The Utilisation of data and the factors impacting the performance of the Health Management Information System (HMIS). The case of 6 Synod of Livingstonia Health Facilities in Malawi.

Abstract

Background: A collection of data that is routinely gathered at healthcare facilities to satisfy the requirements of health service statistics is called a Health Management Information System (HMIS). The purpose of this study was to ascertain how HMIS data was used and what variables affected Synod of Livingstonia Health Facilities health system's performance at the district and basic healthcare institution levels. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 6 healthcare facilities in 3 districts, namely Mzimba South, Mzimba North and Rumphi District. Health workers at the institution and district levels completed a semi-structured questionnaire to gather data, which was then recorded using an observational checklist. The responses and observations were combined and triangulated using the thematic content analysis approach to extract pertinent information. Results: 13 district officials and 90 employees of healthcare facilities were surveyed under the Synod of Livingstonia Health Department (SoLHD). Only 1 out of the 3 district respondents (48.2%) reported regularly reviewing HMIS data, compared to over two-thirds (70%) of the facility respondents who said they used the data. Primarily, the HMIS data were utilised to compare service coverage performance (62%), track illness trends over time (40%), and provide support for community health education and promotion initiatives (53%). Before the study, 31.4% of the facility's staff had not received any training on HMIS-related data handling in the previous 24 months. 4 months before this assessment, the District Health Office (DHO) had conducted supervisory visits to less than half (34.6%) of the health facilities. 2 district respondents (68.2%) stated that higher authorities routinely provided them with comments on the calibre of their reports on a monthly and quarterly basis. Patient load has frequently been reported to have an impact on staff performance in terms of data administration and gathering. Conclusion: In most healthcare facilities, inadequate analysis and poor data utilisation techniques were the norm. The main issues impacting Synod of Livingstonia Health Facilities HMIS performance were a lack of standard operating procedures for data management, insufficient financial and human resources, and a lack of incentives and oversight.