Health data recording, reporting and utilization practices among primary health care workers in Enugu State, South Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess health data recording, reporting and utilization practices at the primary health care centers in Enugu State, Nigeria. Methods: This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study. A multistage sampling method was used. Survey instruments were observational checklist and structured questionnaire. The study took place at the selected primary health centers located m six Local Government Areas in Enugu State Nigeria. A total of 107 PHC workers and 18 primary health centers were studied. Results: Reportedly, 80(74.8%) of PHC workers used notepads, 52.3% used notebooks whHe only 47.7% used health management information system (HMIS) forms to record data. Eighty-nine (83.2%) sent out recorded data regularly (monthly) to Local Government Authority (LGA). Direct observation of heath centre activities showed that the health information was neither completely nor accurately recorded. Only one (5.6%) of the health centers remitted data timely to the LGA authority, that is on or before two weeks following the month of reporting. Of the eleven (61.1%) of the health facilities that analyze their data, all(100%) used it to access the quantity of vaccine to procure, 45.5% for health education, 27% to monitor clinic attendance and 18.2% to know disease pattern in the service area. Conclusions: Several deficiencies exist in data recording, reporting and utilization practices at the primary health care level in Enugu State, Nigeria. Training programme is advocated to improve the health workers data management skills at the peripheral level.

Keywords

• data recording
• reporting
• utilization
• primary health care
• health centers