Qualitative Study of Health Information Needs, Flow, and Use in Senegal

Figures & data

Table 1. Number of interviews and focus groups conducted, by study site

Audience group	Dakar Central & Regional Level	North Dakar Health District	Mbao Health District	Pikine Health District	Kaolack Health District	St. Louis Health District	Total
Individual interviews
Health authorities	9	1	1	1	2	1	15
Nongovernmental organizations	5	—	—	1	1	1	8
Territorial administration	—	—	—	—	1	1	2
Elected officials	2	1	1	1	2	2	9
Media	4	—	—	1	—	—	5
Health supervisors	—	2	2	2	3	1	10
Health service providers	3	2	2	2	3	4	16
Development partners	4	—	—	—	—	—	4
Networks	5	—	—	—	—	1	6
Total individual interviews	32	6	6	8	12	11	75
Focus group discussions
Community health workers					1	1	2

Table 2. Health information needs among different audience groups

Health authorities	Media	Traditional communicators	Networks	Local elected officials	Health care providers	Community health workers	Nongovernmental organizations and development partners
Effect of policies	Capacity building in general health and RH in particular	Capacity building in general health and RH in particular	Strategic documents	Health situation and health facility needs	Continuous training	Capacity building in general health and RH in particular	Better definitions of indicators
Documentation of best practices	Information on access, availability, and use of family planning	Partner support	Partner support	Information on different plans (the National Health and Development Plan, annual work plan, etc.)	Information useful for prevention	Communication support	Implementation of health policies
Partner support			Information on different health programs	Needs and concerns of the poor	Information on case management	Support from the state	Qualitative data (barriers to access, knowledge and practices of health care providers and beneficiaries, etc.)
Timely and accurate data			Information/ Capacity building		Up-to-date technical information and protocols		Information on health facility functioning
Timely dissemination of research results					Up-to-date information on existing methods		Timely dissemination of research results
					Knowledge of new products		Examples of successful programs
					Timely dissemination of research results
					Improving internet search skills

Table 3. Systems and technologies used by different groups to transfer and share information

Systems & technologies	Health authorities	Media	Traditional communicators	Networks	Local elected officials	Health care providers	Community health workers	Nongovernmental organizations and development partners
Mobile phone	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓		✓
Internet	✓	✓		✓	✓	✓		✓
Print documents	✓	✓		✓	✓	✓		✓
SMS text messaging	✓			✓		✓
Meetings (including coordination meetings)	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Fax	✓					✓
Interpersonal communication	✓		✓	✓		✓		✓
Online trainings						✓		✓
Newsletters, updates								✓
Listservs	✓
Intranet	✓							✓
Smartphone and teleconferences								✓