Health Information System Feedback In Selected Public Health Facilities In Nairobi City County, Kenya

ABSTRACT

Health Information System (HIS) is important in policy making and improvement of health care. Developed countries across the world continue to improve HIS as a means of promoting uptake of Universal Health Coverage (UHC). However, in developing countries especially Africa, HIS is not considered important factor in achieving UHC. In Kenya, it remains a significant challenge to determine level of feedback from health dispensaries, county hospitals and national hospitals yet the facilities contribute data that supports health policies and performance of health programs. Thus, this study sought to assess the extent to which sources of HIS information, flow of HIS and HIS exchange platforms are associated with HIS feedback in the public health facilities in Nairobi County. This study adopted the descriptive survey research design. Independent variables include: sources of data and Information of HIS; and information exchange platforms. The intervening variables were Health Information Policy and available resources while dependent variable was the HIS feedback. Public health facilities in Nairobi County are chosen as the area of study. The researcher targeted public health record personnel in the public health facilities and the officials of the National HIS Coordinating Committee. To obtain suitable sample, the researcher used stratified, random and purposive sampling techniques. The sample size of 130 respondents was chosen in the public health facilities. The research instruments used included questionnaires and interviews schedules. Collected data was coded then entered into a secure database for analysis by use of Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23. Both descriptive (measures of central tendencies dispersion and frequency distribution) as well as inferential statistics (Pearson correlation and logistic regression) were used for analysis. Qualitative data was analyzed with an aim of establishing the themes. With response rate of 88%, the study established that with correlation coefficient of -.753, source of information negatively influenced HIS feedback. Also, the study revealed that with a correlation coefficient of .440, information flow in HIS positively influenced feedback. In addition, the study established that with correlation between exchange platforms and feedback indicated that with a correlation coefficient of .579, exchange platform positively influenced feedback in HIS. Based on the findings, it was concluded that sources of data, information flow and exchange platforms are significant but not major factors influencing HIS feedback. The study therefore recommended the MOH to have strong, relevant, effective, efficient and versatile information flow and exchange structures and platforms. The presence of such well-defined information flow and exchange structures and platforms guarantee suitable HIS that creates impacts and sustainability in the Health sector.