Understanding the challenges associated with the use of data from routine health information systems in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review

2020 ◽  
pp. 183335832092872 ◽  
Author(s):  
Klesta Hoxha ◽  
Yuen W Hung ◽  
Bridget R Irwin ◽  
Karen A Grépin
Keyword(s):  
Information Systems ◽  
Health System ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Health Information Systems ◽  
Health System Strengthening ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Environmental Challenges ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Data Process ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Background: Routine health information systems (RHISs) are crucial to informing decision-making at all levels of the health system. However, the use of RHIS data in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is limited due to concerns regarding quality, accuracy, timeliness, completeness and representativeness. Objective: This study systematically reviewed technical, behavioural and organisational/environmental challenges that hinder the use of RHIS data in LMICs and strategies implemented to overcome these challenges. Method: Four electronic databases were searched for studies describing challenges associated with the use of RHIS data and/or strategies implemented to circumvent these challenges in LMICs. Identified articles were screened against inclusion and exclusion criteria by two independent reviewers. Results: Sixty studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in this review, 55 of which described challenges in using RHIS data and 20 of which focused on strategies to address these challenges. Identified challenges and strategies were organised by their technical, behavioural and organisational/environmental determinants and by the core steps of the data process. Organisational/environmental challenges were the most commonly reported barriers to data use, while technical challenges were the most commonly addressed with strategies. Conclusion: Despite the known benefits of RHIS data for health system strengthening, numerous challenges continue to impede their use in practice. Implications: Additional research is needed to identify effective strategies for addressing the determinants of RHIS use, particularly given the disconnect identified between the type of challenge most commonly described in the literature and the type of challenge most commonly targeted for interventions.

scholarly journals Mental health information systems in resource-challenged countries: experiences from India

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 43-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shalini Ahuja ◽  
Rahul Shidhaye ◽  
Maya Semrau ◽  
Graham Thornicroft ◽  
Mark Jordans
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Information Systems ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Health Indicators ◽  
Health Information Systems ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Mental Health Information ◽  
Primary Focus ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Mental health information systems are increasingly being used to measure the effectiveness of mental health interventions. Little or no data is available for mental health service availability and service uptake in low- and middle-income countries. Through a narrative review, this paper illustrates the importance of routine monitoring data and suggests methods for developing, implementing and evaluating mental health indicators in low- and middle-income countries with a primary focus on India.

scholarly journals Strengthening mental health systems in low- and middle-income countries: recommendations from the Emerald programme

BJPsych Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maya Semrau ◽  
Atalay Alem ◽  
Jose L. Ayuso-Mateos ◽  
Dan Chisholm ◽  
Oye Gureje ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health System ◽  
Human Resource Development ◽  
Health Systems ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Health System Strengthening ◽  
Mental Health Systems ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Low And Middle Income

BackgroundThere is a large treatment gap for mental, neurological or substance use (MNS) disorders. The ‘Emerging mental health systems in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs)’ (Emerald) research programme attempted to identify strategies to work towards reducing this gap through the strengthening of mental health systems.AimsTo provide a set of proposed recommendations for mental health system strengthening in LMICs.MethodThe Emerald programme was implemented in six LMICs in Africa and Asia (Ethiopia, India, Nepal, Nigeria, South Africa and Uganda) over a 5-year period (2012–2017), and aimed to improve mental health outcomes in the six countries by building capacity and generating evidence to enhance health system strengthening.ResultsThe proposed recommendations align closely with the World Health Organization's key health system strengthening ‘building blocks’ of governance, financing, human resource development, service provision and information systems; knowledge transfer is included as an additional cross-cutting component. Specific recommendations are made in the paper for each of these building blocks based on the body of data that were collected and analysed during Emerald.ConclusionsThese recommendations are relevant not only to the six countries in which their evidential basis was generated, but to other LMICs as well; they may also be generalisable to other non-communicable diseases beyond MNS disorders.Declaration of interestNone.

scholarly journals Developing capacity-building activities for mental health system strengthening in low- and middle-income countries for service users and caregivers, service planners, and researchers

2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Semrau ◽  
A. Alem ◽  
J. Abdulmalik ◽  
S. Docrat ◽  
S. Evans-Lacko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health System ◽  
Capacity Building ◽  
Mental Health System ◽  
Health System Strengthening ◽  
Target Groups ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Building Activities ◽  
Low And Middle Income

There is increasing international recognition of the need to build capacity to strengthen mental health systems. This is a fundamental goal of the ‘Emerging mental health systems in low- and middle-income countries’ (Emerald) programme, which is being implemented in six low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) (Ethiopia, India, Nepal, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda). This paper discusses Emerald's capacity-building approaches and outputs for three target groups in mental health system strengthening: (1) mental health service users and caregivers, (2) service planners and policy-makers, and (3) mental health researchers. When planning the capacity-building activities, the approach taken included a capabilities/skills matrix, needs assessments, a situational analysis, systematic reviews, qualitative interviews and stakeholder meetings, as well as the application of previous theory, evidence and experience. Each of the Emerald LMIC partners was found to have strengths in aspects of mental health system strengthening, which were complementary across the consortium. Furthermore, despite similarities across the countries, capacity-building interventions needed to be tailored to suit the specific needs of individual countries. The capacity-building outputs include three publicly and freely available short courses/workshops in mental health system strengthening for each of the target groups, 27 Masters-level modules (also open access), nine Emerald-linked PhD students, two MSc studentships, mentoring of post-doctoral/mid-level researchers, and ongoing collaboration and dialogue with the three groups. The approach taken by Emerald can provide a potential model for the development of capacity-building activities across the three target groups in LMICs.

scholarly journals Effective methods for knowledge transfer to strengthen mental health systems in low- and middle-income countries

BJPsych Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jose L. Ayuso-Mateos ◽  
Maria Miret ◽  
Pilar Lopez-Garcia ◽  
Atalay Alem ◽  
Dan Chisholm ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Knowledge Transfer ◽  
Health System ◽  
Health Systems ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Health System Strengthening ◽  
Mental Health Systems ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Background The Emerald project's focus is on how to strengthen mental health systems in six low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) (Ethiopia, India, Nepal, Nigeria, South Africa and Uganda). This was done by generating evidence and capacity to enhance health system performance in delivering mental healthcare. A common problem in scaling-up interventions and strengthening mental health programmes in LMICs is how to transfer research evidence, such as the data collected in the Emerald project, into practice. Aims To describe how core elements of Emerald were implemented and aligned with the ultimate goal of strengthening mental health systems, as well as their short-term impact on practices, policies and programmes in the six partner countries. Method We focused on the involvement of policy planners, managers, patients and carers. Results Over 5 years of collaboration, the Emerald consortium has provided evidence and tools for the improvement of mental healthcare in the six LMICs involved in the project. We found that the knowledge transfer efforts had an impact on mental health service delivery and policy planning at the sites and countries involved in the project. Conclusions This approach may be valid beyond the mental health context, and may be effective for any initiative that aims at implementing evidence-based health policies for health system strengthening.

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