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SHORT COMMUNICATION
Year : 2014  |  Volume : 2  |  Issue : 2  |  Page : 127-129

Need of a sound health information system in public health: Program managers


Department of Community Medicine, Shri Sathya Sai Medical College and Research Institute, Ammapettai, Chennai, India

Date of Web Publication18-Aug-2014

Correspondence Address:
Saurabh RamBihariLal Shrivastava
3rd Floor, Department of Community Medicine, Shri Sathya Sai Medical College and Research Institute, Ammapettai Village, Thiruporur - Guduvancherry Main Road, Sembakkam, Kancheepuram - 603 108, Tamil Nadu
India
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Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None


DOI: 10.4103/2347-9019.139073

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  Abstract 

Background: In the global mission to achieve health for all, a comprehensive and holistic strategy is needed, which when formulated on the scaffolding of reliable health information can enable policy makers to identify the problems and needs of people. Objectives: The objectives of the study are to explore the epidemiological types of data, identify the role of health information system (HIS) in formulation of evidence-based policies, ascertain the factors limiting its utilization, and to suggest measures to strengthen its utility. Materials and Methods: An extensive search of all materials related to the topic was made using library sources including Pubmed, Medline, and World Health Organization. Keywords used in the search include health, information, and program managers. Results: A well-functioning HIS is crucial for effective and efficient quality assured health service delivery, especially in resource poor settings. The onus of formulating any policy for prevention and control of a specific disease based on its exact burden lies with the policy makers/health system managers. Conclusion: An effective HIS has been identified as a key element in ensuring the availability of valid data that will not only enable program managers in formulating effective planning strategies but will also aid in monitoring and evaluation of health services.

Keywords: Health, information, program managers


How to cite this article:
Shrivastava SR, Shrivastava PS, Ramasamy J. Need of a sound health information system in public health: Program managers. Int J Health Syst Disaster Manage 2014;2:127-9

How to cite this URL:
Shrivastava SR, Shrivastava PS, Ramasamy J. Need of a sound health information system in public health: Program managers. Int J Health Syst Disaster Manage [serial online] 2014 [cited 2024 Mar 29];2:127-9. Available from: https://www.ijhsdm.org/text.asp?2014/2/2/127/139073


  Introduction Top


In accordance with Alma Atta declaration, various signatory countries pledged to ensure delivery of easily accessible and affordable, primary health care services to all, for bringing about a significant improvement in the health status of the people based on community needs and expectations. [1] In order to achieve this goal, a comprehensive and holistic strategy is needed, which when formulated on the scaffolding of a reliable health information can enable policy makers to identify the problems and needs of people. [2] Eventually, this health information will encourage program managers in taking evidence-based decisions and optimal allocation of scarce resources. [2]

Epidemiological categorization of data

In epidemiological practice, data can be elicited by two means, namely primary data (the data collected by the investigator primarily for the purpose of the epidemiologic study) and secondary data (data which have not been collected for the purpose of one's epidemiological study, but has been collected for some other purpose). [3],[4] Secondary data is usually associated with both advantages (. readily available, minimal expenditure, and enables quick decision) as well as disadvantages (incomplete and may lack adequate coverage). [4] Multiple sources of secondary data are available such as census, sample registration system, vital events registration, records available from various government or private health establishments, school or industrial health records, data from national health programs, cancer registry, health surveys, and notification of diseases. [3],[4] In addition, hospital settings have also been extensively explored for obtaining the primary (conduction of research work such as exploring the antibiotic resistance pattern among inpatients/intensive units or assessment of the knowledge and practices among practitioners about management of a specific disease, etc.) and secondary data (it has been mandatory for most of the hospitals to report all notifiable diseases to the respective public health departments; reporting of vital events-birth and deaths; utilization indicators-proportion of infants who are completely immunized, proportion of pregnant women who receive antenatal care, percentage of the population using the various methods of family planning, bed-occupancy rate, average length of stay and bed turnover ratio). [3],[4]

Health information system

A Health Information System (HIS) is defined as a mechanism that integrates the process of data collection, processing, analysis, and use of the information for upgrading the quality of health services. [5] In most of the settings, basic information required by a public health specialist includes general information, socio-demographic profile, morbidity and mortality indicators, and particulars about status of health services. [5] However, the collected information is considered authentic provided the HIS is population-based, problem-oriented, avoids unnecessary agglomeration of data, utilizes operational terms, and there is a provision for giving feedback to the collected data. [3]

Studies have shown that a well-functioning HIS is crucial for effective and efficient health service delivery. [6] HIS is used to assess the morbidity status and health care needs of the people; to enable comparison of health indicators at local/national/international level; to assist in appropriate planning, administration and management of health services/programs; to assess the reach and fulfillment of health services; to explore the attitudes and level of satisfaction; and to facilitate research activities in different domains of a disease. [3],[6] In addition, the data obtained from hospital information system can be used to take administrative decisions (guiding the hospital infection control committee and enabling the members to take evidence-based decisions; organizing training sessions for doctors/paramedical workers to minimize incidence of nosocomial infections; corrective measures in waste management policy of the hospital etc.); to sensitize physicians to alter their line of treatment; arrangement of the desired resources (type of specialists/drugs/laboratory investigations, etc.) based on the morbidity profile of the patients accessing the services of the hospital. Furthermore, it has been observed that a sound and comprehensive HIS can cast a significant impact on the quality of care, especially in resource poor settings. [7],[8]

Factors limiting the utilization of HIS

In an assessment study to evaluate the utilization of HIS, it was observed that only 32.9% of the study units/departments have availed the benefits of health information. [9] In an another study, it was revealed that overall compliance of the district HIS was only 36%. [10] Multiple factors such as untrained health staff; limited understanding about HIS; minimally motivated health workers; limited awareness among people and private health sector about the need of reporting health related events; poor coordination among the administrators and health workers; and fragmented information system in public health, have been attributed to the poor quality or poor utilization of HIS. [6],[9],[10],[11]

Measures to strengthen the health information system

The onus of formulating any policy for prevention and control of a specific disease based on its exact burden, lies with the policy makers/health system managers. [3],[5] The first and the foremost thing in streamlining the entire mechanism is to implement measures to decentralize the HIS and develop training modules for the managers/health workers. [1],[10] In addition, measures such as improving the awareness level of people/health team members about the need and importance of a comprehensive health information; enhancing coordination among administrators and health workers; integrating HIS with other non-health systems; and adopting use of electronic records or cost-effective information technology, can also be proposed to strengthen the existing HIS. [1],[5],[10],[11],[12],[13]


  Conclusion Top


To conclude, a well-functioning HIS plays an indispensable role in assessment of the morbidity status and health care needs of the people, enables comparison of health indicators at local/national/international level and in assisting program managers in appropriate planning, administration and management of health services. Thus, the need of the hour is to streamline the entire mechanism of collection/analysis/interpretation of information, and develop training modules for the managers/health workers for the strengthening of the existing HIS.

 
  References Top

1.World Health Organization. Health metrics network framework and standards for country health information systems. Geneva: WHO press; 2008.  Back to cited text no. 1
    
2.Peersman G, Rugg D, Erkkola T, Kiwango E, Yang J. Are the investments in national HIV monitoring and evaluation systems paying off? J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2009;52:S87-96.  Back to cited text no. 2
    
3.Park K. Health information and basic medical statistics. In: Park K, editor. Text Book of Preventive and Social Medicine. 20 th ed. Jabalpur: Banarsidas Bhanot Publishers; 2009. p. 26, 742 -6.  Back to cited text no. 3
    
4.Gimbel S, Micek M, Lambdin B, Lara J, Karagianis M, Cuembelo F, et al. An assessment of routine primary care health information system data quality in Sofala Province, Mozambique. Popul Health Metr 2011;9:12.  Back to cited text no. 4
    
5.World Health Organisation. Developing Health Management Information Systems: A practical guide for developing countries. Geneva: WHO press; 2004.  Back to cited text no. 5
    
6.Wilms MC, Mbembela O, Prytherch H, Hellmold P, Kuelker R. An in-depth, exploratory assessment of the implementation of the National Health Information System at a district level hospital in Tanzania. BMC Health Serv Res 2014;14:91.  Back to cited text no. 6
    
7.Lau F, Kuziemsky C, Price M, Gardner J. A review on systematic reviews of health information system studies. J Am Med Inform Assoc 2010;17:637-45.  Back to cited text no. 7
    
8.Marshal SJ. Developing countries face double burden of disease. Bull World Health Organ 2004;14:556.  Back to cited text no. 8
    
9.Abajebel S, Jira C, Beyene W. Utilization of health information system at district level in jimma zone oromia regional state, South west Ethiopia. Ethiop J Health Sci 2011;21:65-76.  Back to cited text no. 9
    
10.Raeisi AR, Saghaeiannejad S, Karimi S, Ehteshami A, Kasaei M. District health information system assessment: A case study in Iran. Acta Inform Med 2013;21:30-5.  Back to cited text no. 10
    
11.Garcia Leon FJ, Fernandez Merino JC. Contributions to the development of a public health information system. SESPAS Report 2010. Gac Sanit 2010;24:96-100.  Back to cited text no. 11
    
12.Shaw V. Health information system reform in South Africa: Developing an essential data set. Bull World Health Organ 2005;83:632-6.  Back to cited text no. 12
[PUBMED]    
13.Souza VP, Santos OF, Wolosker N. Health information system. Einstein (Sao Paulo) 2013;11:7-8.  Back to cited text no. 13
    




 

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