Perceived Impact of Devolved Health Services on Implementation of DHIS2 in Kenya: A Qualitative Study

Kenya has been implementing the web-based District Health Information Software (DHIS2) for managing its routine health information since 2010. Preliminary results from this implementation suggested that the system had the potential to support the country in achieving credible, reliable and accessible health information. DHIS2 was introduced under a central governance structure. Subsequently a new constitution was enacted and the country devolved the provision of health services to its 47 counties in 2014. This study explores, through the use of semi-structured key informant interviews, the potential impact of this devolution on continued implementation and use of DHIS2 in the country. Data analysis was done using NVIVO computer assisted qualitative data analysis software. The key finding was that the facts that the web-based DHIS2 was easy to use and was already well established in the country would give it an edge over any other systems even in the face of devolution. There was however need to actively sensitize and capacity build the new county managers on use of DHIS2; in addition to enhancing the related human and infrastructural resources. A follow up study after several years of implementing DHIS2 under devolved health services would serve to ultimately confirm the negative or positive impact that devolution has had on DHIS2 implementation and scale up in the country.