Main Article Content
Quality of record system in primary health centres of Tafa LGA, North Central Nigeria
Abstract
Background: Information is the lifeblood of policy formulation and decision-making. To obtain information for decision making in health care system, there must be an effective Health Management Information System (HMIS) that will ensure reliable, accurate, complete and timely data from grass root to the policy making level. This study was conducted with a view to assessing the quality of record system in terms of availability of HMIS forms, accuracy and completeness of forms in the primary health centres of Tafa Local Government Area of Niger state.
Method: A cross sectional descriptive study was conducted. All the 3 primary health centres in Tafa LGA of Niger state in North Central Nigeria were assessed, using a minimum standard of health management information forms expected in the primary health centres developed by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA). A scoring system was used to assess the primary health centres in terms of availability, accuracy and completeness of filling of the forms.
Results: Results shows that out of the 15 forms expected in the primary health centres New Bwari primary health centre had total of 6 while New Wuse and Iku Primary health centres scored 4 and 3 respectively. With respect to accuracy of filling the forms New Bwari primary health centre scored 2 while New Wuse and Iku Primary health centres scored 3 each. And with respect to completeness of filling the forms New Bwari primary health centre scored 1 while New Wuse and Iku Primary health centres scored 2 each.
Conclusion: The precipitous slide in health performance in Nigeria may be attributable to among other things; poor policy and decision-making process that may be as a result of dearth, inaccuracy, deficiency and unreliability of information especially at the primary health care level. The current health sector reform effort of the government must therefore pay a lot of premium to the National Health Management Information System in order to ensure effective monitoring and evaluation of the programmes.
Keywords: quality, records, system, and primary health centres
Annals of Nigerian Medicine Vol. 1(1) 2005: 15-18
Method: A cross sectional descriptive study was conducted. All the 3 primary health centres in Tafa LGA of Niger state in North Central Nigeria were assessed, using a minimum standard of health management information forms expected in the primary health centres developed by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA). A scoring system was used to assess the primary health centres in terms of availability, accuracy and completeness of filling of the forms.
Results: Results shows that out of the 15 forms expected in the primary health centres New Bwari primary health centre had total of 6 while New Wuse and Iku Primary health centres scored 4 and 3 respectively. With respect to accuracy of filling the forms New Bwari primary health centre scored 2 while New Wuse and Iku Primary health centres scored 3 each. And with respect to completeness of filling the forms New Bwari primary health centre scored 1 while New Wuse and Iku Primary health centres scored 2 each.
Conclusion: The precipitous slide in health performance in Nigeria may be attributable to among other things; poor policy and decision-making process that may be as a result of dearth, inaccuracy, deficiency and unreliability of information especially at the primary health care level. The current health sector reform effort of the government must therefore pay a lot of premium to the National Health Management Information System in order to ensure effective monitoring and evaluation of the programmes.
Keywords: quality, records, system, and primary health centres
Annals of Nigerian Medicine Vol. 1(1) 2005: 15-18
