Use of Information Technology as a Tool for Organisational Information Management: A Case Study of the Provincial Health Directorate of Manica, Mozambique

Abstract

Introduction: Efficient information management is central to organisational performance, particularly in the health sector, where it supports critical decision-making processes, resource planning and service organisation. Despite significant advances in information technology (IT), many public healthcare institutions in underdeveloped countries still rely on traditional document management practices that limit rapid access to information and increase the risk of data loss. Objective: To analyse how the use of IT can contribute to improve organisational information management at the Provincial Health Directorate of Manica, Mozambique. Materials and Methods: This was an applied case study with a descriptive-correlational design and a mixed-methods approach. The sample comprised 111 professionals selected from a population of 153. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analysed using descriptive statistics and content analysis, supported by Epi Info and Microsoft Excel. Fisher’s exact test was used to examine the association between variables. Results: Although technological resources were available and IT was widely recognised as a relevant tool, 98.2% of participants continued to rely predominantly on traditional methods of information storage. A statistically significant association was also found between the level of IT proficiency and the method of organisational information storage (p = 0.031). Conclusion: The effective adoption of digital information management solutions depends not only on the availability of technology, but above all on the development of digital skills among professionals.