UTILIZATION OF ELECTRONIC COMMUNITY HEALTH INFORMATION SYSTEM (eCHIS) AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG HEALTH EXTENSION WORKERS IN SIDAMA REGION, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Background: Effective community health management information systems (C-HMIS) are important in low-resource countries that rely heavily on community-based health care providers [3]. Electronic community health information systems (eCHIS) have been increasingly developed and deployed to quantify and support services delivered by community health workers. However, there is no evidence of the level of utilization of electronic community health information systems. Objective: The main aim of this study is to assess the level of electronic community health information system (eCHIS) and associated factors among health extension workers in the Sidama region, Ethiopia, in 2023. Methods: This study employed quantitative (cross-sectional) studies complemented by qualitative (Phenomenology) study designs. All health posts found in the Sidama region and health extension workers have been included in the study. Quantitative data has been collected using a pre-tested, structured, self-administered questionnaire whereas qualitative data has been collected from in-depth interviews with key informants (KIs). The collected quantitative data has been entered into Epi-Data Version 3.1 and is being analyzed using SPSS version 25 software. A descriptive summary has been computed using proportions and frequencies. Multi Variable Logistic Regression analysis has been computed to identify the factors associated with eCHIS use and Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) with 95% Confidence Interval (CI) has been reported. On the other hand, the qualitative data has been analyzed thematically and the results had being presented in narration. Work plan and Budget: The study has been conducted from January October 2022 to May 2023 and a total of 131,540.2 Birr has been required to carry out this study.