Factors That Influence the Use of Routine Health Information in Family Planning Services in Lagos, Nigeria. A Prospective Review of The Use of Family Planning Data

Link to Document:
ja-19-263

Author(s): Abayomi Joseph Afe, Timothy Akinmurele, Adeola Olatoun, Abimbola Oduola, Ganiyu Agboola and Maduakolam Onyema

Year: 2018

Abstract:

Background: The poor utilization of data generated from the RHIS in RH/FP has made it difficult to address some of the challenges associated with the uptake of RH/FP services.

Objectives: The literature on health information systems in FP is replete with complaints of the neglect of existing information, yet remarkably little is known regarding the factors that influence acting on routine health information generated in family planning services in Nigeria. The following are the research Questions; what are the factors that facilitate the use of routine health information in FP services and What are the factors that hinder the use of routine health information in FP service?

Methods: This was a prospective cross sectional mixed method study carried out over a period of 12 months in three Local government areas in Lagos, southwest Nigeria.

Results: There was a very high level (n=374, 88%) of awareness on RHI indicators among the respondents. Over 90% of the respondents reported that Integrating FP into other health interventions, such as HIV, immunizations, deliveries, and post-abortion care (n=388, 91.3%), availability of staff skilled in record-keeping (n=403, 94.8%), management or supervisor’s interest in data quality and data use (n=394, 92.7%), receiving feedback from higher levels on reports sent with collected FP data (n=399, (93.9%). The commonest hindrances to the use of RHI include poor quality data (n=396; 93.2%), incomplete data (n=399; 93.9%), noninvolvement of policy makers in data collection (n=391; 92.0%) and lack of feedback from higher levels on how data generated has been put to use (n=423; 93.6%).

Conclusion: It is hoped that promoting the factors identified as facilitators of RHI and removing those categorized as hindrances in this study would encourage the use of routine health information and ultimately improve family planning services in the state and the nation as a whole.