Utilization of Community Health Information System and Associated Factors in Health Posts of Hadiya Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Nigusse Mekonnen Kara

doi:10.7176/jmpb/63-03

Abstract

Background: the regular use of reliable health information from a well-designed routine health information system is indispensable for ensuring and sustaining improvements in health system performance. However, In Ethiopia the prevailing practice in terms of effectively utilizing health information is not satisfactory and utilization of health information at the local level is still a challenge. Objective: To determine utilization of Community Health information systems and associated factors in health posts of Hadiya zone, Ethiopia. Method: Facility based cross sectional study design was conducted in Health post of Hadiya zone, from February 1 to 15/2018 using both quantitative and qualitative approach. The calculated sample 420 Health Extension workers found in 210 Health posts was allocated to each district proportionally based on their number of health posts. Then, Health posts were selected by simple random sampling method from each District, and health extension workers found in the selected Health posts was part of the study. Quantitative data was collected using structured questionnaire. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify significantly associated factors. For qualitative study, health extension workers who are not participated in quantitative study were selected purposively based on their work experience. Result: Overall, Good utilization of community health information was 41%. Monthly Supportive supervision (AOR=1.72; CI=1.02, 2.91), written feedback (AOR=5.33; CI = 3.27, 8.69) and Compiled and send additional parallel reports (AOR=4.41; CI =2.35-8.30) were factors significantly associated with utilization of community health information system. In qualitative study, the existing tools were difficult to use and understand because they prepared in English language, high burden of workload and no adequate work force at health post level were the main challenge in using CHIS. Conclusion and Recommendation : Utilization of health information at health post level was found to be far below the national expectation. It needs major improvement in frequency of supportive supervision, sending of written feedback and improving integrated reporting channel system. Keywords : Community health information systems, Health information, Ethiopia DOI : 10.7176/JMPB/63-03 Publication date: January 31 st 2020

Highlights

Information is the crux of overall building blocks of health systems
Facility based cross sectional study design was conducted approach in Hadiya Zone, approximately 200 kilometers southwest of Ethiopia’s capital city, Addis Ababa. The study used both quantitative and qualitative data collection method from February 1-15/2018 All Functional Health posts found in Hadiya zone, which implements Community health information system during the study period, were included in the study and Health posts with no health extension workers or with only One-health extension workers during study period was excluded from the study
The dependent variable was Utilization of Community health information system while the following factors were included in the model as independent variables: Socio-demographic factors: (Age, Marital status, Educational status and Salary) Behavioral Factor:(Data quality checking skill,Attitude towardsHIS

Summary

Introduction

Information is the crux of overall building blocks of health systems. Strengthening and availability of information will enable health managers to utilize the same for better policy-making, planning, implementation and monitoring and evaluation of health programs[1].A health information system (HIS) refers to any organized effort to systematically collect, maintain and disseminate data relevant to the performance of a health system or any of its component parts. Information is the crux of overall building blocks of health systems. Strengthening and availability of information will enable health managers to utilize the same for better policy-making, planning, implementation and monitoring and evaluation of health programs[1]. A health information system (HIS) refers to any organized effort to systematically collect, maintain and disseminate data relevant to the performance of a health system or any of its component parts. Ethiopia has undertaken an extensive reform and re-design of the health management information systems in 2007 to enhance the existing health management information system (HMIS) at federal, regional, zonal, District and health facility levels to produce reliable and timely information for planning management and efficient decision-making. The FMOH has designed and implemented community health information system (CHIS) as part of reformed HMIS[3]

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Discussion

Conclusion