ABSTRACT
Background: The electronic community health information system (eCHIS) has been implemented in Ethiopia to support health services delivered by community health workers. Despite the many benefits of digitizing community health information systems, the implementation of the eCHIS is challenged by many barriers resulting in low uptake. This study assessed the barriers, facilitators, and motivators of eCHIS use among health workers with focus on health extension workers (HEWs) in Ethiopia. Methods: Phenomenological approach was used to assess the barriers, facilitators and motivators of eCHIS use in Amhara, Harari, Oromia, Sidama, South West Ethiopia and Southern Nation Nationalities and People's regions of Ethiopia. Data were collected from 15-29 May 2022. A total of 54 face-to-face in-depth interviews were conducted among HEWs, HEW supervisors, health information technicians and managers. The interviews were audiotaped using Open Data Kit, transcribed verbatim and translated into English. OpenCode 4.03 software was used for coding and categorizing the data. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. Results: The HEWs and other eCHIS users reported lack of infrastructure and resources; poor quality of training, follow-up, and supervision; parallel recording using the manual and electronic system; and HEWs' workload as barriers hindering eCHIS use. Data quality, retrievability, and traceability; tablet portability; encouragement from supervisors; and positive image in the community resulting from HEWs using tablets in their routine activities were the main facilitators of eCHIS use. Conclusion: The study identified various barriers that adversely affect the use of eCHIS. An integrated and coordinated approach to eCHIS implementation that encompasses removing the barriers, and reinforcing facilitators is required.
ABSTRACT
Background: Many health-related occupational hazards confront healthcare workers. Examining the prevalence of hazards enables to search for better risk management for healthcare workers because these workers are often the first point of interaction, particularly in resource-limited settings like Ethiopia. Therefore, this study assessed the prevalence of work-related occupational hazards and identified related factors among healthcare workers in public health facilities of Gambella town, Western Ethiopia. Methods: Institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 260 randomly selected healthcare workers from June 1-21, 2021. A semi structured tool was used to collect data and data analysis was performed using SPSS version 25. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify the predictors of outcome variable and the significance of associations was declared by using a 95% CI and a p-value of <0.05. Results: The prevalence of occupational health hazards among healthcare workers was 36.5% (95% CI: 31, 42). The absence of immediate treatments for injured health workers (AOR = 8.86, 95% CI: 2.5, 31.4), lack of personal protective equipment (AOR = 3.6, 95% CI: 1.5, 8.4), working greater than eight hours per day (AOR = 7.9, 95% CI: 3.1, 19.7), working in the night shifts (AOR = 8.1, 95% CI: 2.5, 26.1), and absence of effective leadership in the health facility (AOR = 5.2, 95% CI: 1.9, 14.5) were factors associated with the prevalence of occupational hazards. Conclusions: There was a relatively high degree of occupational health hazard exposure among health workers in the study area compared to kinds of literature from other settings. Health workers were exposed to a wide range of occupational hazards, and risk reduction mechanisms and safety actions were inadequately implemented. Therefore, the health workers' occupational health and safety needs should be prioritized and appropriate measures should be taken to mitigate the problems.
