Health Information Systems and Decision-Making in Developing Countries: A Case Study of the Malaria Program in Liberia

This study centered its research on Health Management Information Systems (HMIS) and decision-making using data from less developed countries in Africa, investigating data demand and use; with the aim of employing a mixed method approach to foster an understanding of the development and operation of the health information system, its management, and its function in decision-making.
The study engaged the staff and data officers using the Health Management Information system (HMIS) and the District Health Information Systems (DHIS2) on a day-to-day routine data collection process as its participants including other Liberia Ministry of Health (MOH) top officers and hierarchy, the malaria program intervention has used the HMIS and DHIS2 as the only consistent routine reporting platform and due to its functionality the malaria disease data is used for this study.
This study aims to develop an understanding in evolution and functionality of HMIS using a mix method approach (qualitative and quantitative), and its role confronting decision-making related to health planning, especially malaria prevention and control in Liberia. With focus on two key objectives to be achieved, 1) To investigate the difficulties impacting the health management information system in order to produce reliable and high-quality data. And 2) to explore the challenges hindering the systemic decision-making and planning using quality data as related to disease prevention and control in Liberia.
The findings showed that the District Health Information Systems (DHIS2) database has existed for fourteen years and has enabled a unified reporting system for Liberia, this has come as a country’s massive achievement but data use and focused capacity building for quality data collection has some challenges.
In conclusion, the study shows it is paramount that sustainable health systems are dependent on effective and strengthened health information systems which are critical to creating a resilient health intervention system and providing a body of knowledge on why HMIS systems and decision-making through data evidence might remain weak. Major obstacles were examined, and recommendations were made on how these gaps can be addressed in Liberia to improve health systems and reduce mortality rates through evidence-based interventions.