ASSESSMENT OF ROUTINE HEALTH INFORMATION UTILAZATION AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG HEALTH PROFESSIONALS WORKING AT PUBLIC HEALTH FACILITIES IN DEBRE BERHAN Town, NORTH SHOA, AMHARA, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Background: Routine health information system (RHIS) is a system whereby health data are recorded, stored and processed to improve decision-making in the health sector. It is vital for acquisition of data for health sector planning, monitoring and evaluation. However, in developing countries, especially in Ethiopia routine health information utilization is still low and is not utilized for program decisions especially at lower levels of health care and it remains as a major challenge. Objective:-To assess routine health information utilization and associated factors among health professionals in Debre Berhan Town health facilities, North shoa, Amhara, Ethiopia, 2022. Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 383 randomly selected health professionals from May to June 2022. A self-administered pretested structured questionnaire was used to collect data from participants. Data were cleaned, coded and entered into EpiData version 3.1 and exported into SPSS version 22 for further statistical analysis. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the participants. Multivariable logistic regression was conducted to identify factors associated with routine health information utilization. Variables with a p-value <0.05 were considered statistically significant factors for the utilization of health information system. Result: From the total health care professionals participated in the study, more than half 197(51.4%) of the study participants were male. Among the respondent 127(33.16%) were within the age range of 30- 34 years with a mean age of 32.08 and SD of (±5.23). The overall good utilization routine health information among health professionals was 42.6% (95% CI: 37.6%, 47.8%). Type of institution (AOR=2.10; 95%CI: 1.26, 2.98), Complexity of RHIS (AOR =2.19, 95% CI: 1.23, 3.88), taking training on HMIS (AOR=8.94; 95% CI: 1.77, 18.55), and feel guilty if not accomplish their target performance (AOR = 2.96, 95% CI: 1.33, 6.60) were found significantly associated with routine health information utilization. Conclusion: The overall good utilization of routine health information among the health professionals was low. Type of institution, Complexity of RHIS, taking training on HMIS and feel guilty of not accomplish their target performance were factors related to routine health information system utilization. Therefore, reduce complexity of RHIS, improve habit of accomplishing target performance are highly recommended for improving routine health information utilization among health workers at government health facilities.