Health Workers' Knowledge, Perceptions, and Self-Efficacy Regarding the Use of Information Systems in Rural Districts of Oromia and Gambella Regions, Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Sound and reliable information is the foundation for informed decision-making across all health system building blocks. However, there is a shortage of evidence regarding the organizational and behavioral performance of health information systems in Ethiopia. This study aimed to assess the organizational and behavioral performance of the routine health information system (RHIS) in the Digaluna-Tijo and Godere districts of Oromia and Gambella regions.
Methods: Descriptive institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted on purposively selected 67 health workers based on their experience in dealing with health data to design interventions that will help better RHIS performance. A self-administered semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect the data from March 19 - 27th, 2021. The data analysis was done using SPSS version 25. Chi-square was carried out to identify the relation between dependent and independent variables. Tables and figures were used to present the findings.
Results: Among the respondents, only 8(12.8%) correctly described at least three dimensions or aspects of data quality. In comparison, only 3 (4.5%) participants described at least three ways or mechanisms of correctly ensuring data quality. There is a negative perception toward emphasis given by managers/supervisors on data quality (13.5%) and the use of data to inform decision-making (7.5%). Perception of self-efficacy to perform RHIS tasks ranged from 4.98 to 8.25. Only 23.9% and 12% of respondents could compute data analysis and correctly interpret the presented data. There is a positive relation between self-efficacy and training at a P-value of 0.03. Moreover, being HIT/IT personnel and perceiving information use culture are positively related (P-value 0.049).
Conclusion: Few health workers could describe the dimensions of data quality and ways of ensuring data quality. Health workers have low perceptions toward managers/supervisors to seek input from relevant staff, emphasize data quality, and conduct routine data quality checks at points where data are captured, processed or aggregated. Health workers also have a very low perception of their self-efficacy to perform RHIS tasks. Similarly, only a few health workers were able to present the information and were able to interpret the figure correctly. It is recommended to provide need-based training and regular mentorship to have knowledgeable and skillful health workers improve RHIS performance at the low level of the health system.