Journal of Health Informatics in Developing Countries 

About: Journal of Health Informatics in Developing Countries is an academic journal. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Health care & Health informatics. It has an ISSN identifier of 1178-4407. Over the lifetime, 172 publications have been published receiving 1726 citations.

The challenges of sustainability of health information systems in developing countries: comparative case studies of Mozambique and Tanzania

Abstract: The introduction of Information Technology (IT) typically comes with the promise of helping to manage scarce resources, increase efficiencies, reduce workload, and increase work productivity. In the context of developing countries, the lure of these promises is magnified given the existing conditions and inefficiencies. International donors for example the World Bank, or the World Health Organization play an important role in shaping this promise because developing countries are dependent on them for both technical and financial aspects. Given that IT projects may take a long time to be fully institutionalized, sufficient resources are required to build the local capacity to support and sustain the project after the withdrawal of donors. Inadequate donor support often contributes to weakening rather than strengthening human resource capacity and effective system design, since it emphasizes the technology itself in the expense of the needs of the users. These factors contribute to the design and implementation of unsustainable health information systems (HIS) in developing countries. Through a comparative case analysis of the HIS in Mozambique and Tanzania, we have identified three sets of relationships as crucial in shaping the sustainability of HIS. The relationships between the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the software development agency, between the MoH and the donors, and between the donors and the software development agency. The reasons for the lack of alignment between the relationships, although possibly different in the two cases, are identified and some specific recommendations are made to support their alignment, and with it, we argue, the sustainability of the system.

DHIS2: The Tool to Improve Health Data Demand and Use in Kenya

Abstract: Information garnered from health information systems (HIS) is essential for monitoring health, and for evaluating and improving the delivery of health-care services and programs. Yet the collection, collation, compilation, analysis and reporting of health data in most developing countries is faced with major problems resulting in incomplete, inaccurate and untimely data which is not useful for health decision-making. Increasingly there is growing demand for good quality health information from developing countries as a result of performance based resource allocation by donors. This has led to some initiatives in these countries to reform the existing paper-based systems through computerization. Kenya’s development blueprint titled ‘Vision 2030: First Medium Term Plan (2008-2012)’ identified the need to strengthen the national HIS to enable it provide timely and understandable information on health. But assessments conducted in the country in the past revealed that despite rising demand for health information, the Kenya HIS was weak and poorly integrated. Recognizing the critical role played by a functional HIS, the country initiated an overhaul of the existing system to replace it with the free and open-source web-based District Health Information Software (DHIS2). This review study looks at the challenges of implementing HIS in developing countries, and how various countries are attempting to overcome these challenges through computerization. In particular we examine the increasing use of the free and open source DHIS2 as the HIS solution for various developing countries and review the outcome of several cases where DHIS2 has been implemented in Africa. Against this backdrop we address the potential of DHIS2 as a motivator for health data availability and use in Kenya. It is evident that the DHIS2 system has presented unprecedented potential for Kenya to move from the era of unreliable and fragmented HIS system to the more ideal situation of availability and use of quality health information for rational decision making. However it is also apparent that implementation of a technically sound system like DHIS2 is not an end in itself in ensuring improved reporting and use of HIS data. The need for acceptance and adequate support from the national and local authorities, and by all targeted users of this system cannot be overemphasized

A review on barriers to implementing health informatics in developing countries

Abstract: Health information systems are spreading globally which promote health and human prosperity. Globalization of health informatics infrastructures is needed to have significant growth in improving quality and capacity of healthcare sector in developing countries. At present the health information infrastructure remains inadequate to meet the needs of rising population. Poverty and technological implementations are major barriers in the lesser-developed countries. Health care can be transformed and health status of population improved by eliminating barriers and implementing health informatics in developing countries.

Computer use among doctors in Africa: Survey of trainees in a Nigerian teaching hospital

Abstract: The field of medicine and medical practice requires the use of computers for support in information processing, decision making and records keeping. The success of information and communications technology applications in health is dependent on the level of computer use by health professionals especially doctors. This questionnaire-based study assessed the level of computer and internet use by doctors in a Nigerian Teaching Hospital as well as their perception of the medical recording system in their place of practice. The study is planned to be carried out similarly in other centres across Africa; this survey will serve as a pilot.

Health informatics deployment in Nigeria

Abstract: Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has become a major tool in delivery of health services and has had a revolutionary impact on how we live and perceive the world. ICT has given birth to the contemporary “Es” such as e-learning, e-commerce, e-governance, e-banking, e-shopping and e-health, the primary focus of this paper. In this paper, we discuss ICT in Nigeria with focus on three common ICT indicators: Internet, computing and telephony. We review the past and present state of health informatics in Nigeria, in comparison to the United Kingdom as examples of less developed and developed nations. We also analyse the problems facing successful implementation of health informatics in Nigeria and suggest possible solutions.