controlling for confounding at AOR: 0.623, CI: 0.131-0.958 p-value: 0.02 for Electronic LMIS and AOR: 2.538 CI: 2.126-3.304 p-value: 0.003 for Timely ordering.
Conclusion: With 67% facilities having Tracer HIV commodities at day of visit highlighted the existence of Stock Outs with Ordering Timeliness and Use of both Electronic and Manual systems standing as critical determinants of stock availability areas that District Health Authorities and implementing partners should focus on to enhance commodity availability.
