Review Article
Year: 2017 | Month: January | Volume: 7 | Issue: 1 | Pages: 282-290
Why Sub-Saharan Africa Lags in Electronic Health Record (EHR) Adoption and Possible Strategies to Increase EHR Adoption in This Region
Florence Femi Odekunle1, Raphael Oluseun Odekunle2, Shankar Srinivasan1
1Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, School of Health Professions, Department of Health Informatics, New Jersey, USA
2Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center, Department of Family Medicine, New York, USA
Corresponding Author: Florence Femi Odekunle
ABSTRACT
Background: Poor health information system has been identified as a major challenge in the healthcare system in many developing countries including sub-Saharan African countries. EHR has been shown as an important tool to improve access to patient information with attendance improved quality of care. However, EHR has not been widely implemented/adopted in sub-Saharan Africa.
Objectives: This study sought to identify factors that affect the adoption of an EHR in sub-Saharan Africa and strategies to improve its adoption in this region.
Materials and Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted on three electronic databases: PubMed, Medline, and Google Scholar. Articles of interest were those published in English with information on factors that limit the adoption of an EHR as well as strategies that improve its adoption in sub-Saharan Africa countries.
Results: The available evidence indicated that many factors hinder widespread adoption of an EHR in sub-Saharan Africa. These were high costs of procurement and maintenance of the EHR system, lack of financial incentives and priorities, poor electricity supply and internet connectivity, and primary user's limited computer skills. However, strategies such as implementation planning, financial supports, appropriate EHR system selection, training of primary users and the adoption of the phased implementation process have been identified to facilitate the use of an EHR.
Conclusion: Wide adoption of an EHR in sub-Saharan Africa region requires a lot more effort than what is assumed because of the current poor level of technological development, lack of required computer skills, and limited resources.
Key words: electronic medical records; electronic health record; EHR; EMR, sub-Saharan Africa; Adoption; Africa; Implementation; Barriers