Table of Contents
After reading this chapter you will be able to understand:
What is DHIS2 and what purpose it serves with respect to HMIS
What is the difference between patient based and aggregate data.
What are the different modules in DHIS 2.
What is Free and Open Source Software (FOSS), platform (in)dependency, and its implications for HMIS.
What is FOSS, platform (in)dependency, and their implications for HMIS.
Computer based HMIS allows for a transition from a data (and paper) based HMIS to and action led HMIS. Particular strengths of a computer based HMIS enumerated below:
Promotes streamlining and standardization of data records.
Allows creation of an integrated warehouse, which supports combining data from different sources and conducting cross analysis.
Facilitates Rationalization of reporting flows
Supports customized reporting.
Makes possible various kinds of indicator based analysis
Allows integration of various software applications such as GIS and Excel.
Provides functionality to conduct data quality validation.
Allows immediate on-line transmission of data / reports as and when required by the user
The District Health Information Software – Version 2 (DHIS 2) is Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) HMIS designed and developed under a global research and development initiative (called Health Information Systems Project – HISP) originating from the Department of Informatics, University of Oslo, Norway. The first version of DHIS application (DHIS 1.3/1.4) was developed and subsequently upgraded on an ongoing base continuously upgraded in South Africa by HISP South Africa since 1997. This version was developed on Microsoft Office platform, and distributed free. This application is currently the national standard in South Africa and being used in all the health facilities in the country. Further, this application is being used in many countries in Africa such as Ethiopia, Nigeria, Botswana, Tanzania, Zambia, and, various other countries.
In 2005, based on the various comments and feedback from the field level use, the University of Oslo initiated the process of developing Version 2 of DHIS, which used DHIS 1.4 as the basis for the functional requirements. Using a modular structure DHIS 2 was developed based on data warehousing principles. DHIS 2 is built on Java based frameworks. It is platform independent, can run on both on-line and offline modes, is multi language enabled and integrated with various other applications such as Geographic Information Systems and Excel.
The WHO and HMN (Health Metrics Network) are currently using DHIS 2 for implementing an integrated solution in the first HMN country – Sierra Leone. While DHIS 2 will be used for the aggregated statistics component of the HMIS, it will be integrated with a free software application called Open MRS for patient based management, and the WHO created Open Health for GIS and Web pivot tables.
In this training manual, we will take the DHIS 2 as the basis to illustrate the various functionalities that a computer based HMIS should provide.