Published in PLOS One on 2026-09-21, this study is presented as an attributed evidence briefing. The excerpts below are the original researchers’ words, reproduced under their Creative Commons Attribution licence. HealthSignal has selected the abstract and, where needed, opening background paragraphs; the complete methods, results, limitations and references remain in the linked paper.
Original authors: Samson Tashome Abashu, Tilahun Fufa Debela, Muluembet Abera Wordofa, Berhane Megerssa Ereso, Worku Asferie
Source: PLOS One • DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0357022
Read the complete primary study ↗ · Creative Commons Attribution licence
From the researchers
Abstract
Poor data quality is a critical challenge to meet the global and national health goals since performance of the health system cannot be adequately monitored. Despite significant investments, HIV/AIDS program data quality remains challenging in developing countries including Ethiopia to make informed decision. The aim of this study was to evaluate health management information system data quality and information use for HIV/AIDS program in Jimma town public health facilities, South West Ethiopia, 2022.
Facility-based cross-sectional evaluation with mixed methods was employed from June 22 to July 06/2022 at five public health facilities providing Anti-Retroviral Therapy in Jimma town. A total of 234 randomly selected HIV-positive patients’ medical records were reviewed, and a mobile-based data collection method was employed. Finally, resource availability, data quality and information use were analyzed separately and judged depending on judgment parameter.
The overall resource availability, data quality and information use were 75.1%, 77.2% and 70.4% respectively. None of the providers working on Voluntary Counselling and Testing service were trained on data quality. There was a lack of SmartCare, internet and printers in some health facilities. Report timeliness, data completeness and data consistency were 46.7%, 91.1% and 84.2% respectively. Performance monitoring team meetings were not held on a monthly basis and some facilities didn’t use the standard performance monitoring team logbook.
The overall level of resource availability, data quality and information use were judged as good for each. However, report timeliness, data consistency and information uses were below the recommended national standards. Data quality related training should be provided for health care provides. SmartCare, internet, printers and guidelines should be supplied for the health facilities.
1. Introduction
Health Management Information System (HMIS) is the routine collection, aggregation, analysis, presentation and utilization of health and health related data for evidence based decisions for health workers, managers, policy makers and others [1,2]. Restructuring of health information systems has been a significant trend globally since the declaration of primary health care as an essential health care strategy at the Alma-Ata conference in 1978. As part of health system reform, developing countries also launched reforms to improve and expand health information systems [3]. However, studies in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) have revealed challenges with HMIS data quality, in terms of timeliness, completeness, consistency and poor utilization of HMIS tools [2,4,5].
Data quality is the degree to which a given dataset meets a user’s requirements and data are fit for their intended uses in operations, decision-making and planning. It is a prerequisite for ensuring HMIS information use [6]. On contrast, poor data quality is critical challenges to reaching the global and national health goals because the health system performance cannot be adequately monitored where data are of poor quality. Consequence of poor data quality includes everything from treatment quality to policy-level decision making. It leads to patient frustration and mistreatment, employee distrust of critical technology, decrease in efficiency and increase in bottlenecks, and poor and ineffective policy decisions [2,14].
Reading this evidence
Use the full paper to check the study design, participant selection, comparator and outcome definitions before drawing a practical conclusion. An association does not by itself show cause and effect. A reported performance measure needs its denominator and uncertainty. A finding from a particular facility, sample or time period should retain that scope when it is discussed elsewhere.
This briefing makes the source accessible within the wider research & evidence desk. It does not assess an individual patient or certify a product. When considering relevance to another health system, examine the original authors’ account of context and limitations, then seek local implementation evidence. The related reporting below provides other studies to read alongside this one; it is a topic connection, rather than a claim that their results are directly comparable.
© 2026 Samson Tashome Abashu, Tilahun Fufa Debela, Muluembet Abera Wordofa, Berhane Megerssa Ereso, Worku Asferie. Excerpts reproduced under CC BY. Selection, formatting and contextual notes by HealthSignal. The researchers are the authors of the source study, not members of HealthSignal’s staff.
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- Evidence brief: Perceptions and experiences of women and providers on barriers and facilitators of quality emergency obstetric and newborn care services in public hospitals of West Shoa Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia: A phenomenological qualitative study
