Cogent Medicine (Jan 2018)
The functionality status and challenges of electronic health management information system: The case of public health centres in Amhara Region, Ethiopia
Abstract
Background: Although electronic health management information systems (eHMIS) have been applied in the Ethiopian healthcare system since 2006, the functionality status and challenges are not assessed yet. Methods: A facility based cross sectional study was conducted in April 2017 to assess the eHMIS adoption rate, functionality status, and challenges in public health centres from Amhara Region, Ethiopia. Data were collected through phone interviewing of HMIS focal persons and data extraction from eHMIS databases. Data were analysed using SPSS version 23 software. Different descriptive statistics were computed to describe study objectives. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors affecting eHMIS functionality and variables showing p-value of less than 0.05 were considered as statistically significant. Results: The eHMIS adoption rate in the study area was 87.3% (733 from 839 health centres). Two third (66.6%) of the respondents were health information technicians (HIT). The majority, 653 (89.0) of the respondents took training on eHMIS. About 213 (29.0%) of the eHMIS focal persons were non health information technician staffs. More than half, 430 (58.7%) of health centres have functional eHMIS. Being HIT eHMIS focal person, absence of training, system failure, skill gaps, computer problems, and electric power interruption were variables showing statistical significant on the eHMIS functionality. Conclusions: This study revealed relatively high eHMIS adoption rate, but lower functionality status for various reasons. Improving training access, maintenance service, electric power, and recruiting adequately trained staffs is needed to improve eHMIS adoption and functionality.
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