Women health extension workers: Capacities, opportunities and challenges to use eHealth to strengthen equitable health systems in Southern Ethiopia
| Autor: | Aschenaki Z. Kea, Hayley Teshome Tesfaye, Sally Theobald, Daniel G. Datiko, Jarso Mekonnen, John Dusabe-Richards |
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| Rok vydání: | 2016 |
| Předmět: |
Male
medicine.medical_specialty Telemedicine Capacity Building Population wa_395 wa_310 Health informatics d67ea616 03 medical and health sciences 0302 clinical medicine Environmental health eHealth Humans Medicine 030212 general & internal medicine education Qualitative Research Community Health Workers wa_30 Medical education education.field_of_study 030219 obstetrics & reproductive medicine business.industry Public health Public Health Environmental and Occupational Health General Medicine Focus Groups Focus group Community health Feasibility Studies Female wa_309 wf_200 Ethiopia Public Health Intervention Research business Delivery of Health Care Health department |
| Zdroj: | Canadian Journal of Public Health. 107:e355-e361 |
| ISSN: | 1920-7476 0008-4263 |
| Popis: | OBJECTIVES:\ud This study assesses the feasibility of female health extension workers (HEWs) using eHealth within their core duties, supporting both the design and capacity building for an eHealth system project focussed initially on tuberculosis, maternal child health, and gender equity.\ud PARTICIPANTS:\ud Health extension workers, Health Centre Heads, District Health Officers, Zonal Health Department and Regional Health Bureau representatives in Southern Ethiopia.\ud SETTING:\ud The study was undertaken in Southern Ethiopia with three districts in Sidama zone (population of 3.5 million) and one district in Gedeo zone (control zone with similar health service coverage and population density).\ud METHODS:\ud Mixed method baseline data collection was undertaken, using quantitative questionnaires (n = 57) and purposively sampled qualitative face-to-face semi-structured interviews (n = 10) and focus group discussions (n = 3).\ud RESULTS:\ud Themes were identified relating to HEW commitment and role, supervision, and performance management. The Health Management Information System (HMIS) was seen as important by all participants, but with challenges of information quality, accuracy, reliability and timeliness. Participants' perceptions varied by group regarding the purpose and benefits of HMIS as well as the potential of an eHealth system. Mobile phones were used regularly by all participants.\ud CONCLUSION:\ud eHealth technology presents a new opportunity for the Ethiopian health system to improve data quality and community health. Front-line female HEWs are a critical bridge between communities and health systems. Empowering HEWs, supporting them and responding to the challenges they face will be an important part of ensuring the sustainability and responsiveness of eHealth strategies. Findings have informed the subsequent eHealth technology design and implementation, capacity strengthening approach, supervision, and performance management approach. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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