Edge Computing Technology and Efficiency of Electronic Community Health Information System in Nyeri County, Kenya
Abstract
The success of Community Health Promotion (CHP) depends on seamless data processing, real-time analytics, and secure communication within health systems. The Government of Kenya launched the digitisation of CHP through the electronic Community Health Information System (eCHIS) in September 2023 to address community health challenges. eCHIS use Edge Computing Technology (ECT). While the technology can enhance both the effectiveness and efficiency of eCHIS, critical issues need to be addressed to ensure its efficiency. The overall study's objective was to examine the effects of edge computing on the efficiency of the eCHIS at Nyeri County in Kenya. Specific research objectives included: establishing the effect of edge data management and edge computing connectivity on the efficiency of eCHIS. The research was guided by Technology-Organisation-Environment and Protection Motivation Theory. The research used a Descriptive Survey Design. The target population was 2510 Community Health Promoters in Nyeri County, and 345 were sampled. The collection of primary data was through questionnaires. Questionnaire validity was assessed using content and construct validity. The researcher employed Cronbach's Alpha Coefficient method to ascertain the reliability of a questionnaire with a 0.7 reliability threshold. Both inferential and descriptive statistics were applied. The findings showed that there is a strong, significant relationship between edge data management and the effectiveness of eCHIS in Nyeri County in Kenya (r=0.516, p=0.000) and a strong, significant relationship between edge computing connectivity and the effectiveness of eCHIS in Nyeri County in Kenya (r=0.791, p=0.000). The recommendations are; the ministry of health should strengthen cybersecurity by ensuring that all edge computing devices are installed with updated antivirus software, encryption, and firewalls, CHPs should ensure proper classification, authentication, and timely entry of community health data, and health systems developers should design eCHIS that are easy to use, secure, and responsive to the health needs of the community.
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