BACKGROUND: In Tanzania the problem of weak health information system is highly
recognized and Tanzania had undergone several efforts to improve Health Information
System (HIS) and Health Management Information System (HMIS). In 2009 the
MOHSW initiated Monitoring and Evaluation Strengthening Initiatives (MESI) to the
strengthen HMIS interventions in the country with focus the use of electronic
information systems like DHIS2 to facilitate data collection, analysis, interpretation and
use in the health sector. Therefore this study assessed the use of HMIS data and its
impact on health services deliveries in Ilala Municipal.
METHOD: In this study, A Cross-sectional descriptive case study was used to assess
the use of HMIS data in Ilala Municipal. An in-depth interview was carried out between
March and May 2015 to 14 health managers from different levels of health facility
government and private facilities as well as district level.Using Atlas ti, transcripts were
loaded, coded and content analysis was made
RESULTS: The findings from the study showed an increased use of HMIS data in the
Municipal. For example all Health Managers asserted that there is an increase of data
use for planning, decision making, budgeting, and allocation of resources monitoring,
and little for policy making. Despite the increase use of HMIS data; it was also found
out that using data for strategic plan tend to be low in the Municipal with exception of
district level, hospitals and few private health centres. Data for policy making in
government facility is the responsibility of the relevant ministry where as in private
sector, used data for internal policy development too. The use of computers systems,
training and harmonization of indicators facilitated the increased use of HMIS data in
the district. However lack of capacity to analyse, interpret and use data for both data
produces and users was seen the main challenge in data utilization for decision making
CONCLUSION: The study found increased data utilization among health managers in
the district and that health service has improved as a result of evidence based decision
making and as well actions taken to improve the health services. Therefore suggest that;
inculcating the information use culture; through capacity building among health workers
is vital for substantial use of HMIS data in the health sector.