Knowledge and attitude of health workers toward data collection using the health management information system forms at the primary health care (PHC) centers in

Abstract

Background: The collection and use of data as an interrelated process requires sufficient knowledge, right attitude and cooperation of health workers at all levels, especially at the primary health care (PHC) level. This study was undertaken to assess the knowledge of primary health care workers regarding the core National Minimum Data sets (cNMDS) to be collected at all levels of health care. It also determined the knowledge as wells as the attitudes of these health workers toward the use of Health Management Information System (HMIS) forms in data collection.
Methods: The study was a descriptive cross sectional type with a computed sample size of 107 PHC workers selected from 18 health centers in the 17 Local Government Areas of Enugu State using multistage sampling method.
Results: The PHC workers had above 50% knowledge only on 5 out of the 13 core NMDS (38.5%) they are required to collect at their various health centres. On the average, only 25.2% of the PHC workers knew the types and various uses of HMIS forms 000, 001, 002 and 003. The attitudes of the PHC workers towards the use of HMIS forms were largely negative as 60.7% of them expressed no interest in filling the forms while 48.6% saw the exercise as futile and time consuming.
Conclusion: There is an urgent need to organize training programme for these PHC workers on the core NMDS they are required to collect, the types of HMIS forms used in recording these data and timely reporting of same to appropriate health authorities.


Keywords: knowledge, attitude, core National Minimum Data Sets (cNMDS), National Health Management Information System (NHMIS). Primary Health Care, Primary Health Centers

Sahel Medical Journal Vol. 11 (4) 2008: pp. 125-130