Developing a provincial epidemiologic and demographic information system for health policy and planning in Kwazulu-Natal.
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Date
2000
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Abstract
Since 1994, a turning point in the history of South Africa (SA), significant changes were
made in the delivery of health services by the public sector, provincially and nationally. The
process of change involved making important decisions about health services provision, often
based on past experience but ideally requiring detailed information on health status and
health services. For an example, Primary Health Care (PHC) was made freely accessible to
all citizens of this country. Many studies on the impact of free PHC in the country have
shown increased utilization of these services.40 In the context of HIV/AIDS and its
complications and other emerging health conditions, reasons for this increased utilization
may not be that simple. I17, II8. Parallel with increased utilisatIon has been uncontrollable
escalation of costs in the Department of Health (DoH), often resulting in ad-hoc and
ineffective measures of cost-containment.40.
For these and many other reasons of critical importance to public health services
management, the issue of health information generally, and epidemiological inforn1ation in
particular, should be brought higher on the agenda of health management.
Public health services management is about planning, organization, leading, monitoring and
control of the same services.2 Any public health plan must have a scientific basis. In order to
achieve rational planning of public health services in the province, adequate, up to date,
accurate information must be available, as a planning tool. Health information is one of key
resources and an essential element in health services management. It is a powerful tool by
which to assess health needs, to measure health status of the population and most importantly,
to decide how resources should be deployed.5
Trends in the health status of the population are suggested by the White Paper for
transforn1ation of Health Services (White Paper), to be important indicators of the success of
the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP), the country's programme of
transformation. 37,39
It is within that context that the KwaZulu-Natal-Department of Health (KZN-DoH) resolved
to establish an Epidemiology/Demographic Unit for the province, to assist management to
achieve the department's objectives of providing equitable, effective, efficient and
comprehensive health services. 37,89
Purpose: To develop a provincial Epidemiological-Demographic Inforn1ation System (EDIS)
that will consistently inforn1 and support rational and realistic management decisions based
on accurate, timely, current and comprehensive infom1ation, moving the DoH towards
evidence based policy and planning.
Objectives:
To provide an ED IS framework to :
.develop provincial health policy
.assist management with health services planning and decision-making
.ensure central co-ordination of health information in order to support delivery of
services at all levels of the health system .
. monitor implementation and evaluation of health programmes
. ensure utilization of information at the point of collection, for local planning and interventlon.
Methods:
A rapid appraisal of the existing Health Information System (HIS) in the province was
conducted from the sub-departments of the DoH and randomly selected institutions.
A cross-sectional study involving retrospective review of records from selected hospitals,
clinics and other sources, was conducted. The study period was the period between January
1998 to December 1998.
Capacity at district and regional levels on managing health information and epidemiological
information in particular, was reviewed and established through training progranmles.
Results:
The rapid appraisal of existing HIS in the province revealed a relatively electronically well
resourced sub-department of Informatics within the KZN-DoH, with a potential to provide
quality and timely data. However, a lot of data was collected from both clinics and hospitals
but not analyzed nor utilized. Some critical data was captured and analyzed nationally. There
was lack of clarity between the Informatics Department staff responsible for collecting and
processing provincial data and top management with regards each other's needs.
Demographics:
The demographic composition and distribution profile of the KZN population showed
features of a third world country for Blacks with the White population displaying contrasting
first world characteristics.
Socio-Economic Profile:
The majority of the population was unemployed, poor, illiterate, economically inactive, and
earning very low income.
The water supply, housing and toilet facilities seemed adequate, but in the absence of data on
urban/rural distinction, this finding needs to be interpreted with caution
Epidemiology:
All basic indicators of socio-economic status (infant, child, neonatal mortality rates) were
high and this province had the second poorest of the same indicators in the country.
Adult and child morbidity and mortality profiles of the province, both at clinics and district
hospitals were mainly from preventable conditions.
Indicators on women and maternal health were consistent with the socio-economic status of
this province; and maternal mortality rate was high with causes of mortality that were mainly
preventable.
The issue of HIV / AIDS complications remains unquantifiable with the limited data available.
HIV is a serious epidemic in KZN and this province continues to lead all the provinces in the
country, a prevalence of 32 % in 1999.86
Health Services Provision:
Inmmnization coverage was almost 50% below the national target and drop out rate was very high.
Termlinations of Pregnancies (TOP) occurred mainly among adult, single women, and the
procedure done within the first trimester and requested for social and economic reasons.
Provincial clinics (mainly fixed) and hospitals provide family planning and Ante Natal Care
(ANC) services to the majority of pregnant women in the province.
Conclusion :
KZN is a poor province with an epidemiological profile of a country in transition but
predominantly preventable health conditions.
The province has a potential for producing high quality health information required for
management, planning and decision making.
It is recommended that management redirects resources towards improving PHC services.
Establishment of an Epidemiology Unit would facilitate the DoH's health services reforms,
through provision of comprehensive, accurate, timely and relevant health information .
Description
Thesis (M.Med.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2000.
Keywords
Demographic surveys., Epidemiology., Health planning--Kwazulu-Natal., Health surveys--Kwazulu-Natal., Theses--Public health medicine.