Use of Routine Health Information among Health Management Teams in Makueni County, Kenya

Abstract

Despite vast amounts of resources and time invested in the development and implementation of health information systems (HIS), health data is barely used by health workers effectively to inform policy and to programmatic decision making. The general objective of the study was to assess use routine Health Information among sub-county health management teams in Makueni County. The study used a cross-sectional study design employing mixed methods of data collection. Census approach was used to enlist all the 120 sub-county health management team members in Makueni sub-counties in the study while 20 key informants were selected using purposive sampling method. Descriptive and regression analysis were used to analyse quantitative data using SPSS version 20. Thematic analysis of qualitative data was undertaken to identify emerging themes using QSR/Nvivo version 10 and validate the study findings. Findings revealed that the level of data use was 67%. Regression analysis indicated that there was a statistically significant relationship between education (p=0.011), availability of reporting tools (p=0.049), staff trainings on data use (p=0.005), access to the internet (p=0.000) availability of computers (p=0.002), possession of data analysis skills (p=0.000), accuracy of data (p=0.001), completeness of data (p=0.014), performance of data duality audit (0.011), legibility and accuracy of records (0.006) and adherence to reporting timeliness (p=0.000), positive attitudes toward data (p=0.027), availability of data sharing mechanisms (p=0.001), provision of data feedback (p=0.000), access to data and information (p=0.033), empowerment of staff to make decisions (p=0.042), use of data to set and evaluate targets (p=0,037), ensuring staff accountability for performance (p=0.007) and data use for decision making. In conclusion, the established need for management to enhance technical competency of staff, enhance perceived quality of data, encourage positive attitude towards data and promote an organizational culture which motivates and encourages evidence-based decision-making at all levels of service delivery.