Strengthening HIV Disease Surveillance in Abuja, Nigeria: Leveraging digital health innovations for real-time monitoring and response
University of Illinois Springfield, IL, USA.
Research Article
World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2023, 18(01), 1281–1300
Publication history:
Received on 14 March 2023; revised on 24 April 2023; accepted on 26 April 2023
Abstract:
Introduction: Abuja, Nigeria, has a serious HIV pandemic amid high urban density, with 1.9 million individuals living with HIV. Traditional paper-based surveillance is insufficient for tracking quick transmission, whereas digital methods like electronic reporting, GIS mapping, and AI-driven models allow real-time monitoring and enhanced data accuracy. Yet, constraints like as infrastructure restrictions, interoperability problems, limited human resources, and data security concerns hamper full-scale application. This paper investigates these digital technologies to increase HIV monitoring in Abuja and presents policy suggestions for optimal incorporation into public health policies.
Materials and Methods: This research adopted a PRISMA-compliant systematic review to achieve a controlled and exact investigation. Multiple electronic databases including Web of Science, Scopus, IEEE Xplore, ACM Digital Library, and Google Scholar were searched using Boolean operators with terms such as "HIV disease surveillance," "digital health innovations," "electronic reporting system," "geospatial mapping," and "AI-driven perspective modelling." Inclusion criteria centred on peer-reviewed journal articles, conference proceedings, and book chapters published in English between 2011 and 2021, whereas opinion pieces and research unrelated to the primary emphasis were removed. An initial pool of 1,519 papers was reduced to 1,143 after eliminating duplicates, and additional title, abstract, and full-text evaluations by independent reviewers further restricted the pool to 154 final sources. Data from these studies were retrieved using a standardized pro forma and analyzed by theme and narrative synthesis, with study quality validated via the CASP checklist and MMAT, and inter-rater reliability guaranteed using Cohen’s κ coefficient and consensus discussions.
Results: HIV disease surveillance includes the systematic gathering, analysis, and interpretation of data to monitor transmission patterns, assess treatments, and drive public health policy. Traditional approaches in Nigeria such as case reporting, sentinel monitoring, and behavioral surveys have produced useful insights but are sometimes constrained by delayed reporting and inadequate data. The integration of digital health technology, including electronic reporting systems, GIS mapping, and AI-driven predictive modeling, offers real-time monitoring, better accuracy, and more effective resource allocation, particularly in high-density metropolitan areas like Abuja. Despite these developments, problems like as infrastructure restrictions, interoperability issues, and data security concerns remain important impediments. Nigeria’s comprehensive surveillance plan, which includes utilizes integrated biological and behavioral surveys and modern infection testing algorithms, intends to solve these difficulties and increase targeted measures for reducing the HIV pandemic.
Discussion: HIV monitoring in Abuja confronts severe problems, including insufficient budget, inadequate access to care for high-risk groups, geographical inequities, fast changing demographics, and fragmented data systems owing to poor stakeholder cooperation. These challenges have typically prevented timely and reliable data gathering, important for successful HIV care. Digital health innovations such as electronic reporting systems, mobile health apps, GIS mapping, and AI-driven analytics offer promise advances by allowing real-time monitoring and increased data accuracy. However, its adoption is limited by infrastructure shortcomings, insufficient digital literacy among healthcare professionals and patients, high prices, and data security issues. To overcome these challenges, strategies such as strengthening data management systems (e.g., using DHIS2), integrating mobile health technologies, building capacity through training, enhancing community engagement, ensuring robust data privacy measures, and securing sustainable financing are proposed. These combined approaches seek to develop a more responsive and effective HIV monitoring system in Abuja, eventually leading to improved public health outcomes.
Conclusion: Utilizing digital health technologies gives a unique potential to increase HIV disease monitoring in Abuja. By solving implementation issues and supporting supportive policies, Abuja may establish a more responsive and data-driven HIV monitoring system. Future research and sustained investment in technology-driven solutions will be vital for attaining lasting public health gains in HIV management
Keywords:
HIV disease surveillance; Digital health innovations; Electronic Reporting System; Geospatial Mapping and Ai- Driven Perspective Modelling; Health Belief Model; Technology Acceptance Model
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Copyright © 2023 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0