The health information system in the City of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe: how good is it?
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the operations and attributes of the outpatient diseases (OPD) surveillance system in the City of Bulawayo.


METHODS
Cross sectional and descriptive study. The system's attributes were evaluated using Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) evaluation guidelines. We also held focus group discussions with health personnel regarding the use of collected data.


METHODS
6 of 17 health care clinics in Bulawayo, the second largest city in Zimbabwe.


METHODS
34 health personnel were interviewed.


METHODS
Knowledge of the system's operations, and attributes of the system.


RESULTS
Data providers interviewed and all those who participated in Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) had good knowledge of the system's operations. The system is complex. It reports on 94 health events, of which only six (6%) have standard case definitions. All 17 clinics participated in this surveillance. However, of 54 returns studied, 67% were incomplete, and 69% were sent in after the deadline. The system has no plans on how data should be analyzed, used and disseminated.


CONCLUSIONS
The CODROPA system is potentially useful in detecting trends of diseases. However, the long delay between data collection and data analysis does not allow for early detection of epidemics and clusters of diseases may be missed. A simpler and less time consuming surveillance system should be started to improve the system's attributes particularly, timeliness of reporting and acceptability of the system to those who have or need to participate.
Tshimanga
M
M
Health Studies Office, Ministry of Health and Child Welfare, Harare, Zimbabwe.
Peterson
D E
DE
Dlodlo
R A
RA
D000553:Ambulatory Care; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007256:Information Systems / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D014504:Urban Health; D016526:Workload; D015030:Zimbabwe