Toward utilization of data for program management and evaluation: quality assessment of five years of health management information system data in Rwanda
View/ Open
Author
Nisingizwe, Marie Paul
Iyer, Hari S.
Gashayija, Modeste
Amoroso, Cheryl
Wilson, Randy
Rubyutsa, Eric
Gaju, Eric
Basinga, Paulin
Muhire, Andrew
Hedt-Gauthier, Bethany
Note: Order does not necessarily reflect citation order of authors.
Published Version
https://doi.org/10.3402/gha.v7.25829Metadata
Show full item recordCitation
Nisingizwe, M. P., H. S. Iyer, M. Gashayija, L. R. Hirschhorn, C. Amoroso, R. Wilson, E. Rubyutsa, et al. 2014. “Toward utilization of data for program management and evaluation: quality assessment of five years of health management information system data in Rwanda.” Global Health Action 7 (1): 10.3402/gha.v7.25829. doi:10.3402/gha.v7.25829. http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/gha.v7.25829.Abstract
Background: Health data can be useful for effective service delivery, decision making, and evaluating existing programs in order to maintain high quality of healthcare. Studies have shown variability in data quality from national health management information systems (HMISs) in sub-Saharan Africa which threatens utility of these data as a tool to improve health systems. The purpose of this study is to assess the quality of Rwanda's HMIS data over a 5-year period. Methods: The World Health Organization (WHO) data quality report card framework was used to assess the quality of HMIS data captured from 2008 to 2012 and is a census of all 495 publicly funded health facilities in Rwanda. Factors assessed included completeness and internal consistency of 10 indicators selected based on WHO recommendations and priority areas for the Rwanda national health sector. Completeness was measured as percentage of non-missing reports. Consistency was measured as the absence of extreme outliers, internal consistency between related indicators, and consistency of indicators over time. These assessments were done at the district and national level. Results: Nationally, the average monthly district reporting completeness rate was 98% across 10 key indicators from 2008 to 2012. Completeness of indicator data increased over time: 2008, 88%; 2009, 91%; 2010, 89%; 2011, 90%; and 2012, 95% (p<0.0001). Comparing 2011 and 2012 health events to the mean of the three preceding years, service output increased from 3% (2011) to 9% (2012). Eighty-three percent of districts reported ratios between related indicators (ANC/DTP1, DTP1/DTP3) consistent with HMIS national ratios. Conclusion and policy implications Our findings suggest that HMIS data quality in Rwanda has been improving over time. We recommend maintaining these assessments to identify remaining gaps in data quality and that results are shared publicly to support increased use of HMIS data.Other Sources
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4238898/pdf/Terms of Use
This article is made available under the terms and conditions applicable to Other Posted Material, as set forth at http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:dash.current.terms-of-use#LAACitable link to this page
http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:13581263
Collections
- HMS Scholarly Articles [17917]
Contact administrator regarding this item (to report mistakes or request changes)