Can mHealth improve timeliness and quality of health data collected and used by health extension workers in rural Southern Ethiopia?

Split View Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data PDF Cite Citation W Mengesha, R Steege, A Z Kea, S Theobald, D G Datiko; Can mHealth improve timeliness and quality of health data collected and used by health extension workers in rural Southern Ethiopia?, Journal of Public Health, Volume 40, Issue suppl_2, 1 December 2018, Pages ii74–ii86, https://doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdy200 Download citation file: RIS (Zotero) EndNote BibTex Medlars ProCite RefWorks Reference Manager © 2018 Oxford University Press Close Permissions Share Email Twitter Facebook Navbar Search Filter This issueAll Journal of Public Health All Journals Mobile Microsite Search Term Sign In Register Close search filter This issueAll Journal of Public Health All Journals search input Advanced Search Abstract Background Health extension workers (HEWs) are the key cadre within the Ethiopian Health Extension Programme extending health care to rural communities. National policy guidance supports the use of mHealth to improve data quality and use. We report on a mobile Health Management Information system (HMIS) with HEWs and assess its impact on data use, community health service provision and HEWs’ experiences.Methodology We used a mixed methods approach, including an iterative process of intervention development for 2 out of 16 essential packages of health services, quantitative analysis of new registrations, and qualitative research with HEWs and their supervisors.Results The iterative approach supported ownership of the intervention by health staff, and 8833 clients were registered onto the mobile HMIS by 62 trained HEWs. HEWs were positive about using mHealth and its impact on data… [Read full story]