Barriers and Associated Factors to the Use of Routine Health Information for Decision-Making Among Managers Working at Public Hospitals in North Shewa Zone of Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia: A Mixed-Method Study

Abstract

Gemechu Tulu,1 Takele Gezahegn Demie,2 Tesfalem T Tessema2 1Kuyu General Hospital, Gerba Guracha, Oromia, Ethiopia; 2Department of Public Health, St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Takele Gezahegn DemieDepartment of Public Health, St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College, P.O. Box 1271, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaTel [phone]Fax [phone]Email [email protected]: Routine health information (RHI) systems are vital for the acquisition of data for health sector planning, monitoring, and evaluation, patient management, health education, resource allocation, disease prioritization, and decision-making. Use RHI for decision-making is low in Ethiopia. Thus, the study aimed to assess barriers and associated factors to the use of RHI among managers working at public hospitals in North Shewa, Ethiopia.Methods: A facility-based mixed-method study was conducted from May to June 2020. A total of 102 randomly selected managers were included in the survey and six key informant interviews were done. Data were collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire and interview guide by trained data collectors. Data were entered into Epi-info version 7.1 and transferred into SPSS version 23 for further statistical analysis. Both bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed. In the multiple logistic regression analysis, a less than 0.05 P-value was considered statistically significant. The odds ratio along with a 95% confidence interval was estimated to measure the strength of the association. Thematic analysis was done for key informant interview data.Results: In this study, the level of RHI use for decision-making was 71.6% (95% CI: 61.8%, 79.4%). According to the multivariable logistic regression analysis, training on health information system (AOR = 0.28, 95% CI: 0.08– 0.98) and supportive supervision (AOR = 0.27, 95% CI: 0.09– 0.78) were found significantly associated with the use of RHI for decision-making. Moreover, the lack of staff motivation and computer and data analysis skills were the major reasons for not using RHI.Conclusion: Three-fourth of the managers working at public hospitals used RHI for decision-making. Training on health information systems and supportive supervision were factors associated with the use of RHI. Therefore, training of managers and the provision of supportive supervision were highly recommended.Keywords: associated factors, barriers, managers, mixed-method, routine health information use, Ethiopia

Keywords

• associated factors
• barriers
• managers
• mixed-method
• routine health information use
• ethiopia