A framework for increasing the technical capacity of health workers to use health data for decision making at the level iii health facilities in Nairobi county

Abstract

Data is often not used effectively by the individuals at the health facilities to inform policy and programmatic decision making. The objective of this study is to identify barriers to data use, to design a framework for the technical capacity of health workers to use health data for decision making at the level III health facilities in the county of Nairobi and provide recommendations for practices that will address constraints to data use and data demand. An assessment was done at the level III health facilities in Nairobi among decision makers, health facility managers, and health facility staff and health record information officers. 177 questionnaires will be analyzed using SPSS software. Findings from this study will identify constraints to data use and inform health workers on how data can be used for improved decision making. The objective of this research is to employ a logic model to describe a pathway of how specific activities and interventions can strengthen the use of health data in decision making in order ultimately to fortify the other building blocks of the health system. The research builds on previous work in the field by making specific recommendations about interventions that are most proximate to affect the use of data in decision making. The logic model with activities and examples of their implementation provide a practical strategy for developing, monitoring, and evaluating interventions to strengthen the use of data in decision making. This study explores how to increase the technical capacity of health workers to use health data for decision making at the level iii health facilities in Nairobi County. An exploratory and descriptive, cross-sectional study method was undertaken. Both qualitative and quantitative approaches were used. The study collected primary data through the use of a questionnaire. Health data is barely used by health workers for service delivery planning and decision-making. Quality health data are, in and of themselves, prerequisites to improving the building blocks of the health systems. The relationship of improved information, demand for data, and continued data use creates a cycle that leads to improved health programs and policies. The ‘use’ of data is the analysis, synthesis, interpretation, and review of data as part of a decision-making processes, regardless of the source of data.