Utilization Of The Health Information Management System By Community Health Workers In The Amref Facility In Kibera,Nairobi County, Kenya

ABSTRACT

Health Information Management System is a system that entails collecting, processing, reporting and using health information and knowledge to influence decision making.AMREF facility provides services in urban informal settlements where Health Information Management System is used.The objective of the study was to determine factors that influence utilization of the HIMS in the AMREF- Kibera facility.It further sought to establish the current status of the HIMS in place in the Kibera facility, to determine the extent of use of the HIMS by the Community Health Workers in the Kibera facility To establish factors that motivate utilization of the HIMS in the Kibera facility and to establish barriers to the utilization of the HIMS in the Kibera facility.Community health workers are tasked with the role of being change agents of health indicators in the community. A cross sectional study design was employed . The study employed both the quantitative and qualitative data collection methodology. Data was collected using questionnaires, focused group discussion and key Informant Interviews. A sample size of 196 Community Health Workers was recruited using simple random sampling method. Quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS version 16 while qualitative data was transcribed, categorized into themes for easier interpretation and analysis. Chi square test showed a relationship between system quality, indivividual and institutional characteristics and utilization of the system by community health workers . The findings indicate that 27% have had access to the computers. The level of education, mentors that champion use of the system and organizations culture, motivate the utilization of the system.Age,community health worker engagement level,inaccessibility of the output information and lack of resources are barriers to the utilization of the system .The recommendations therefore include;Channel more resources to the facility to improve Community Health Workers participation i.e improve use of computers,offer more openings to the Community Health Workers who are not permanent in the facility to increase their involvement in the facility and to ensure they are retained in the facility and have periodic training and retraining in computer packages and the system for sustainability of the programme.The findings of the study will be very informative to the various health sector stakeholders and more so reinforce the good practices for better health care service delivery in the long run.