Preliminary data from the LTFU Study

Preliminary data from the

LTFU Study

Thursday 23rd Feb 2012 At FACES Conference Hall

Objective• To share the preliminary data

from the LTFU Study during Client Retention Meeting at Lumumba-FACES


Presentation Outline• Background• Study process• The Study sample• Back on care after tracking • Self transfers out • Reasons for being LTFU


Background

•Many patients enrolled in HIV programs become LTFU

• As many as 40% at 5 years have unknown outcomes


Background• The total number of LTFU in

the CCP of FACES according to the study are x.

•We don’t know what happens

to these patientsThursday 23rd Feb 2012 At FACES

Conference Hall

Background

Have they:•“Self transferred” to a new clinic?•“Disengaged” – stopped going to any clinic?• Died?


Because at a patient level:• If they have self transferred to

another clinic, we want to know why. • We want to update our records as a

transfer.• We can use information on why they

transferred to improve clinic services.


Because at a patient level:

• If they have stopped care all together, we want to provide services and counseling to encourage them to re-enter care.


Because at a patient level:

• If they have died, we want to understand why the urgent illness before their death wasn’t identified and treated.

• We can use this information to design better clinic services.


Because at a clinic level:

If we don’t know what happened to these people we don’t know how our clinic is doing•How many people registered in this clinic have actually died? More than are reported to clinic.•How many people are actually still in care ? More than are reported as transfers to clinic.


Because at a clinic level:

To improve care we need to know: •Why do patients stop coming?•Why do patients transfer to other clinics?•How can we support patients in staying in care?•How do we identify and help patients who are at higher risk of death if they default from care?


The sample

• Too many people are LTFU to find them all.

• A random sampling to represent the LTFU population


The sample and study Area

• The is going on in 4 study sites In Kisumu East District:


Site SampleLumumba 234Pandpieri 109Tuungane 67FHOK 57Total 467

Who have been doing the LTFU Tracking?

• CCHAs attached to the study and had also been doing defaulter tracing in the program.


Tracking process-Ongoing

• Involves Intensive tracking of each patient in the sample until an outcome is found in all the sites.

• The tracker gets the contact information from the patient’s file at the clinic and tracks

• Ask patients or informants the reasons why they are lost to follow up


Tracking success


Sample Number PercentageTotal Sample

467 100%

Total tracked

460 98.5%

Successful outcome

423 90.5%

Some reasons for being LTFUa)Provider related reasons• Many are branded LTFU when

they are actually not due to lack of documentation.

-2 levels• Care is better at the new clinic


Some reasons for being LTFUa)Provider related reasons….Cont

• Afraid to be scolded for missing TCA• Clinic staff nicer at the new site• Did not want to be sent to defaulter

class• Avoiding to come with treatment

buddiesThursday 23rd Feb 2012 At FACES

Conference Hall

Some reasons for being LTFU

b) Client Related reasons• Family conflicts eg divorce• Family obligations eg ladies who

get married• Spending less money on

transport costThursday 23rd Feb 2012 At FACES

Conference Hall

Some reasons for being LTFUb) Client Related reasons....conts

• Spending less time at the new clinic• New clinic is closer to place of

work• Avoiding to meet people who

know them at the clinic (Stigma) Thursday 23rd Feb 2012 At FACES

Conference Hall

Outcome of the study• 182 transferred

themselves out


Study Outcome


Case study From Pandpieri Site• Earlier visited as a defaulter- 5home visits• Some times she was not at found at home,

when she was found she gave a reason of not being able to come with a treatment buddy

• Promised to come back, but did not• Tracked during LTFU study and was convinced

to come back to the clinic• Came back 2 days after tracking without a

buddy and was sent back again to get a buddy. • Has never come back.


What lessons have we learnt?


ENDAny questions?


Documents

Preliminary data from the LTFU Study