Building participatory HIS networks: A case study from Kerala, India

  • Authors:

  • Satish K. Puri;Sundeep Sahay;John Lewis

  • Affiliations:

  • Department of Informatics, University of Oslo, Blindern, Postboks 1080, 0316 0316 Oslo, Norway;Department of Informatics, University of Oslo, Blindern, Postboks 1080, 0316 0316 Oslo, Norway;Department of Informatics, University of Oslo, Blindern, Postboks 1080, 0316 0316 Oslo, Norway

  • Venue:
  • Information and Organization
  • Year:
  • 2009

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Abstract

This paper addresses the challenge of developing participatory networks to support the design, development and implementation of Health Information Systems (HIS) in the context of public health in Kerala, India. It is argued given the nature and complexity of HIS, there is the need to bring together our understanding of participation from two streams of development theory and IS design and development. While development theory provides interesting insights on how to enable participatory processes, they tend to not consider technology. Further, traditional participatory design in Information Systems research has its origins in Western workplaces, often quite divorced from the context of public health in developing countries. In trying to combine these two streams of learning, we propose and develop the concept of participatory networks. Drawing upon an ongoing empirical analysis of an action research effort to introduce, scale and sustain Health Information Systems in Kerala, this paper elaborates on the nature of participatory networks that come into play, and the various mechanisms and purposes of participation with the different network partners. In the discussion section, four areas of re-conceptualization of participation in the context of HIS in developing countries are identified: (1) creation of participatory networks; (2) increased context sensitivity; (3) focus on outputs of participation, not just inputs and techniques; and, (4) focus on structural aspects of participation, not just behavioral issues.