Abstract:
Abstract
Introduction: The systematic organization of health data in digital form is known as health data
management (HDM). It is a part of the Health Information System, which includes data collection,
processing, reporting, and information used for healthcare services. The poor practice of health
data management is still a neglected problem in the health system despite being a challenge to the
success of the health system. The existence of sound health data management is a key point for
the productivity and quality advancement of a country's health system.
Objective: This study aimed at assessing post-conflict health data management practice among
health professionals of Comprehensive Specialized Hospitals in Eastern ANRS, Ethiopia,2022.
Method: A facility-based quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted by using simple random
sampling among 399 participants working in Dessie and Woldia Comprehensive Specialized
Hospitals from May 28 to June 28, 2022. A structured and self-administered questionnaire was
used for data collection. EpiData version 4.6 and SPSS version 25 were used for data entry and
analysis respectively. Descriptive statistics were used for the summary. Bivariable and multivariable
logistic regression analyses were carried out to see the effect of each independent variable on the
dependent variable. The odds ratio at a 95% confidence level was used to describe the strength of
association.
Results: A total of 399 (94.3%) health professionals participated in the study. From those, 185
(46.4%) [95% CI: 41.5,51.3] were demonstrated good health data management practice. Work
experience [AOR=2.78 (95%CI:1.528,5.044)], diploma holders [AOR=10.437 (95% CI:
2.966,16.724)],degree holders [AOR=4.118 (95% CI: 1.434,11.825)] having good knowledge
[AOR=3.786 (95% CI: 1.852,7.739)], favorable attitude [AOR=4.359 (95% CI: 2.581,7.364)], data
management guidelines [AOR=1.970 (95%CI: 1.191,3.259)], friendliness of data management
tools [AOR=2.303 (95% CI: 1.350,3.929)], training [AOR=1.866 (95% CI: 1.033,3.368)] and
workload [AOR=1.746 (95% CI: 1.064,2.866)] were significantly associated with good practice of
health data management.
Conclusion and Recommendations: Health data management practices of health professionals
were found to be low in the study setting according to the national standard which is greater than
eighty percent in all components health information system. Enhancing health professionals’ data
management knowledge, and attitude, availing of data management guidelines, making data
management formats user-friendly, hiring enough health professionals, and providing
comprehensive data management training by the federal ministry of health and regional health
bureau are necessary measures to improve health data management practice in the study setting.
Keywords: Health data management practice, Health professionals, Specialized Hospitals,
Eastern ANRS, Ethiopia.
