Information Use in the Rwanda HMIS: an Information Infrastructure Analysis

Abstract

Rwanda has made significant progress in digitizing and strengthening its health information system and uses DHIS2 as its Health Management Information System (HMIS). This HMIS through DHIS2, consists of several applications and technology that assist with information support for users in their decision-making process. How these users use various tools for information support is still an area that needs to be investigated. To better understand how these tools are used this thesis applies Information Infrastructure as a theoretical lens to conceptualize the Rwanda Health Information System as a Health Information System to shed light on both social and technical contextual factors in play. In this thesis, we conduct a case study to explore the infrastructure and to understand better the hardships encountered by introducing new technology to the current system, which we call the installed base. With this perspective, this thesis will also look at the implication of this phenomenon.