Background Health Information System is the key to making evidence-based decisions. Ethiopia has been implementing the Health Management Information System (HMIS) since 2008 to collect routine health data and revised it in 2017. However, the evidence is meager on the use of routine health information for decision making among department heads in the health facilities. The study aimed to assess the proportion of routine health information systems utilization for evidence-based decisions and factors associated with it. Method A cross-sectional study was carried out among 386 department heads from 83 health facilities in ten selected districts in the Amhara region Northwest of Ethiopia from April to May 2019. The single population proportion formula was applied to estimate the sample size taking into account the proportion of data use 0.69, margin of error 0.05, and the critical value 1.96 at the 95% CI. The final sample size was estimated at 394 by considering 1.5 as a design effect and 5% non-response. The study participants were selected using a simple random sampling technique. Descriptive statistics mean and percentage were calculated. The study employed a generalized linear mixed-effect model. Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) and the 95% CI were calculated. Variables with p value < 0.05 were considered as predictors of routine health information system use. Result Proportion of information use among department heads for decision making was estimated at 46%. Displaying demographic (AOR = 12.42, 95% CI [5.52, 27.98]) and performance (AOR = 1.68; 95% CI [1.33, 2.11]) data for monitoring, and providing feedback to HMIS unit (AOR = 2.29; 95% CI [1.05, 5.00]) were individual (level-1) predictors. Maintaining performance monitoring team minute (AOR = 3.53; 95% CI [1.61, 7.75]), receiving senior management directives (AOR = 3.56; 95% CI [1.76, 7.19]), supervision (AOR = 2.84; 95% CI [1.33, 6.07]), using HMIS data for target setting (AOR = 3.43; 95% CI [1.66, 7.09]), and work location (AOR = 0.16; 95% CI [0.07, 0.39]) were organizational (level-2) explanatory variables. Conclusion The proportion of routine health information utilization for decision making was low. Displaying demographic and performance data, providing feedback to HMIS unit, maintaining performance monitoring team minute, conducting supervision, using HMIS data for target setting, and work location were factors associated with the use of routine health information for decision making. Therefore, strengthening the capacity of department heads on data displaying, supervision, feedback mechanisms, and engagement of senior management are highly recommended.

Background Weak health information systems (HISs) hobble countries’ abilities to effectively manage and distribute their resources to match the burden of disease. The Capacity Building and Mentorship Program (CBMP) was implemented in select districts of the Amhara region of Ethiopia to improve HIS performance; however, evidence about the effectiveness of the intervention was meager. Objective This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of routine health information use for evidence-based decision-making among health facility and department heads in the Amhara region, Northwest Ethiopia. Methods The study was conducted in 10 districts of the Amhara region: five were in the intervention group and five were in the comparison group. We employed a quasi-experimental study design in the form of a pretest-posttest comparison group. Data were collected from June to July 2020 from the heads of departments and facilities in 36 intervention and 43 comparison facilities. The sample size was calculated using the double population formula, and we recruited 172 participants from each group. We applied a difference-in-differences analysis approach to determine the effectiveness of the intervention. Heterogeneity of program effect among subgroups was assessed using a triple differences method (ie, difference-in-difference-in-differences [DIDID] method). Thus, the β coefficients, 95% CIs, and P values were calculated for each parameter, and we determined that the program was effective if the interaction term was significant at P<.05. Results Data were collected using the endpoint survey from 155 out of 172 (90.1%) participants in the intervention group and 166 out of 172 (96.5%) participants in the comparison group. The average level of information use for the comparison group was 37.3% (95% CI 31.1%-43.6%) at baseline and 43.7% (95% CI 37.9%-49.5%) at study endpoint. The average level of information use for the intervention group was 52.2% (95% CI 46.2%-58.3%) at baseline and 75.8% (95% CI 71.6%-80.0%) at study endpoint. The study indicated that the net program change over time was 17% (95% CI 5%-28%; P=.003). The subgroup analysis also indicated that location showed significant program effect heterogeneity, with a DIDID estimate equal to 0.16 (95% CI 0.026-0.29; P=.02). However, sex, age, educational level, salary, and experience did not show significant heterogeneity in program effect, with DIDID estimates of 0.046 (95% CI –0.089 to 0.182), –0.002 (95% CI –0.015 to 0.009), –0.055 (95% CI –0.190 to 0.079), –1.63 (95% CI –5.22 to 1.95), and –0.006 (95% CI –0.017 to 0.005), respectively. Conclusions The CBMP was effective at enhancing the capacity of study participants in using the routine HIS for decision-making. We noted that urban facilities had benefited more than their counterparts. The intervention has been shown to produce positive outcomes and should be scaled up to be used in other districts. Moreover, the mentorship modalities for rural facilities should be redesigned to maximize the benefits. Trial Registration Pan African Clinical Trials Registry PACTR202001559723931; https://tinyurl.com/3j7e5ka5

Background Evidence-based decision-making is a foundation of health information systems; however, routine health information is not mostly utilized by decision makers in the Amhara region. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the facility and department heads' perceptions towards the demand for and use of routine health information for decision making. Methods A phenomenological qualitative study was done in eight districts of the Amhara region from June 10/2019 to July 30/2019. We obtained written informed consent and recruited 22 key informants purposively. The research team prepared a codebook, assigned codes to ideas, identified salient patterns, grouped similar ideas, and developed themes from the data. Thus, data were analyzed thematically using OpenCode software. Results The study revealed that health workers collected many data, but little was demanded and utilized to inform decisions. The majority of respondents perceived that data were collected merely for reporting. Lack of skills in data management, analysis, interpretation, and use were the technical attributes. Individual attributes included low staff motivation, carelessness, and lack of value for data. Poor access to data, low support for Health Information System, limited space for archiving, and inadequate finance were related to organizational attributes. The contextual (social-political) factors also influenced the use of eHealth applications for improved data demand and use among health care providers. Conclusion In this study, health workers collect routine health data merely for reporting, and they did not demand and use it mostly to inform decisions and solve problems. Technical, individual, organizational, and contextual attributes were contributors to low demand and use of routine health data. Thus, we recommend building the technical capacity of health workers, introducing motivation mechanisms and ensuring accountability systems for better data use.