Assessment of ICT Skills Among Healthcare Staff for Effective HMIS Utilization: A Case Study of Loss to Follow-Up in Mbeya Urban and Rural.

Mohamedi, Said Nassoro (2025) Assessment of ICT Skills Among Healthcare Staff for Effective HMIS Utilization: A Case Study of Loss to Follow-Up in Mbeya Urban and Rural. Masters thesis, The Open University of Tanzania.

PDF - Submitted Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (2MB)

Abstract

This study was conducted in two districts of the Mbeya Region Mbeya City and District Council (DC). It aimed to assess the ICT competencies of healthcare workers (HCWs) for effective utilization of the Health Management Information System (HMIS), determine the limitations of ICT infrastructure in healthcare settings, and identify weaknesses within the current monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system that contribute to patient loss to follow-up in Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) programs. A sample of 142 healthcare workers 71 from each district was selected using purposive and convenience sampling techniques. The sample size was calculated using Cochran‘s formula. Data were collected through a semi-structured questionnaire and analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings revealed that 49% of HCWs possessed only basic computer skills. Approximately one-third of healthcare facilities faced challenges related to IT infrastructure. Key weaknesses in the current M&E system contributing to loss to follow-up included inadequate patient tracking systems, lack of validation of patient information, falsification of client data, absence of linked CTC2 databases across clinics, economic barriers such as transport costs, issues of HIV status disclosure, privacy concerns, and inadequate data collection practices. This study strongly recommends that the government, through the Ministry of Health, invest further in improving ICT infrastructure and strengthening ICT capacity-building programs for healthcare workers to enhance HMIS effectiveness and reduce patient loss to follow-up. Key Words: Health Management Information System, Healthcare staff, Computer Literacy, HIV/AIDS, Loss to Follow up.

Actions (login required)

View Item