RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Generating statistics from health facility data: the state of routine health information systems in Eastern and Southern Africa
JF BMJ Global Health
JO BMJ Global Health
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP e001849
DO 10.1136/bmjgh-2019-001849
VO 4
IS 5
A1 Abdoulaye Maïga
A1 Safia S Jiwani
A1 Martin Kavao Mutua
A1 Tyler Andrew Porth
A1 Chelsea Maria Taylor
A1 Gershim Asiki
A1 Dessalegn Y Melesse
A1 Candy Day
A1 Kathleen L Strong
A1 Cheikh Mbacké Faye
A1 Kavitha Viswanathan
A1 Kathryn Patricia O’Neill
A1 Agbessi Amouzou
A1 Bob S Pond
A1 Ties Boerma
A1 ,
YR 2019
UL http://gh.bmj.com/content/4/5/e001849.abstract
AB Health facility data are a critical source of local and continuous health statistics. Countries have introduced web-based information systems that facilitate data management, analysis, use and visualisation of health facility data. Working with teams of Ministry of Health and country public health institutions analysts from 14 countries in Eastern and Southern Africa, we explored data quality using national-level and subnational-level (mostly district) data for the period 2013–2017. The focus was on endline analysis where reported health facility and other data are compiled, assessed and adjusted for data quality, primarily to inform planning and assessments of progress and performance. The analyses showed that although completeness of reporting was generally high, there were persistent data quality issues that were common across the 14 countries, especially at the subnational level. These included the presence of extreme outliers, lack of consistency of the reported data over time and between indicators (such as vaccination and antenatal care), and challenges related to projected target populations, which are used as denominators in the computation of coverage statistics. Continuous efforts to improve recording and reporting of events by health facilities, systematic examination and reporting of data quality issues, feedback and communication mechanisms between programme managers, care providers and data officers, and transparent corrections and adjustments will be critical to improve the quality of health statistics generated from health facility data.