Technological factors affecting data quality of routine health management information system: Case of Uasin Gishu county referral hospital, Kenya

Abstract

Effective and efficient management of today’s health system globally depends on well-functioning Health Management Information System. Health organizations are struggling to adapt to the ever changing environment to provide high-quality data to the right user at the right place and time through health system strengthening. The deficiency of strong information system with weak human infrastructure capabilities to support such systems is a catastrophe in-waiting in addressing health outcomes and resource management. The study was carried out to find out technological factors affecting data quality of routine health management information system. A cross-sectional study design was employed in this study. The results show that majority 68% of the respondents are nurses and a strong association was found between responsibility and accomplishing a task. The key informant interview confirmed a strong relationship between technical factors such as lack of right skills, numbers and appropriate technology to accomplish daily tasks. The significance of the findings could boost stakeholders engagement to strengthen physical and human infrastructure by having good knowledge and information technology expertise to successfully utilize and tolerate any change.

Keywords: Technological factors, data, quality, routine, health management information system (HMIS).