ABSTRACT
The study aimed at investigating the generation, organization and use of medical records in Primary Health Care Centres of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. To achieve these objectives, six research questions were formulated and answered accordingly. Review of related literatures was also carried out which covered types of medical records generated, when they are generated and the use of these medical records in primary health care centres. The survey research method was adopted for this study. The population under this study consisted of record staff, nurses, laboratory technicians, and doctors of all the Primary Health Care Centres in Ahmadu Bello University Zaria. A total of 100 respondents from the population formed the sample for this study. The five primary Health Care centres studied were University Health Care Services Samaru-Main Campus, University Health Care Services Kongo Campus, National Animal Production Institute (NAPRI) Clinic Shika, Institute of Agricultural Research (IAR) Clinic, Samaru and Divisional of Agricultural Colleges (DAC) Clinic, Samaru. The data was collected by distributing questionnaires, which was the instrument used for data collection. The data collected were analyzed using the frequency distribution tables, simple percentages and histograms. Based on the data collected and analyzed, the result of the findings indicated that patients' folders, antenatal records and family planning records among others were the types of medical records generated with the highest frequencies. It also states that medical records were commonly generated when making reference to patient's file and from test results. Furthermore, the alphabetical and departmental methods were the systems used for organizing medical records with the highest frequencies. It also revealed that family planning records and general out patient records were the commonest medical records used among others with the highest frequency while eye record and X-ray were the rarely used. It was also discovered that planning and proper diagnoses were the major purposes of using medical records which were the highest. And that computers and photocopiers were the commonest ICTs used for generating and use of medical records which carried the highest response rate. It was recommended that qualified and competent staff be used for generating and organization of medical records, a uniformed method of organizing medical records be adopted across the five primary Health Care centres. There should be diversified sources of generating medical records and Primary Health Care Centres should enhance the use of adequate and relevant ICTs gadgets which can lead to full automation system.