Need of a sound health information system in public health: Program managers

Abstract Background: Despite the improvements in the knowledge and understanding of the role of health information in the global health system, the quality of data generated by a routine health information system is still very poor in low and middle-income countries. There is a paucity of studies as to what determines data quality in health facilities in the study area. Therefore, this study was aimed to assess the quality of routine health information system data and associated factors in public health facilities of Harari region, Ethiopia.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in all public health facilities in Harari region of Ethiopia. The department-level data were collected from respective department heads through document reviews, interviews, and observation check-lists. Descriptive statistics were used to data quality and multivariate logistic regression was run to identify factors influencing data quality. The level of significance was declared at P-value <0.05. Result: The study found a good quality data in 51.35% (95% CI, 44.6-58.1) of the departments in public health facilities in Harari Region. Departments found in the health centers were 2.5 times more likely to have good quality data as compared to departments found in the health posts. The presence of trained staffs able to fill reporting formats (AOR=2.474; 95%CI: 1.124-5.445) and provision of feedback (AOR=3.083; 95%CI: 1.549-6.135) were also significantly associated with data quality. Conclusion: The level of good data quality in the public health facilities was less than the expected national level. Training should be provided to increase the knowledge and skills of the health workers.

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Southeastern Regional Health Information System: a mapping tool for public health actors

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckz185.601 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽

Author(s):

M Jardin ◽

P Kurkdji ◽

L Dagnet ◽

G Tonnaire ◽

S Nauleau ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Information System ◽

Health Information ◽

Geographical Area ◽

Health Information System ◽

Health Indicators ◽

Health Priorities ◽

Free Access ◽

Local Public Health ◽

Mapping Tool

Abstract Issue/problem Local public health actors often need to identify public health priorities in their territories to guide public health policy and/or action. Description of the problem The Southeastern Health Regional Observatory (ORS Paca) has been developing since 2006 a health information system for Southeastern France (SIRSéPACA). The objective of this mapping tool is to give access to regional and local public health actors to public health indicators for various population groups and geographical scales (municipality, districts...) within the region. Results Indicators are displayed under the format of maps and tables on the following topics: morbidity, mortality, health social, economic or environmental determinants. Indicators are constructed using national and regional databases (open or accessible through agreements). SIRSéPACA is in free access (www.sirsepaca.org) and regularly updated. A function allows the users to obtain a portrait for a defined geographical area and to obtain in one click a description of various indicators (socio-economic and demographic characteristics, mortality and morbidity causes, health care and prevention, environmental health). Indicators for a given territory can be compared to the regional average (or another area). SIRSéPACA is regularly used to provide a description of the main public health characteristics of territories (“territorial diagnose”), e.g. to help health professionals intending to set up of a multidisciplinary group practice designing their project. Lessons Trainings on how to use the tool, interpret the maps produced, and about territorial diagnoses implementation are regularly done. We are also developing a similar tool for all French regions for the Ministry of Health. Key messages SIRSéPACA facilitates access to and overview of a lot of indicators and data for local public health actors. This regional experience has been expanded to national level.

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A Proposal for Public Health Information System-Based Health Promotion Services

Processes ◽

10.3390/pr8030338 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (3) ◽

pp. 338

Author(s):

Kichan Yoon ◽

Sewon Park ◽

Solji Choi ◽

Munjae Lee

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Health Promotion ◽

Information System ◽

Health Insurance ◽

Health Information ◽

Health Information System ◽

Medical Information System ◽

Health Examination ◽

Medical Institutions ◽

Public Health Information

This study aims to examine the current status and utilization of 22 health promotion projects that use the health care information system. We investigate the health promotion examination results for a counseling project held at health centers, which use information connected with the Health Insurance Corporation. First, we review the status of 22 health promotion projects, including 13 integrated health promotion projects and 9 other health promotion projects. Next, we examine the linkages between the 22 projects and other health promotion systems. Consequently, despite accumulating vast amounts of data, only 10 places could be linked to health promotion data in the health and medical information system; the Social Security Information Service was the only exception to this trend. The Public Health Information System (PHIS) had the lowest data utilization rate in the project. The study results show that it is necessary to utilize data from local health and medical institutions in order to provide information system-based health promotion services. In particular, it seems to be effective when health and medical institutions provided various counseling services and other linked services to local residents in connection with the Korea Health Insurance Corporation’s health examination results.

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