The Objectives of the LFU tracking study were 1. To prepare list of all LFU cases in the ART centre at that point of time and all LFUS are tracked and resolved. 2. To develop capacities in the staff of various partners on LFU, LFU tracking tool and thus structured data collection with an opportunity to back track the information, if required. 3. To increase the number of patients who are alive and on treatment by decreasing the number of LFU cases. 4. To improve quality of data pertaining to LFU in the ART centre. Data managed by ART centres updated with the newly acquired data. 5. To develop LFU clients tracking as a structured well established routine practice. 6. To develop better communication and coordination mechanisms between partners through care coordination meetings so that the partners in the district work as a team. 7. To establish linkages between ART centres and CCCs, and strengthening the same with shared responsibilities between the facilities with regard to patient tracking 8. To understand the reasons of clients why they choose to be LFU and use this information to design systems and strategies to maximize retention thus to increase the number of people alive and on treatment by following up with all LFU cases as reported by each ART centre 9. To develop a process for tracking and follow-up patients, review and update the patient data; 10. To bring those patients back to the ART centers Some of the one time activities done during the LFU studies are: • •
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Cleaned all the old LFU clients data, developed complete LFU lines lists till that month with all the available information in the facility, keyed in the LFU clients’ data in Excel etc Agreement on the Partners- District level networks, all CCCs in the districts, other programmes involved in the care and support were the partners. Partners were decided keeping in view of sustainability, interest, capacities and willingness through dialogue only Demarcation of the working areas (mandals). Ensured that one mandal is dealt by only one partner. One partner can have many mandals, but no mandal will have two partners. Training - All field staff of the respective partners were trained on LFU format and LFU tracking. Trained ORWs on the finding the addresses through various means, the common reasons they mention& suitable answers. Participation is capacity building
Further to the verification of schedules, follow up, and feedback and crosschecking, the same data has been keyed in and analyzed and reports are prepared and presented. As part of the study a list of 1,935 clients who became LFU was provided to outreach workers (ORWs) to follow-up including Family Case Managers (FCMs), Community Volunteers from Balasahyoga and other NGO partner staff. Of the list, a total of 1,790 clients could be tracked.