Barriers of Utilizing an Electronic Health System in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

Objective:  Accessing data information of patients has been a challenge for years due to the use of paper recording, some essential data are either lost or mistakenly thrown away and cannot be retrieved. This is a major public health concern to ensure the effective provision of healthcare to patients. The purpose of the study focuses on the barriers to utilizing an electronic health system in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods: A systematic review was carried out with the aid of online research journal websites as well as other in-context articles. While conducting this study, the keywords in the search query were directed toward the barriers to the implementation of an electronic health system in Sub-Saharan Africa. Areas noted in relation to this study were the use of electronic health systems among health professionals. Therefore, there was a linkage of papers pointing out the barriers hindering the implementation of the e-health system. Results: According to Kemper and other researchers more than half (58.1%) of the physicians without an electronic medical system doubt that an electronic medical system can improve patient care or clinical outcomes. In Shachak’s research, where this issue was considered, 92% of physicians felt electronic medical system use did disturb communication with their patients. Conclusion: The findings of this study can be used as an overview of barriers that physicians might possibly see in the electronic medical system implementation process and, as such, could be valuable for electronic medical system policymakers and implementers. The study indicates that policymakers should be more aware of the reality that removing technical, financial, and legal barriers is not sufficient to ensure the realization of the promises of electronic medical system.