{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,11]],"date-time":"2026-08-11T09:38:05Z","timestamp":1786441085924,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":27,"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,2]],"date-time":"2026-07-02T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1782950400000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,11]],"date-time":"2026-08-11T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1786406400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":40,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/100031746","name":"Science for Africa Foundation","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["EPS-iPEP24-004"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["EPS-iPEP24-004"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/100031746","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["link.springer.com"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["J Epidemiol Glob Health"],"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The Covid-19 pandemic highlighted a critical lesson for global health systems: effective preparedness depends on timely access to reliable and interconnected health data. Across many countries, fragmented information systems limited the rapid exchange and use of data needed for outbreak detection, response, and decision-making. In Uganda, the recurrent emergence of infectious disease outbreaks, including Ebola, Marburg virus disease, and cholera, has reinforced the importance of resilient and interoperable health information systems. Although substantial progress has been made in strengthening disease surveillance and response mechanisms, persistent challenges continue to affect the country\u2019s capacity to generate and utilize high-quality data during public health emergencies.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This study combined a review of published and grey literature with qualitative inquiry to explore existing challenges in Uganda\u2019s health data ecosystem. Six key informants with expertise in health information systems, disease surveillance, and outbreak response participated in in-depth interviews to provide insights into current gaps and potential solutions.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The findings revealed several interconnected challenges, including fragmented and poorly integrated information systems, limited access to critical digital infrastructures, incomplete digitalization of data collection processes, and weaknesses in data quality and accessibility. These challenges often result in delays in data sharing and evidence-based decision-making during outbreaks. Participants noted that many of these barriers are well recognized and can be addressed through targeted and relatively modest investments. Key recommendations included accelerating the integration of existing health information platforms, expanding end-to-end digital data collection, increasing investments in health information systems, and strengthening coordination among government agencies and development partners.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Strengthening Uganda\u2019s preparedness for future epidemics requires sustained commitment to interoperable health information systems and high-quality data management. Building on the strong foundations already established through collaboration with partners such as World Health Organization and Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, targeted investments and enhanced governance mechanisms could address the most pressing system gaps. Advancing these efforts will improve the availability and use of quality health data, enabling more effective surveillance, faster outbreak response, and greater resilience against future public health threats.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1007\/s44197-026-00602-2","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,2]],"date-time":"2026-07-02T01:35:27Z","timestamp":1782956127000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Strengthening Data Systems and Use for Infectious Outbreak Preparedness in Uganda"],"prefix":"10.1007","volume":"16","author":[{"given":"Ildephonse","family":"Nizeyimana","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Alex Riolexus","family":"Ario","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Thumbi","family":"Mwangi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ann","family":"Muthiru","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Michael Arthur","family":"Ofori","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Olufemi","family":"Adedokun","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ann","family":"Mwangi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,2]]},"reference":[{"key":"602_CR1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1186\/s12992-020-00548-5","volume":"16","author":"JR Aceng","year":"2020","unstructured":"Aceng JR, Ario AR, Muruta AN, Makumbi I, Nanyunja M, Komakech I, et al. Uganda\u2019s experience in ebola virus disease outbreak preparedness, 2018\u20132019. Glob Health. 2020;16:1\u201312.","journal-title":"Glob Health"},{"key":"602_CR2","unstructured":"Akello G. Pandemic preparedness in african countries: status quo and the way forward. Africa Polic Res Instit. 2025. Available online at: https:\/\/afripoli.org\/pandemic-preparedness-in-african-countries-status-quo-and-the-way-forward. Accessed 24 Mar 2025."},{"key":"602_CR3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e53","DOI":"10.1017\/dap.2024.43","volume":"6","author":"M Amutorine","year":"2024","unstructured":"Amutorine M, Lawrence N, Montgomery J. Increasing data sharing and use for social good: Lessons from africa\u2019s data-sharing practices during the covid-19 response. 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Accessed 12 Sept 2025."}],"container-title":["Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1007\/s44197-026-00602-2","content-type":"text\/html","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1007\/s44197-026-00602-2.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1007\/s44197-026-00602-2.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,11]],"date-time":"2026-08-11T09:14:38Z","timestamp":1786439678000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/10.1007\/s44197-026-00602-2"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,2]]},"references-count":27,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,12]]}},"alternative-id":["602"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s44197-026-00602-2","relation":{},"ISSN":["2210-6014"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2210-6014","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,2]]},"assertion":[{"value":"16 February 2026","order":1,"name":"received","label":"Received","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"26 June 2026","order":2,"name":"accepted","label":"Accepted","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"2 July 2026","order":3,"name":"first_online","label":"First Online","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"The authors declare no competing interests.","order":1,"name":"Ethics","label":"Competing Interests","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Declarations"}},{"value":"Ethics approval was deemed unnecessary as this work constitutes program evaluation where key informants were consulted in their professional capacity regarding organizational public policies and practices. Referring to internationally recognized ethical standards such as Canadian Tri-Council Policy Statement, TCPS2 2022, Chapter 2, Article 2.5; U.S. Federal Regulations (45 CFR 46.104); and the UK Health Departments\u2019 Governance Arrangements for Research Ethics Committees, paragraph 2.3.13; such activities do not need ethical approval since participants who provide information in their official professional roles are not considered research subjects. While there is no universal international exemption, this approach aligns with ethical principles since no personal, confidential, or sensitive data of the participants were collected. All methods used are in accordance with relevant human research guidelines and regulations, including the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki.","order":2,"name":"Ethics","label":"Ethics Approval and Consent to Participate","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Declarations"}},{"value":"Not Applicable.","order":3,"name":"Ethics","label":"Consent for Publication","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Declarations"}}],"article-number":"101"}}