Global Journal of Medicine and Public Health (May 2024)
The Impact of Health Information Systems, Research and Development on Primary Health Care Service Delivery
Abstract
Background Health information is the bedrock of decision-making in primary health care and across health care system building blocks, and it is essential for health care systems’ policy development and governance, human resources development, implementation and regulation, health research, health education and training, service delivery, and financing. This research revealed how Nigeria has attempted to make the health information system and research and development more effective in its primary health care services by developing new health policy The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the health information system and research and development on primary health care service delivery in Nigeria. Method A mixed method (qualitative and quantitative) approach guided this study. This approach was adopted because of its ability to provide strengths that offset the weaknesses of both quantitative and qualitative methodological approaches. Results Out of 300 respondents recruited for the quantitative aspect of the study, 294 (98%) perceived that health information systems had an impact on primary health care service delivery. The qualitative aspect of the study established that most participants opined that health information systems were of great importance to primary health care service delivery. Since the two findings were the same, it showed that there was no doubt about the value of such systems in the respondents’ and the participants’ responses. Conclusion This study shows that most health professionals need better research knowledge. The study, therefore, recommends that the Nigerian government focus more on research training for health professionals and recruit more professionals into the health information system, research, and development departments to achieve the goals set by the policymakers.
