Despite enormous success in scaling up digital information systems for data collection and reporting globally, we have little knowledge as to how this contributes to the decision making process.
The potential to improve health service availability, quality, and efficiency rests on the transformation of data into information, and information into decisions about policies, strategies, and resource allocation. Information systems supporting this are an important building block like health staff, facilities, and medicines. The lack of knowledge as to how such information systems actually supports health service delivery is a major obstacle for designing good information systems as well as appropriate technology.
Tanzania has made good progress on strengthening the national health management information system using the open source platform DHIS2. The routine (typically monthly) collection of service and resource data from all health facilities in the country offer a solid base from which to build knowledge and make decisions. In collaboration with a partner of the research group, HISP Tanzania, a thesis exploring this topic will focus on examining information use practices at local levels in Tanzania. A focus will be the interplay of the DHIS2 platform, the information system, and practices of decision making at local levels, such as health districts and health facilities.
This thesis will seek to explore practices of decision making, monitoring and evaluation in Dodoma and Bahi districts, and how DHIS2 and other technologies are supporting or not such practices. The specific focus for the thesis will be aligned with current strategic initiatives in Dodoma and Bahi. It is expected that the thesis suggests improvements both locally and to the global HISP network. Over 70 countries worldwide use the DHIS2 platform for similar purposes.
Who is this topic for?
This topic is suitable for those interested in global health and health administration. Field work of at least one month in Tanzania is mandatory, and will give a unique experience on themes with relevance globally. Costs associated with travel and accommodation in Tanzania will be covered.
Qualitative research methods (case study, with interviews, observations, etc) will be suitable. Technically oriented students may also engage in prototyping or configuration work to explore new features around the DHIS2 platform, in close collaboration with users and HISP Tanzania.