Challenges of Paper-Based Reporting and Willingness of Primary Health Care Workers to the Use of Electronic Immunisation Registry in Kaduna State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study assessed challenges of paper based reporting and willingness of Primary Health Care workers to use Electronic Immunisation Registry (EIR) in Kaduna State, Nigeria. Qualitative approach of In-Depth-Interview (IDI) was employed to obtain information from 50 Officers-In-Charge of PHCs on (i) Time and effort required in reporting paper-based RI data (time spent in completion of RI reporting tools, travel time to LGAs monthly for submission of RI data/report, and waiting time in LGA). (ii) Cost of reporting (stationery cost and transportation cost) and (iii) Security and Storage issues (iv) willingness to be trained and use of EIR for RI data reporting.  This study shows that PHCs spend a mean time of 67.7 minutes for the completion of RI data reporting tools, 104.7 minutes for travel to LGA headquaters for monthly submission of reports and 36.5 minutes as waiting time at LGA headquaters. They also spend a mean amount of ₦1,500.50K on stationery and ₦1,340.50K on transportation to the LGA headquaters monthly. In addition, paper-based RI data lacks adequate security and storage. Moreover, PHC workers expressed their willingness to be trained on the use of EIR.  In view of the challenges of paper-based reporting systems and willingness of PHC workers to use EIRs as shown in the study, there is a need for the implementation of EIR for efficient RI data reporting.

Keywords: Paper-based reporting, Routine Immunisation data, PHC workers, willingness to use EIR, Kaduna State.

DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/11-12-01

Publication date:June 30^th 2021