Using local knowledge in information gathering process: Case study from Ethiopia

Health Information Systems are expected to play an important role for improvement of health service of the society, whereas very few systems in developing countries meet that demand. The study reveals the role of local knowledge of the community for improvement of Health Information Systems. Qualitative data collection scheme was followed. It was identified that community volunteers and lower level health workers are using their local knowledge to make data collection process effective and to implement standards at the ground. Health data collected manually at the community can be computerized at the upper level in the health care system, thus are the bases for quality of data until the national level. The lesson learned from this study is the significance of context specific knowledge for betterment of Health Information System and service provision, which in turn may contribute for fulfillment of the intended Millennium Development Goals.