Determinants Of Effective Utilization Of Routine Health Information Within Private Health Facilities In Kampala -Uganda

ABSTRACT

This study examined the extent to which the identified determinants influence the effective utilization of routine health information in the private health facilities in Kampala. The study was based on the following research objectives: to describe how technical determinants influence utilization of routine health information in private health facilities in Kampala; to determine how organizational determinants influence utilization of routine health information in private health facilities in Kampala; and, to examine how behavioural determinants influence utilization of routine health information in private health facilities in Kampala. The study adopted a cross sectional survey research design and both quantitative and qualitative approaches were used. Four health facilities from each of the five administrative divisions that make up Kampala Capital City (Kampala Central Division, Kawempe Division, Nakawa Division, Makindye Division and Lubaga Division) were selected as a study sample. In total, a sample of 122 respondents were chosen who included division health officers, district health officer, health facility managers/directors, frontline health workers, district biostatistician and health information officers in the different health facilities in the five divisions. In collecting the data, the researcher used both secondary and primary sources. Data collection methods used were questionnaires and KI interviews, and the collected data was analyzed using multinomial logistic regressions analysis, Chi-square tests and Pearson correlation coefficient. The study findings revealed that: organizational and behavioural determinants are statistically significant in influencing effective utilization of routine health information than the technical determinants. Further analysis revealed that among the organizational variable composite index, planning had greater statistical significance than other organizational variables. It was concluded that: (i) among the technical determinants, only IT complexity was found to optimally have a statistical significant influence on routine health information use in the private sector; (ii) organizational planning has the most significant contribution to information use and this demonstrated the need for health facility management in establishing systems that support and promote routine evidence-based decision-making. It was recommended that: (iii) there is need to continuously provide technical support supervision to the private health facility in data and information management. Secondly, there is also need to support training of private health staff in RHIS management. Thirdly, private health facility managements should promote information use for evidence-based decision-making through integration of RHIS in the facility planning and management.