Assessment of the Management Functions of Health Information System in Iraq

Abstract

Background: Sound health statistics are essential for health decision-making through all levels of the health system. Unlikely, health information systems in most of the countries are insufficient in supplying the needed management support, by this the recent health information systems are therefore widely seen as management obstacles rather than as tools, the current study is an attempt to assess the management functions of health information systems at the districts and facility levels. Objective: To assess the management functions of health information systems at the districts and facility levels. Subject and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Iraq with a data collection period extended from the mid of February 2013 to the end of May 2014,a total of seven districts selected from six Iraqi governorates were included in the study, and a total of twenty six health centers were selected from the seven districts. The management assessment tool was used to assess HIS management functions, it is one of the PRISM package tools that are used to assess the HIS performance. Results: At the facility level, the percentile scores showed that the governance, quality standards, planning, training, supervision and financial functions were totally absent, while at the district level, the percentile scores showed that the management functions were totally absent except for the supervision functions which were 28.57%. Conclusion: This study concluded that the health information system has a poor management functions.