title: Knowledge on collection and analysis of health information of state certified nurses from rural health centres, Masvingo Province.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the knowledge on collection and analysis of health information of State Certified Nurses (SCNs) from Rural Health Centres (RHCs), Masvingo Province.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three methods were employed during the assessment: a questionnaire, observation, and practical exercises (calculations).
  
  
  METHODS
  19 RHCs in Chiredzi and Bikita Districts, Masvingo Province.
  
  
  METHODS
  19 SCNs in charge of Rural Health Centres.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ability to analyze and utilize health information, availability of graphs, master cards summaries (health diaries) and minutes. Presence or absence of catchment maps, charts on population breakdown and immunization coverage charts. Ability to calculate some rates and percentages.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 19 SCNs in charge who said they do school health programmes, only six had any evidence that they do so; of nine SCNs in charge who reported that they have graphs on weekly reported diseases, only four had graphs displayed. Of 18 SCNs in charge who said they had immunization coverage targets only 11 had charts displayed; of 18 SCNs in charge who reported that they discuss health problems in their areas, only one had minutes documenting the discussion. Only six of 19 SCNs at rural centres could calculate coverage rates and only one of 19 SCNs at health centres could calculate dropout rates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Comparing the questionnaire responses with the findings from observations, it can be seen that more is reported than is actually done. From the practical exercises it was evident that the ability to do basic calculations was often lacking.
authors.affiliation: Zimbabwe Republic Police Medical Services, Police General Headquarters, Causeway, Zimbabwe.
authors.forename: W S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Mudzamiri
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Peterson
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Herminez
mesh_terms: D003625:Data Collection; D004521:Educational Measurement; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000193:education*; D019035:Rural Health Services; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015030:Zimbabwe