Evidence map›Paper›PMID 25243111›Full record

ArticleJournal of medicine in the tropics2012

Use of Electronic Health Records in sub-Saharan Africa: Progress and challenges.

Maxwell O Akanbi, Amaka N Ocheke, Patricia A Agaba, Comfort A Daniyam, Emmanuel I Agaba, Edith N Okeke, Christiana O Ukoli

Open access · greenAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of medicine in the tropics, 2012. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 81 papers, 5 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
81citing papers in PubMed, 5 pooled it
1.9field-weighted citation impact, top 12% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

81 citing papers in PubMed, 5 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 132 citations in OpenAlex.

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21 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Maxwell O AkanbiDepartment of Medicine, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria.
Amaka N OchekeDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Jos, Nigeria.
Patricia A AgabaAIDS Prevention Initiative Nigeria Plus, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria.
Comfort A DaniyamDepartment of Medicine, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria.
Emmanuel I AgabaDepartment of Medicine, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria.
Edith N OkekeDepartment of Medicine, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria.
Christiana O UkoliDepartment of Medicine, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria.
Jos University Teaching Hospital · NGUniversity of Jos · NG

Funding

Northwestern University AITRPD43TW007995 · FIC · NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY AT CHICAGO · PI MURPHY, ROBERT LEO · 2008 to 2012
$1.6M
FIC NIH HHS D43 TW007995
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe Electronic Health Record (EHR) is a key component of medical informatics that is increasingly being utilized in industrialized nations to improve healthcare. There is limited information on the use of EHR in sub-Saharan Africa. This paper reviews availability of EHRs in sub-Saharan Africa.

methodsSearches were performed on PubMed and Google Scholar databases using the terms 'Electronic Health Records OR Electronic Medical Records OR e-Health and Africa'. References from identified publications were reviewed. Inclusion criterion was documented use of EHR in Africa.

resultsThe search yielded 147 publications of which 21papers from 15 sub-Saharan African countries documented the use of EHR in Africa and were reviewed. About 91% reported use of Open Source healthcare software, with OpenMRS being the most widely used. Most reports were from HIV related health centers. Barriers to adoption of EHRs include high cost of procurement and maintenance, poor network infrastructure and lack of comfort among health workers with electronic medical records.

conclusionThere has been an increase in the use of EHRs in sub-Saharan Africa, largely driven by utilization by HIV treatment programs. Penetration is still however very low.

Indexed as

Electronic health recordsElectronic Medical Recordssub-Saharan Africa

Identifiers

PMID25243111
PMCPMC4167769
OpenAlexW1551897101

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceTDM
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.