FACTORS INFLUENCING UTILIZATION OF ELECTRONIC COMMUNITY HEALTH INFORMATION SYSTEM AMONG VILLAGE HEALTH TEAMS IN OGUR HEALTH CENTER IV, LIRA DISTRICT.  A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Grace Amito; Michael Albert  Olinga

doi:10.51168/sjhrafrica.v6i3.1641

Authors

Grace Amito Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Jerusalem Institute of Health Sciences
Michael Albert Olinga Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Jerusalem Institute of Health Sciences

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51168/sjhrafrica.v6i3.1641

Keywords:

Individual Factors, Community factors, Health facility factors, Utilization of Echis, VHTs at Ogur Health Center IV

Abstract

Background

The Electronic Community Health Information System (eCHIS) is an integrated tool designed to assist Village Health Teams (VHTs) in making decisions and providing care support to their communities. This study aims to identify the factors influencing the utilization of eCHIS among VHTs at Ogur Health Center IV in Lira District.

Methods

The study employed a cross-sectional quantitative approach using simple random sampling, with a final sample size of 37 participants, and data analysis conducted using SPSS version 20.0

Results

20/37 (54.1%) were female, 13/37 (35.1%) were aged 36-45 years, and 21/37 (56.8%) had a secondary level education. 19/37 (51.4%) reported that they do not have access to a smartphone. 37/37 (100.0%), indicating that the availability of the internet in the community influences the utilization of eCHIS. 37/37 (100.0%), agreed that active community involvement is critical for the successful adoption of eCHIS. 5/37 (94.6%), indicated that users are more satisfied with eCHIS when they find the output information accessible, 29/37 (78.4%) reported that electronic equipment for this is available at the facility, 26/37 (70.3%), indicated that there is proper maintenance of ICT equipment in healthcare facilities, 29/37 (78.4%), agreed that leadership at the facility affects the utilization of eCHIS, while a minority of 8/37 (21.6%) disagreed.

Conclusion

Age, education, and smartphone access, Internet accessibility and community involvement were found to be critical for the successful adoption of eCHIS. Availability of electronic equipment, maintenance of ICT resources, and training support significantly influenced eCHIS usage.

Recommendation

The Ministry of Health, District Health Office, and Ogur Health Center IV recommend enhancing technological skills, expanding internet access, involving communities, and fostering leadership to improve eCHIS utilization through training, monitoring, and awareness campaigns.

Author Biography

Michael Albert Olinga, Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Jerusalem Institute of Health Sciences

References

Bogale, T. N., Teklehaimanot, S. M., Fufa Debela, T., Enyew, D. B., Nigusse Bedada, A., Dufera Kebebew, S., Nigusie Weldeab, A., Wolde Daka, D., Willems, H. J., & Bekele, T. A. (2023). Barriers, facilitators, and motivators of electronic community health information system use among health workers in Ethiopia. Frontiers in Digital Health, 5. https://doi.org/10.3389/fdgth.2023.1162239

Bogale, T. N., Willems, H., Bongassie, L. A., Eyob, Y., Mengesha, C. K., Yihun, B. Y., Mohammed, M., Wendrad, N., Melkamu, G., Daka, D. W., Meressa, S., & Bekele, T. A. (2023). Acceptability and use of the electronic community health information system and its determinants among health extension workers in Ethiopia: A retrospective cross-sectional observational study. BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making, 23(1), Article 1. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12911-023-02385-z

Essuman, L., Apaak, D., Ansah, E., Sambah, F., Ansah, J., Opare, M., & Ahinkorah, B. (2020). Factors Influencing the Utilization of Electronic Medical Records in the Eastern Region of Ghana. Health Policy and Technology, 9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hlpt.2020.08.002

Garavand, A., Mohseni, M., Asadi, H., Etemadi, M., Moradi-Joo, M., & Moosavi, A. (2016). Factors influencing the adoption of health information technologies: A systematic review. Electronic Physician, 8, 2713–2718. https://doi.org/10.19082/2713

Love B A., Omolola O I., & Abayomi S O. (2023). Utilization of electronic health records and associated factors among nurses in a faith-based teaching hospital, Ilishan, Nigeria—PMC. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10403426/

MoH. (2023). Electronic Community Health Information (eCHIS) Bulletin | MOH Knowledge Management Portal. http://library.health.go.ug/health-information-systems/digital-health/electronic-community-health-information-echis-bulletin

Mukuria, G. M., Njoroge, K., Muendo, D., & Nzioka, C. (2023). Factors influencing the implementation of the electronic health records system in Nyeri Level 5 hospital. International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health, 10(2), 612–618. https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20230212

Tariku Nigatu, B., & Hermens, W. (2023). Acceptability and use of the electronic community health information system and its determinants among health extension workers in Ethiopia: A retrospective cross-sectional observational study | BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making | Full Text. https://bmcmedinformdecismak.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12911-023-02385-z

USAID, U. (2023). Kenya | Country Health Information Systems and Data Use Project (CHISU). https://chisuprogram.org/where-we-work/kenya

Yehula, C. M., Walle, A. D., Tegegne, M. D., Endehabtu, B. F., Wubante, S. M., Melaku, M. S., Bogale, A. D., & Tilahun, B. (2023). Health information utilization and its associated factors among health professionals in northwest Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study. Informatics in Medicine Unlocked, 40, 101287. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.imu.2023.101287

Zhang, X., Yu, P., Yan, J., & Ton A.M. Spil, I. (2019). Using TAM to study the influence of job relevance, subject norm, and experience on the adoption of e-health care. Procedia Computer Science, 174(7), 503-510.

Israel, B. A., Schulz, A. J., Parker, E. A., & Becker, A. B. (2015). Community-based participatory research: Policy recommendations for promoting a partnership approach in health research. Education for Health, 14(2), 182-197.