Paucity of Health Data in Africa: An Obstacle to Digital Health Implementation and Evidence-Based Practice
Background: Among the numerous challenges that Africa faces in improving its healthcare systems, the paucity of health data stands out as paramount. This study aims to examine the challenges related to the paucity of health data in Africa and its impact on the implementation of digital health and ev...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Public Health Reviews |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.ssph-journal.org/articles/10.3389/phrs.2023.1605821/full |
| _version_ | 1827857097210986496 |
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| author | Sulaiman Muhammad Musa Usman Abubakar Haruna Usman Abubakar Haruna Emery Manirambona Gilbert Eshun Dalhatu Muhammad Ahmad David Adelekan Dada Ahmed Adamu Gololo Shuaibu Saidu Musa Abdulafeez Katibi Abdulkadir Don Eliseo Lucero-Prisno III |
| author_facet | Sulaiman Muhammad Musa Usman Abubakar Haruna Usman Abubakar Haruna Emery Manirambona Gilbert Eshun Dalhatu Muhammad Ahmad David Adelekan Dada Ahmed Adamu Gololo Shuaibu Saidu Musa Abdulafeez Katibi Abdulkadir Don Eliseo Lucero-Prisno III |
| author_sort | Sulaiman Muhammad Musa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Among the numerous challenges that Africa faces in improving its healthcare systems, the paucity of health data stands out as paramount. This study aims to examine the challenges related to the paucity of health data in Africa and its impact on the implementation of digital health and evidence-based practice. The findings of the study reveal that health data availability in Africa is both limited and frequently of poor quality. Several factors contribute to this concerning situation, encompassing inadequate infrastructure, a shortage of resources, and cultural barriers. Furthermore, the available data, despite its limitations, is often underutilized due to a lack of capacity and expertise in data analysis and interpretation.Policy Options and Recommendations: To improve healthcare delivery in Africa, we recommend implementing novel strategies for data collection. It’s important to recognize that effective information technology service is crucial for enhancing healthcare delivery, and a holistic approach is necessary to achieve this.Conclusion: This brief presents information to help policymakers develop long-term solutions to Africa’s health data poverty. Taking action based on this evidence can assist in addressing the problem. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T12:36:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-931ca34d3de041de99b911677021bd3c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2107-6952 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T12:36:25Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Public Health Reviews |
| spelling | doaj.art-931ca34d3de041de99b911677021bd3c2023-08-29T04:11:29ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Public Health Reviews2107-69522023-08-014410.3389/phrs.2023.16058211605821Paucity of Health Data in Africa: An Obstacle to Digital Health Implementation and Evidence-Based PracticeSulaiman Muhammad Musa0Usman Abubakar Haruna1Usman Abubakar Haruna2Emery Manirambona3Gilbert Eshun4Dalhatu Muhammad Ahmad5David Adelekan Dada6Ahmed Adamu Gololo7Shuaibu Saidu Musa8Abdulafeez Katibi Abdulkadir9Don Eliseo Lucero-Prisno III10Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, NigeriaFaculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, NigeriaSchool of Medicine, Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan, KazakhstanCollege of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Kigali, RwandaSeventh-Day Adventist Hospital, Agona-Asamang, GhanaFaculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, NigeriaFaculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kaduna State University, Kaduna, NigeriaFaculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, ThailandDepartment of Nursing Science, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, NigeriaSchool of Medicine, Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan, KazakhstanDepartment of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, University of London, London, United KingdomBackground: Among the numerous challenges that Africa faces in improving its healthcare systems, the paucity of health data stands out as paramount. This study aims to examine the challenges related to the paucity of health data in Africa and its impact on the implementation of digital health and evidence-based practice. The findings of the study reveal that health data availability in Africa is both limited and frequently of poor quality. Several factors contribute to this concerning situation, encompassing inadequate infrastructure, a shortage of resources, and cultural barriers. Furthermore, the available data, despite its limitations, is often underutilized due to a lack of capacity and expertise in data analysis and interpretation.Policy Options and Recommendations: To improve healthcare delivery in Africa, we recommend implementing novel strategies for data collection. It’s important to recognize that effective information technology service is crucial for enhancing healthcare delivery, and a holistic approach is necessary to achieve this.Conclusion: This brief presents information to help policymakers develop long-term solutions to Africa’s health data poverty. Taking action based on this evidence can assist in addressing the problem.https://www.ssph-journal.org/articles/10.3389/phrs.2023.1605821/fullhealth datadigital healthevidence-based practicehealth policyAfrica |
| spellingShingle | Sulaiman Muhammad Musa Usman Abubakar Haruna Usman Abubakar Haruna Emery Manirambona Gilbert Eshun Dalhatu Muhammad Ahmad David Adelekan Dada Ahmed Adamu Gololo Shuaibu Saidu Musa Abdulafeez Katibi Abdulkadir Don Eliseo Lucero-Prisno III Paucity of Health Data in Africa: An Obstacle to Digital Health Implementation and Evidence-Based Practice Public Health Reviews health data digital health evidence-based practice health policy Africa |
| title | Paucity of Health Data in Africa: An Obstacle to Digital Health Implementation and Evidence-Based Practice |
| title_full | Paucity of Health Data in Africa: An Obstacle to Digital Health Implementation and Evidence-Based Practice |
| title_fullStr | Paucity of Health Data in Africa: An Obstacle to Digital Health Implementation and Evidence-Based Practice |
| title_full_unstemmed | Paucity of Health Data in Africa: An Obstacle to Digital Health Implementation and Evidence-Based Practice |
| title_short | Paucity of Health Data in Africa: An Obstacle to Digital Health Implementation and Evidence-Based Practice |
| title_sort | paucity of health data in africa an obstacle to digital health implementation and evidence based practice |
| topic | health data digital health evidence-based practice health policy Africa |
| url | https://www.ssph-journal.org/articles/10.3389/phrs.2023.1605821/full |
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