Utilization of health data and associated factors among department heads in public health facilities in Eastern Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study in Harari region

• Published in: International journal of medical informatics (Shannon, Ireland) Vol. 179; p. 105229
• Main Authors: Tafari Shama, Adisu, Abera Abaerei, Admas, Rikitu Terefa, Dufera, Ewunetu Desisa, Adisu, Turi, Ebisa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.11.2023
• Subjects: Data use; Departments; Ethiopia; Harari Region; Health facilities; Health information; Routine health information use; Health facilities; Departments; HIS; Data use; RHIS; Harari Region; PRISM; Ethiopia; Routine health information use; Health information
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2023.105229
• ISSN: 1386-5056

•The Data utilization in this study is found to be better compared to some other studies in Ethiopia.•Health worker’s feeling of responsibility and access to infrastructures being in the urban areas are among the socio-demographic and behavioral factors contributing to data use.•Performance review meeting and feedback improves data utilization.•Engaging health workers in the health information system related activities are also among the organizational factors associated with data use. Even though the information generated by routine health information systems is an essential element in the process of transforming the health sector, the information is systematically under-utilized by the health workers. Hence, this study was aimed to assess the utilization level and associated factors of routine health information system data among department heads in Eastern Ethiopia. Methods:The cross-sectional study design was conducted among heads of departments in the health facilities of Harari region. The source populations and the study populations were all department heads. The data were collected by standardized tools through interviews, observations, and document reviews. The data were entered into Epi Data version 3.1 and then exported to SPSS version 25 for analysis. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify the associated factors and P-value < 0.05 was used to declare the statistically significant association. Result:Of the respondents, 51.8 % live in urban, 82.4 % participated in performance review meeting, 61.7 % received feedback, 80.6 % engage in HIS, and 91 % feel responsible to HIS. Routine health information system data utilization among department heads was 177 (79.7 %); 95 % CI: [73.8 %, 84.8 %] in the Harari region. Factors associated with data utilization were urban residence (AOR = 2.891; 95 %CI: 1.147–7.286), getting feedback (AOR = 3.136; 95 %CI: 1.311–7.499), active engagement in health information system activities (AOR = 2.560; 95 %CI: 1.010–6.490), participation in performance review meeting (AOR = 3.847; 95 %CI: 1.563–9.464), and feeling responsibility (AOR = 3.727; 95 %CI: 1.071–12.961). Conclusion:Level of data use in this study was higher than the one in other studies in Ethiopia. Residence, feedback, level of engagement in health information system activities, sense of responsibility towards health information system, and performance review meeting were the determinants of data utilization. Important attention should be given by the officials at various levels to expand the information communication technology infrastructures and strengthen the feedback system.