Evaluation of health information system in reproductive and child health program at primary health center level: a system analysis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20164705Keywords:
Completeness, Evaluation, Health information, PHC, UtilizationAbstract
Background: Primary aim of health information system is, using it in decision-making. Not many systematic studies on actual status of health information system are available. So this study was undertaken to evaluate the current status of Health Information System (HIS) at the primary level in relation to selective components of Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) Programme and to determine its utilization for identification of problem and decision making at that level.
Methods:Cross sectional study done in Bangalore Urban District. HIS was analyzed for completeness, timeliness and utilization. Monthly reports of previous 3 months from PHCs were looked for completeness and timeliness. Utilization of information was assessed by interviewing the medical officers of 4 PHCs for actions they intend to take for modifying the performance; prior to and also after providing them with analyzed information of the available data (customization of data). Both these were compared for differences and specificity of responses. For customization of the data, sub center reports were reviewed and few beneficiaries were interviewed.
Results: 85% of the reporting formats were incompletely filled. It was observed an increase in number of medical officers giving more specific actions such as review in monthly meeting, ask explanation by specific sub-center health worker for not giving follow up care to improve the performance than the responses which were more general prior to receiving the customized data. It shows that MOs are not utilizing the available health information for identification of problem or to make decisions.
Conclusions:This study showed that medical officers are signing the monthly reports prepared by health workers, without actually using the information at least to identify the problem as it was seen that coverage in one sub-centre was consistently low for all the three months but didn’t focus their actions towards that sub center.