A web-based healthcare information system to enhance healthcare delivery in Kibera slums, Nairobi

Abstract

Provision of healthcare information services has remained the biggest challenge to realization of universal healthcare in Kenya. The challenges associated with delivery of quality healthcare services to the consumers have been further compounded by the escalating costs of health services and acute shortages of qualified professionals in Kenya. As a result, many parts of the country continue to lack quality healthcare. Until the advent of computer systems people accessed health informationusing traditional media like word of mouth, radio, print media and TV. The introduction of computer systems in delivery of health services could have several advantages to the clients, e.g. improved quality, accessibility and affordability of healthcare services delivered to majority of the consumers. The focus of this study was to determine the information needs of Kibera Slums residents for purpose of designing, developing and deploying a web-based health care information system. This integrated system is referred to as Kibera Health Net. The objectives of the study were: to determine challenges facing access to and delivery of healthrelated information to residents of Kibera Slums, explore the appropriateness of an ICT solution to these challenges, examine current level of ICT capacity among Kibera Slums residents, and assess healthcare information needs of Kibera Slums residents for use in system requirements analysis, design and development. The literature review covered primary, secondary and tertiary material on the use of ICT-based solutions and mobile phones in delivery of healthcare. The sample for the study comprised a total of 384 respondents drawn from Kibera Slums. They were selected using both cluster sampling and random sampling techniques. Data was collected using the interview schedule method. The findings show that information needs of residents relate to the health problems in the slums. The study established that word of mouth was predominantly used in delivery of health-related information, followed by radio, print media, television, the Internet and mobile phones. However, a growing trend in computer and mobile phone usages by the youth was observed, which also suggested increasing levels of computer and mobile phone adoption among residents. Study concluded that residentsindicated preference for use of the Internet and mobile technology in the delivery of healthcare. Finally, suggestion for further research in the application of ICT-based solutions in delivery of healthcare services was made.