Community-Based Health Information Systems in Africa: A Scoping Review of Data Generation, Utilization, and Community Empowerment [version 3; peer review: 3 approved, 1 approved with reservations]
Introduction The community-based health information system (CBHIS) is a vital component of the community health system, as it assesses community-level healthcare service delivery and generates data for community health programme planning, monitoring, and evaluation. CBHIS promotes data-driven decisi...
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2024-10-01
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| author | Michael Ogutu Jacinta Nzinga Benjamin Tsofa Beatrice Kuvuna Fatuma Guleid Moriasi Nyanchoka |
| author_facet | Michael Ogutu Jacinta Nzinga Benjamin Tsofa Beatrice Kuvuna Fatuma Guleid Moriasi Nyanchoka |
| author_sort | Michael Ogutu |
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| description | Introduction The community-based health information system (CBHIS) is a vital component of the community health system, as it assesses community-level healthcare service delivery and generates data for community health programme planning, monitoring, and evaluation. CBHIS promotes data-driven decision-making, by identifying priority interventions and programs, guiding resource allocation, and contributing to evidence-based policy development. Objective This scoping review aims to comprehensively examine the use of CBHIS in African countries, focusing on data generation, pathways, utilisation of CBHIS data, community accessibility to the data and use of the data to empower communities. Methods We utilised Arksey and O'Malley's scoping review methodology. We searched eight databases: PubMed, EMBASE, HINARI, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar, and grey literature databases (Open Grey and OAIster). We synthesised findings using a thematic approach. Results Our review included 55 articles from 27 African countries, primarily in Eastern and Southern Africa, followed by West Africa. Most of the studies were either quantitative (42%) or qualitative (33%). Paper-based systems are primarily used for data collection in most countries, but some have adopted electronic/mobile-based systems or both. The data flow for CBHIS varies by country and the tools used for data collection. CBHIS data informs policies, resource allocation, staffing, community health dialogues, and commodity supplies for community health programmes. Community dialogue is the most common approach for community engagement, empowerment, and sharing of CBHIS data with communities. Community empowerment tends towards health promotion activities and health provider-led approaches. Conclusion CBHIS utilises both paper-based and electronic-based systems to collect and process data. Nevertheless, most countries rely on paper-based systems. Most of the CBHIS investments have focused on digitisation and enhancing data collection, process, and quality. However, there is a need to shift the emphasis towards enabling data utilisation at the community level and community empowerment. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-dee3d83816f9498a9d62fd1268d178fb |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2398-502X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-10-01 |
| publisher | Wellcome |
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| series | Wellcome Open Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-dee3d83816f9498a9d62fd1268d178fb2025-08-20T02:08:46ZengWellcomeWellcome Open Research2398-502X2024-10-01910.12688/wellcomeopenres.22780.325617Community-Based Health Information Systems in Africa: A Scoping Review of Data Generation, Utilization, and Community Empowerment [version 3; peer review: 3 approved, 1 approved with reservations]Michael Ogutu0Jacinta Nzinga1Benjamin Tsofa2https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1000-1771Beatrice Kuvuna3Fatuma Guleid4Moriasi Nyanchoka5https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3911-2670Health Systems and Research Ethics Department, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, KenyaHealth Economics Research Unit, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, KenyaHealth Systems and Research Ethics Department, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, KenyaHealth Economics Research Unit, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, KenyaHealth Economics Research Unit, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, KenyaHealth Economics Research Unit, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, KenyaIntroduction The community-based health information system (CBHIS) is a vital component of the community health system, as it assesses community-level healthcare service delivery and generates data for community health programme planning, monitoring, and evaluation. CBHIS promotes data-driven decision-making, by identifying priority interventions and programs, guiding resource allocation, and contributing to evidence-based policy development. Objective This scoping review aims to comprehensively examine the use of CBHIS in African countries, focusing on data generation, pathways, utilisation of CBHIS data, community accessibility to the data and use of the data to empower communities. Methods We utilised Arksey and O'Malley's scoping review methodology. We searched eight databases: PubMed, EMBASE, HINARI, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar, and grey literature databases (Open Grey and OAIster). We synthesised findings using a thematic approach. Results Our review included 55 articles from 27 African countries, primarily in Eastern and Southern Africa, followed by West Africa. Most of the studies were either quantitative (42%) or qualitative (33%). Paper-based systems are primarily used for data collection in most countries, but some have adopted electronic/mobile-based systems or both. The data flow for CBHIS varies by country and the tools used for data collection. CBHIS data informs policies, resource allocation, staffing, community health dialogues, and commodity supplies for community health programmes. Community dialogue is the most common approach for community engagement, empowerment, and sharing of CBHIS data with communities. Community empowerment tends towards health promotion activities and health provider-led approaches. Conclusion CBHIS utilises both paper-based and electronic-based systems to collect and process data. Nevertheless, most countries rely on paper-based systems. Most of the CBHIS investments have focused on digitisation and enhancing data collection, process, and quality. However, there is a need to shift the emphasis towards enabling data utilisation at the community level and community empowerment.https://wellcomeopenresearch.org/articles/9-485/v3Community-based health information systems (CBHIS) Community health systems (CHS) Health systems Data utilisation data-driven decision-making Community accessibilityeng |
| spellingShingle | Michael Ogutu Jacinta Nzinga Benjamin Tsofa Beatrice Kuvuna Fatuma Guleid Moriasi Nyanchoka Community-Based Health Information Systems in Africa: A Scoping Review of Data Generation, Utilization, and Community Empowerment [version 3; peer review: 3 approved, 1 approved with reservations] Wellcome Open Research Community-based health information systems (CBHIS) Community health systems (CHS) Health systems Data utilisation data-driven decision-making Community accessibility eng |
| title | Community-Based Health Information Systems in Africa: A Scoping Review of Data Generation, Utilization, and Community Empowerment [version 3; peer review: 3 approved, 1 approved with reservations] |
| title_full | Community-Based Health Information Systems in Africa: A Scoping Review of Data Generation, Utilization, and Community Empowerment [version 3; peer review: 3 approved, 1 approved with reservations] |
| title_fullStr | Community-Based Health Information Systems in Africa: A Scoping Review of Data Generation, Utilization, and Community Empowerment [version 3; peer review: 3 approved, 1 approved with reservations] |
| title_full_unstemmed | Community-Based Health Information Systems in Africa: A Scoping Review of Data Generation, Utilization, and Community Empowerment [version 3; peer review: 3 approved, 1 approved with reservations] |
| title_short | Community-Based Health Information Systems in Africa: A Scoping Review of Data Generation, Utilization, and Community Empowerment [version 3; peer review: 3 approved, 1 approved with reservations] |
| title_sort | community based health information systems in africa a scoping review of data generation utilization and community empowerment version 3 peer review 3 approved 1 approved with reservations |
| topic | Community-based health information systems (CBHIS) Community health systems (CHS) Health systems Data utilisation data-driven decision-making Community accessibility eng |
| url | https://wellcomeopenresearch.org/articles/9-485/v3 |
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