Influence of Organizational Drivers on Utilization of Health Information for Management’s Decision Making: A Case of Imenti South Sub-County, Kenya

Abstract

Today’s health systems rely on health information for effective management. In contrast, compromised global data control systems progressively undermine international disease control initiatives thereby cutting back on health gains. Allocative efficiency is strained by sub optimal Health Management Information Systems (HMIS). On the other hand, undetermined HMIS capacity challenges make it difficult to realize kenya’s informed county health priorities in a devolved health sector. This study embarked on studying the contribution of organizational drivers on health information consumption by operational level managers in Imenti South Sub-County hospitals. The study adopted a cross sectional study design incorporating quantitative and qualitative approaches. A target population of 64 managers heading various units of the 39 Imenti South Sub-County health facilities was used. Data was collected through questionnaires, interviews and observation techniques. Questionnaires were self-administered and adopting open and closed-ended questionnaires. Data was analyzed descriptively and inferentially. Inferential analysis employed regression and correlation analysis. In the results and findings, it was observed that the four exogenous variables included in the model revealed significant prediction for utilization of health information in health care decisions. It was noted by majority of the respondents that there was an increase in the establishment of data control systems in health facilities as opposed to a contrary finding earlier by the ministry of health. It was also evident that the evaluation of HMIS and information use was still very low and, in some instances, as was supported by a large percentage of the respondents, it had not been adopted. It was discovered that health facilities lacked proper structure in regards to the personnel for regulation of data and policies on data quality standards and therefore they would not maintain quality of data that could be relevant for decision making. lack of crucial Information Communication Technology (ICT) components, lack of scheduled data audit and audit tools and a culture of using data to satisfy routine practices limited the utilization of health information in the health facilities. There was also a limitation in the health system’s ability to provide a clear and evidence based assessment of its capacity to improve the health status of residents. Some of the key recommendations made were that health facilities in Imenti South Sub-County should invest in crucial ICT components that will enhance data security and maintain data quality and in turn make the data relevant to the decision-making process. The county government should also distribute national health information policy to all health facilities and train all employees on information processes and their associated importance in making health related decisions.