Abstract:
Background: A well designed Health management information system is necessary for improving health service effectiveness and efficiency. It helps to produce quality information and conduct evidence based monitoring, adjusting policy implementation and resource use. However, evidences show that data quality is poor and is not utilized for program decisions in Ethiopia especially at lower levels of the health care and it remains as a major challenge. Objective: To assess the level of quality of data and associated factors in the routine health management information system among Health Centers of Hadiya Zone in 2018. Method: Facility based cross sectional study design was conducted using quantitative method. A total of 18 health centers and 302 health professionals were selected using simple random sampling procedure. Data was collected by health professionals who were experienced and had training on HMIS tasks after the tools were pretested. Data quality was assessed using accuracy completeness and timeliness dimensions. Seven indicators from national priority area were selected to assess data accuracy and monthly reports were used to assess completeness and timeliness. Statistical software SPSS version 20 for descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression was used for quantitative data analysis to identify candidate variable. Variables with p-value of less than 0.25 entered in to multi-variable analysis. Then p-value of less than 0.05 at 95% CI was taken as significant. Result; A total of 291 respondents were participated in the study with response rate of 96%. Accuracy, completeness and timeliness dimensions were 76 %, 83.3 and 88.4 respectively which was lower than the national target. Over reporting was observed in all facilities and on all indicators. About 52.2% respondents were trained on HMIS, 62.5% had supervisory visits as per standard and only 55.3% got written feedback. Only 11% of facilities assigned health information technicians. Level of confidence [AOR=1.75, 95% CI (1.29, 3.11)], data quality check, supervision AOR=1.71 95% CI (1.00, 2.95) and training [AOR=1.89 95% CI (1.03, 3.45)] were significantly associated with data quality. Conclusion: Data quality for the three dimensions was scored below 90% acceptable level of data tolerance. Over reporting of all indicators were observed in all facilities. It needs major improvement on supervision quality and training status to increase confidence of individuals to do HMIS activities.