Assessment of Routine Health information utilization and its associated factors among Health Professionals in Public Health Centers of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Date
2020-06
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Addis Abeba University
Abstract
Background: - Routine Health information system (RHIS) is a system whereby health data
are recorded, stored, retrieved, and processed to improve decision-making in the health
sector. Reliable and timely available health information is vital for operational and strategic
decision making that saves lives and enhances health. In Ethiopia, information availability
and use remain weak among health professionals, particularly at district health offices and
primary health care facilities to facilitate decision making, even in Addis Ababa. There is
poor access to health information use at the facility level. Poor handling of medical
documentations among health professionals is an additional burden for the health care
system.
Hence, this study aimed to assess the information utilization status of Routine Health
Information System and associated factors among health professionals in Addis Ababa city
public health centers.
Method: - Facility-based cross-sectional study design was conducted from March to April
2020 among 408 health professionals randomly selected from 22 health centers in Addis
Ababa. Data collected using a Semi-structure questionnaire and an observational checklist
were cleaned, coded, and entered into EpiData version 3.1 and transferred into SPSS version
20 for further statistical analysis. Descriptive statistics like frequencies, proportions, and
summary statistics were used to summarize key findings. Variables with a p-value of less
than 0.05 at multiple logistic regression analysis were considered statistically significant
factors for the utilization of Routine health information system. Odds ratios with 95%
confidence interval were computed to identify the factors statistically associated with routine
health information use.
Result: - a total of 402 respondents have participated in the study with a response rate of
98.5%. The median age of study participants was 29 with IQR of 29. Of the total, 103
(25.6%) had attended RHIS related training. Good Routine health information utilization rate
among health professionals was 37.3% (95% CI: 32.6%, 42.1%). Use of both manual paper
files and computer-based files for recording information[AOR= 1.474 95% CI (1.043, 2.082)]
at p-value 0.028, Organizational rules, values and practices [AOR= 1.734 95% CI (1.212,
2.481)] at p-value 0.003, Inadequate Human resource [AOR= 1.494 95% CI (1.056, 2.114)]
at p-value 0.023, Problem solving skill of health professionals on HIS tasks [AOR= 2.091
95% CI (1.343, 3.256)] at p-value 0.001, Belief on routine health information use [AOR= 0.665 95% CI (.501, .883)] at p-value 0.005, the Collected information used for planning,
monitoring and evaluating of facility performance [AOR= 1.464 95% CI (1.006, 2.131)] at pvalue
0.046
and
Know
their
duties
and
responsibilities
in
their
work
place
[AOR=
1.525
95%
CI
(1.121, 2.073)] at p-value 0.007 are significantly associated with routine health
information use.
Conclusion: - Good health information utilization status of health professionals in this study
was low. Major skill gaps present in the studied health centers health professionals regarding
information use. Besides, there is a low level of data collection, data management,
information generation, and use that needed for the decision-making process and patient
service delivery. Routine health information use was better exercised among health
professionals who practiced both paper and computer-based information handling, those who
have well organized Organizational rules, values and practices, those who collected and used
information for planning and monitoring facility performance, those who have adequate
human resource, those who have good problem solving skill, those who had positive belief on
RHIS use and those who Know their duties and responsibilities in their work place. Thus,
major improvements have to be done in equipping health professionals to generate and utilize
the information they have.
Description
Keywords
Routine Health information Utilization, Health centers, Health professionals