PDF herunterladen
Methods Inf Med 1997; 36(02): 115-121
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1634696
Original Article
Schattauer GmbH

District Level Information Systems: Two Cases from South Africa

J. Braa
1   Norwegian Computing Centre/Department of Community Health, University of Cape Town, South Africa
,
A. Heywood
2   Public Health Program, University of the Western Cape, South Africa
,
M. Shung King
3   Department of Community Health, University of Cape Town, South Africa
› Institutsangaben
Weitere Informationen

Publikationsverlauf

Publikationsdatum:
20. Februar 2018 (online)

    Lizenzen und Reprints

Abstract:

The health system in South Africa has to date been fragmented and centralised. The priority of the new government is to establish an integrated and decentralised district health system of which a key element is the development of district health and management information systems (H & MIS). This paper presents experiences from two projects in the Western Cape in which a process to establish a district-based H & MIS was initiated and a situation analysis of the information systems was done. The two projects applied different research methods but the results show with remarkable consistency that much time is used on data collection, but information is not used at local level. The projects have applied different approaches towards developing a district H & MIS but in both important pre-requisites for a successful, action-led H & MIS include local ownership and motivation, a process based around existing local management structures and the active involvement of the community

Keywords:

Health Information Systems - Management Information - District Health Systems
 

  • References

  • 1 Mandil SH. The National Health System of South Africa (NHIS/SA): From conception to the start of implementation. Department of Health of South Africa; 1995
    Google Scholar
  • 2 Amonoo-Lartsen R, Ebrahim GJ, Lovel HJ, Ranken JP. District Health Care. Challenges for Planning, Organisation and Evaluation in Developing Countries. London: Macmillian Press; 1984
    Google Scholar
  • 3 Janovsky K. The Challenge of implementation. District Health Systems for Primary Health Care. Geneva: WHO; 1988
    Google Scholar
  • 4 Wilson RG, Echols BE, Bryant JH, Abrantes A. eds. Management Information Systems and Microcomputers in Primary health Care: Report of an international workshop. Lisbon: Aga Kahn Foundation; 1988
    Google Scholar
  • 5 Braa J, Heywood A. South Africa, Africa and health information systems. The need for a reciprocal collaboration.. In: Sosa-Iudicissa MC, Levett J, Mandil SH, Beales PF. eds. Health, Information Society and Developing Countries. Amsterdam: IOS Press; 1995
    Google Scholar
  • 6 Duane IS, Hansen H, Karim MS. Management information support for district health systems based on primary health care. In: Wilson RG, Echols BE, Bryant IH, Abrantes A. eds. Management Information Systems and Microcomputers in Primary Healthcare: Report of an International Workshop. Lisbon: Aga Kahn Froundation; 1988
    Google Scholar
  • 7 Opit LJ. How should information on health care be generated and llsed?. World Health Forum 1987; 8: 409-17.
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 8 Sandiford P, Annet H, Cibulskis R. What can information systems do for primary health care? An international perspective. Soc Sci Med 1992; 34: 1077-87.
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 9 Molefane S, Parshotam S, Smith D. Can a downscaled hospital information system be used in primary health care?. (unpublished paper). Information Systems Department, University of Cape Town; 1995
    Google Scholar
  • 10 Braa J, Monteiro E, Reinert E. Technology transfer vs technological learning: IT-infrastructure and health care in developing countries. Information Technology for Development 1995; 6: 15-24.
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar