Using Electronic Health Records to Improve Management of <scp>HIV</scp>/<scp>AIDS</scp> Clients: A Cross‐Sectional Survey Among Healthcare Providers in Kisumu County, Kenya

ABSTRACT The impact of the use of electronic medical records (EMRs) on health projects in sub‐Saharan Africa and specifically in Kenya is not known. We conducted an ex post facto mixed methods cross‐sectional descriptive survey among 191 healthcare providers in comprehensive care centers to understand the perceived association between utilization of the EMRs and management outcomes of HIV/AIDS projects in eight high volume public health facilities in Kisumu County, Kenya. A standardized open‐ended questionnaire and a key informant interview guide were used to collect both quantitative and qualitative data. The study findings demonstrated a high level of perceived utilization of the EMRs within the HIV/AIDS projects across the selected health facilities. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between utilization of EMRs and management outcomes of HIV/AIDS projects. Utilization of the EMRs for data services could explain significant variation in management outcomes of HIV/AIDS projects. Using content analysis, we unearthed five categories of contextual factors that affect utilization of electronic medical records, namely infrastructure/technological factors, factors related to capacity of users, project management factors, attitudes of the users, and security‐related factors. Electronic medical records have the potential to significantly improve management outcomes in HIV/AIDS projects. We recommend the need for scale‐up of the EMRs to cover more HIV/AIDS sites and perhaps be replicated in other health programs focusing on chronic diseases.