Strengthening Public Child Healthcare: Development of an Immunization Management Information System for a Local Community in Southern Mindanao, Philippines

Abstract

While the private healthcare sector rapidly embraces technological advancements, public and local communities struggle to keep pace with these innovations. Community health personnel's reliance on outdated manual methods for managing children's immunization records hinders timely updates and impedes the creation of reliable vaccination schedules, creating obstacles in providing accurate services to the growing young population. To address these challenges, the researchers developed an Immunization Management Information System, employing the Evolutionary Prototyping Software Development Model, which allowed for iterative improvements and customization to meet specific requirements. It incorporates technologies such as a centralized database, a web-based interface, and Short Message Service notification functionality to automate immunization management tasks. Healthcare professionals can record and track immunization details, manage vaccine inventory, generate reports, and send notifications to parents about upcoming immunization schedules. The results demonstrated a system that streamlines and enhances the management of immunization records and processes at the health center, ensuring efficient and timely delivery of services. Discussions on the system's technological features and future research directions are provided, encouraging Information System scholars to contribute to impactful research and development.