title: Health information technology in primary health care in developing countries: a literature review.
abstract: This paper explores the debate and initiatives concerning the use of information technology (IT) in primary health care in developing countries. The literature from 1992-2002 was identified from searches of the MEDLINE, Latin American and Caribbean Health Science Literature Database (LILACS), Cochrane Library and Web of Science databases. The search identified 884 references, 350 of which were classified according to the scheme described by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). For the analysis of advantages, problems and perspectives of IT applications and systems, 52 articles were selected according to their potential contribution to the primary health-care processes in non-developed countries. These included: 10 on electronic patient registries (EPR), 22 on process and programmatic action evaluation and management systems (PPAEM) and 20 on clinical decision-support systems (CDS). The main advantages, limitations and perspectives are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas 96030-002, Brazil. etomasi@epidemio-ufpel.org.br
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tomasi
authors.forename: Luiz Augusto
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Facchini
authors.forename: Maria de Fatima Santos
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Maia
mesh_terms: D020000:Decision Support Systems, Clinical; D003906:Developing Countries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D006285:Health Planning; D006801:Humans; D008490:Medical Informatics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017216:Telemedicine