The Impact of Health Information Systems, Research and Development on Primary Health Care Service Delivery

Abstract

Background

Health information is the bedrock of decision-making in primary health care and across health care system

building blocks, and it is essential for health care systems’ policy development and governance, human resources

development, implementation and regulation, health research, health education and training, service delivery,

and financing. This research revealed how Nigeria has attempted to make the health information system and

research and development more effective in its primary health care services by developing new health policy The

aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the health information system and research and development on

primary health care service delivery in Nigeria.

Method

A mixed method (qualitative and quantitative) approach guided this study. This approach was adopted because of

its ability to provide strengths that offset the weaknesses of both quantitative and qualitative methodological

approaches.

Results

Out of 300 respondents recruited for the quantitative aspect of the study, 294 (98%) perceived that health

information systems had an impact on primary health care service delivery. The qualitative aspect of the study

established that most participants opined that health information systems were of great importance to primary

health care service delivery. Since the two findings were the same, it showed that there was no doubt about the

value of such systems in the respondents’ and the participants’ responses.

Conclusion

This study shows that most health professionals need better research knowledge. The study, therefore,

recommends that the Nigerian government focus more on research training for health professionals and recruit

more professionals into the health information system, research, and development departments to achieve the

goals set by the policymakers.