Table 3 Comparison of health workers' interviews on the manual versus computerized HMIS

   Record keeping: (Number of registers, time taken and problem)

• Registers: 7 - 15

• Average time: around 2 hrs (0.5 - 3 hrs.)

• No major problem identified

• Registers: 7 - 10

• 1 hour (0.5-1.5 hrs)

• No major problems

   Estimation of target population e.g. the eligible children for vaccination, or number of antenatal cases

   • Procedure for estimation not known as targets are provided from District level.

   • Estimation is done from information available in HMIS

Calculation of estimation of

Immunization coverage and backlogs

• Based on monthly report and immunization register.

• Backlogs are identified with the help of ASHA1, AWW2

• Based on monthly report, and immunization register

• Backlog by Work plan (eligible list) and HMIS.

   Reported completeness of Birth/Death Registration

   • About 95% (90 - 100%) verified during field visits.

   • All (100%) verified during field visits and during census.

   Updating of records after Annual Census

• First, overwrite in the old register. After that they update in new register.

• Takes about 2 months (1 - 3 month)

• Make changes in the paper print out of families and update the computerized database.

• Takes about 3 days (2-4 days) for each subcentre.

   Preparation of monthly report (Process and time)

• Compile data from various registers

• Takes about 3 days (2 to 5 days)

• Compile from workplan and computer generated information

• Takes about 6 hours (2 hours to 1 day)

Feedback from higher levels

(CHC/District hospital/Ballabgarh) on the monthly reports

   • No feedback from Community Health Centre/District Hospital. They discuss the issues during monthly meeting.

• They get monthly feedback and discuss the issues during PHC monthly meeting.

• They also get work plan for next month from Ballabgarh

Perceived benefits of

computerization of records

   • Not Applicable

• Work plan makes the work very easy. They know what to do during house visits. It reduces time spent per house.

• Senior officers can monitor the field performance of health workers objectively.