Application of ISTs in Developing Countries
Europe has a strong research base in e-health and there can be mutual benefits arising through co-operation between Europe and Africa. However, given the contextual differences, for example related to infrastructure, economy and culture, European solutions and know-how need to be sensitively reworked and appropriately translated to the African context. Best practices, learning and workable ISTs need to be shared and further developed across African countries within a regional framework.
The project envisages strengthening the European research and development domain within open source ISTs and global software development.
To achieve sustainability BEANISH emphasizes building local capacity and has a strong educational component. An international Master?s program between the partner institutions educates candidates in Public Health Informatics. In line with the Action Research model researchers, Master and PhD students conduct situational analysis at the ground level to gain adequate insights into work processes and the actual constraints under which health care is provided. Knowledge on Open Source frameworks and technologies are transmitted on a learning-by-doing basis. In collaboration with professional software developers the students then develops and implements software and conduct training and ongoing support for the health workers. The multi-national cohort of students enables cross-country learning and dissemination.
Experiences from the BEANISH project
Our research activities are focused on addressing various challenges related to application of IST in developing countries.
Some of the topics covered by research papers are:
Challenges of implementation
Kimaro, H. and Sahay, S (2006):
"An institutional perspective on the process of decentralization of health information systems: a case study from Tanzania".
KimaroSahayInsitutionalPerspectiveDecentralization2006.pdf
Building human capacity/Achieving user participation
Kimaro, H. and Titlestad, O. (2005):
"Challenges of user participation in the design of a computer based system:The possibility of participatory customization in low income countries".
Paper presented at IFIP 9.4 conference, Abuja, Nigeria, May 2005.
KimaroTitlestadParticipatoryCustomisation2005.pdf
Byrne et al. (2004):
PuriByrneParticipationPDC2004.pdf
Kimaro (2006):
KimaroHumanResourceEJISDC2006.pdf
Legacy systems in public sector in developing countries
Nhampossa and Lungo (2004): NhampossaLungoLegacyIS2004.pdf
Nhampossa (2004): NhampossaLegacy SystemsIRMA.pdf
Standardization
Braa and Hedberg:
BraaHedbergDHISin SA2002.pdf
Shaw (2005):
ShawSouthAfricaEDSBulletinWHO2005.pdf
Roll-out, expansion and scaling
Integration
Chilundo, B. and Aanestad, M.(2005)
ChilundoAanestadIntegrationEJISDC2005.pdf
Sæbø, J., Braa, J. and Chandna, O. (2007)
ISTAfrica_376_doc_1006.doc
