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.
