The use of information and communication technology for health service delivery in Namibia

Abstract

Understanding the use of information and communication technology (ICT) in the Namibian's health sector is important in the global information society It is not clear how ICT is being deployed to support the delivery of health services to the Namibian patients. Health service providers (HSP) in both private and pUblic health sector must be aware of ICT use patterns because this may influence how they deliver services to their patients in the future. This study thus seeks to investigate how ICT have been used in the delivery of health services to patients in the Khomas and Oshana regions of Namibia. Based on the literature review and data collected from the HSP and patients, a 'generic' health service delivery landscape for Namibia was developed and regional landscapes for the Khomas and Oshana regions were further derived from it. The landscapes depicted health service provision to patients in the different health sectors in Namibia. After mapping the health landscapes primary data was collected from the health service providers (HSP) in private, mission and public health institutions using a questionnaire A second structured questionnaire was administered on the patients A total of 21 and 134 HSP patients respectively, responded to the survey questionnaire. Results from the descriptive analysis indicate a relatively high ICT use by both HSP and patients.