Instigation of a District Child Oral Health Information System

The current Health Management I nformation System (HMIS)used in Uganda does not siutably capture information that can assist with prevention of common child oral diseases.

The aim of the study was to prompt a district based information system to assist with prevention of child oral diseases.

Objectives:

To identify the available information with regard to common child oral diseases.

To investigate the value of HMIS in relation to child oral diseases.

To evaluate the knowledge of oral health workers in the district on the role of indicators

To formulate a child oral health information system for the district.

Methods:

This was a qualitative study backed by participatory action research.

Records were reviewed and focus group discussions and in depth interviews were conducted which culminated in a workshop whose purpose was to develop child oral health indicators. Qualitative data obtained was analysed by use of inductive approach while quantitative data was analysed by summary statistics.

Results:

Information on common child oral health diseases in the district was very scanty.

The routine HMIS lacked information that could be used to calculate any indicators related to child oral health.

71% of the oral health workers evaluated could not identify other soures of indicators.

Six indicators based on routine activities carried out by oral health workers were arrived at.

Conclusion:

Ability to considerably prevent child oral diseases in the district requires use of information drawn from routine activities of oral health workers.

It was therefore found more appropriate to rely on indicators based on activities carried out by oral health workers in addition to HMIS.