Service delivery strategies and health information systems
Impact on malaria elimination in Ethiopia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.20372/ejphn.V7i2.244Keywords:
Malaria elimination, health information systems, health service delivery, Public Health Emergency ManagementAbstract
Background: Ethiopia's progress toward malaria elimination requires a comprehensive, evidence-based approach, assessing the health system’s readiness to support these efforts. This study aims to evaluate the capabilities of the Ethiopian health system, particularly focusing on service delivery strategies and health information data utilization for malaria elimination.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from June to August 2017, targeting health offices at the federal, regional, zonal, and district levels, as well as health facilities across 239 malaria elimination-planned districts. Data were collected using a smartphone-based questionnaire, informed by the World Health Organization’s frameworks for supply chain management, health information systems, and service delivery. Ethical approval was granted by the Scientific and Ethical Review Office-Institutional Review Board of the Ethiopian Public Health Institute.
Results: Challenges identified at all government levels included deficiencies in the Public Health Emergency Management (PHEM) system, such as poor phone network coverage, lack of standardized reporting formats, delayed and incomplete report submissions, and absence of an electronic database. Malaria control efforts were further hindered by inadequate funding, limited technical capacity, shortages of malaria-related supplies and medications, barriers to inter-sectoral collaboration, difficulties in reaching remote populations, low community engagement, and poor treatment-seeking behaviors.
Conclusions: The findings underscore the need for substantial improvements in PHEM reporting formats, phone communication systems, timeliness of report submissions, the adoption of electronic databases, and the accuracy of data reporting. Addressing barriers such as insufficient funding, technical limitations, inadequate supplies, limited cross-sectoral cooperation, and poor community involvement is crucial for successfully achieving malaria elimination in Ethiopia.
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