The Role of Health Information System Towards The Achievement of Universal Health Coverage in Maternal Care: A Case of Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital

Abstract

The role of Health Information System is fundamental to achieving the goals of Universal Health Coverage. An integrated information system must be in place to generate good quality information to informed-decisions, and monitor progress towards these goals. The purpose of this research was to determine the role of health information systems in obtaining universal health coverage in maternity care in Mombasa. The study objectives include; to determine. The role of quality assurance in free maternal care under UHC, to establish the role of data management in maternal care under UHC, to determine the role of system resources in achieving UHC maternal care, and to evaluate the role of technical competency of healthcare workers in UHC. The study used a cross-sectional descriptive research approach. The study focused on 114 hospital staffs at the Coast general teaching and referral hospital. To create a sample of 89 respondents, the researcher used a stratified-sampling approach. A structured closedend questionnaire was administered to the respondents using the drop and pick later technique. Data preparation in this study involved, Coding the raw data into a meaningful output using the SPSS-Software. Inferential statistics were utilized to produce the model summary, which comprised frequencies, percentages, mean, and standard deviation, ANOVA and coefficients of determination. The study found and concluded that the four independent variables studied; namely quality assurance, data management, system resources and technical competency; influenced the achievement of universal health coverage in maternal healthcare at CGTRH. Inferential statistics the study found and concludes that system resources (sig0.000) was the most significant factor at 95% level of confidence with a significance values of 0.001 followed by technical competency, data management and quality assurance respectively. Inferential statistics indicated that the four independent variables in the study influence 69.4% of the achievement of universal health coverage in maternal care at the hospital. The study recommended that the hospital should install a system that would act as the database specifically for the mothers during ANC, PNC and CWC. Further recommended that in order to promote productivity, clarity and accuracy of the information produced/processed/submitted the facility should practice the division of labour. Finally, the study recommends that technical competency the hospital management should empower their workers’ commitment by being given the autonomy where the employees can make minor decisions without consulting with the management or supervisors.