Utilisation of district health information system and its associated factors among health professionals working at public health facilities of the southwest of Ethiopia: cross-sectional survey

Abstract

ObjectivesTo assess utilisation of district health information system and its associated factors among health professionals in the southwest of Ethiopia, 2020.SettingPublic health facilities in the southwest of Ethiopia.ParticipantsA facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among a sample of 260 participants.Main outcome measuresThe main outcome measure was utilisation of the district health information system.ResultsOverall, 149 (57.3%) of study participants had good utilisation of district health information systems (95% CI 50 to 64.2). Sufficient skills (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) 3.83, 95% CI 1.92 to 7.64), being trained (AOR 3.90, 95% CI 1.95 to 7.79), high motivation (AOR 3.93, 95% CI 1.99 to 7.76), feedback provided (AOR 2.93, 95% CI 1.53 to 5.77) and regular supervision (AOR 3.06, 95% CI 1.56 to 6.01) were associated with utilisation of district health information systems.ConclusionsIn general, more than half of the respondents had good utilisation of district health information systems. Providing regular supportive supervision and feedback, having good skills on district health information system use, high motivation and being trained on district health information system will help to bring good utilisation of district health information system for decision making.

Utilisation of health management information and its determinant factors among health professionals working at public health facilities in North Wollo Zone, Northeast Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

“…The finding was almost in line with a study finding in Hadiya Zone, Oromia Regional State, and Southwest Ethiopia, where utilisation of HMIS at health facilities was 54.9%,32 57.9%,27 and 57.3%,39 respectively. This finding was also consistent with a previous study report in Ethiopia where the level of good utilisation was 57.42% 40.…”

“…A study finding from Cote d’Ivoire and South Africa indicated that the overall percentages of HMIS information use were 38%24 and 53%,25 respectively. In Ethiopian context, the use of routine health information varied in different areas of the country and it is also considered as partial, not uniform, which is ranging from 32.9% to 78.5% 4 11 26–41…”

Health workers' use of routine health information and related factors at public health institutions in Illubabor Zone, Western Ethiopia

“…In this study, information use practice was less likely among trained health workers compared to untrained health workers. This finding was in contradiction to other studies that found RHI training was positively associated with proper information utilization [ 17 , 20 , 27 , 29 , 30 , 32 ]. In the study area, the majority of health workers were trained, with a higher proportion of them having received training before the 12 months of survey period and most had received RHI training with a component of data management and quality assurance.…”

“…Likewise, health workers’ skill in data analysis and interpretation also showed a positive association, in which good information utilization was three times more likely among competent health workers in data analysis and interpretation. This finding was consistent with other studies [ 19 , 20 , 27 , 30 , 32 ]. Lack of skills to analyze, interpret, and use data among health workers impedes real-time decision making in organizations.…”

“…Information use practices in the study area were comparable to a study done in Kenya (69.6%), East Wollega zone, Western Ethiopia (66%), and Hadiya zone, Southern Ethiopia (62.7%) [ 20 , 25 , 26 ]. This is better than studies done in the East Gojam zone, Northern Ethiopia (45.8%) [ 27 ] Diredawa, Eastern Ethiopia (53.1%) [ 28 ], Addis Ababa (37.3%) [ 18 ], Western Amhara (38.4%) [ 29 ], Oromia special zone (52.8%) [ 30 ], hospitals of Oromia regional state (56%) [ 31 ], and Southwest Ethiopia (57.3%) [ 32 ]. The finding was also better than a study conducted in selected districts of Amhara region (46%) [ 33 ], estimated pooled prevalence of information use at the national level (57.4%) [ 17 ], a study conducted in Tanzania [ 34 ] and another study conducted in Kenya among health care providers (34%) [ 35 ].…”