Assessment of Data Use of the District Health Information System (Dhis2): a Case Study of Nairobi County

Abstract

The study was carried out to determine whether DHIS2 data is used for decision making. The general objective of the study was to assess the level of data use from the District Health Information System in Nairobi County. The specific objectives for the study were to determine the level of data use from the District Health Information System at the Nairobi County and facility level. Data was collected at the County and facility level. At the County level, data was collected from the head of planning and the County health records information officer. At the facility level, data was collected from the facility incharges and the health records information officers. Documents were also reviewed at the facility level to ascertain the level of data use. The documents that were reviewed were minutes of meetings. Data analysis was mainly descriptive arising from the proportion of responses indicating data use. Frequencies and percentages were obtained. The study established that facilities and counties use DHIS2 data for programme improvement, reporting and accountability and sharing data with partners. Majority of the facilities that indicated data use are the higher level facilities. Only a few of level 3 facilities indicated that they use DHIS2 data due to lack of training and access rights. Majority of facilities indicated that they use DHIS2 data for sharing with partners. The use of DHIS2 data at the facility level can be attributed to training of health workers and the assignment of rights to the health workers. The study recommended that training of health workers be intensified so that they can utilize DHIS2 data for decision making. More health workers should also be assigned access rights so that they can be able to access DHIS2. Provision of infrastructure (computers, internet) was also recommended as some facilities indicated that they didn’t have the appropriate infrastructure.