Improving Data Quality in the African Region

1. Improving data quality in The African Region Alain POY Regional Data Manager IVD/AFRO 4th Annual Regional Conference on Immunization (ARCI) 10-12 December 2012, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania

2. Presentation outline • Background • Gaps in data management in the health system • Strategies to tackle data quality issues • Data management system in AFRO • Currents efforts • 2013 Priorities

3. Background • Data quality is one of the 4 IVD priority in AFRO • Existence of robust DM system at different level • There is more interest on data quality than ever (Opportunity) • Good data = good decision, wrong data = wrong decision • Need data to monitor goals at all levels (Country, Region, Global) • Data management has not enjoyed deserved recognition from EPI Manager on staff allocation (skills) • Recommendations from TFI as well as EPI managers’ meetings

4. Existing Gaps • DQS: discrepencies between reported and verified data • Surveys: results challenging reported coverage • Denominator issues (4%, 3.49% enumeration quality, use of 2 populations …) • Focus on indicators versus sources of indicators • One person taking a country responsibility for data sharing

5. Data in EPI Immunization sub-system components Health system building blocks ? • Financing • Capacity building • Management • Information/Data management

6. Strategies to tackle data quality issues

7. Main strategies to tackle DQ issue a. Technical aspect • Improving the denominator and basic information • Conduct high quality enumeration at the lowest level • Promote link between EPI and statistic offices • Consider updated information of live birth and surviving • Standardize the district spelling in utility, DB and shape files • Promote regular census and availability of EPI needed data • a

8. Main strategies to tackle data quality issues a. Technical aspect (Cnt.) Improving the Numerator • Conduct regular DQS at all district • Promote monthly monitoring meeting at district level between District team and health facilities including the communities • Conduct monthly data harmonization and validation meeting with required participants and content • Conduct monthly technical ICC meetings at national and provincial level

9. Main strategies to tackle data quality issues b. Management aspect • Ensure data management is supported by appropriate staff in EPI • Create a group for in-country estimates of national best estimates for JRF Estimates • Raise the interest of EPI managers beyond the calculated indicators and start looking at the sources of the indicators • Incorporate information system as one of the key immunization sub-system components

10. Data management system in AFRO

11. IVD Data management system in AFRO

12. Surveillance data management system in the AFR Cas Positifs Resulats Surv BD Nat Lab DB Lab Nat BD Surv BD Ref Lab BD/Feedback DB/Feedback OMS Pays/Autres Form AFRO IST Lab Reg BD Surv DB Surv BD Ech Global level Lab Nat BD Lab Nat DB/Feedback Lab Nan BD Lab Nat BD Province District FS/ CS /AS Form, Ech Form Form Form Ech Ech Ech Nat Surv / PEV FB FB FB, supervision Copie Form, Ech FB, supervision National Lab Form Form Results/Form/Ech Harmonisation Validation Ech EPID # DB/Feedback DB/Feedback BD, Feedback

13. IVD database in AFRO

14. Workload related to Data management in IVD/AFRO

15. Current efforts • Improvement in data completeness and timeliness • Drastic reduction in number of countries with differences between JRF and Estimates • 40% of countries currently conduct data harmonization meetings • Establishment of a Regional Data Management System that allows the tracking of District level specific performances every month for the Region (pick data issues at District level and provide immediate feedback) • Standardization of SIAs data management tools (Admin, IM, post IM Action taken) with automatized reports • Create an group for in country estimates of national best estimates for JRF Estimates • Raise the national Authority interest beyond the calculated indicators and start looking at the sources of the indicators

16. Current efforts (Cont.) • Development of integrated Data Management modules for countries • Establishment of Regional IVD integrated database • Regional shape file at District level • Development of surveillance site visits’ monitoring system • Development of a standard risk assessment tool • Reinforcement of Data Management coordination in the Region • daily call with priority countries, regional teleconference on data management every 2 months • Systematic Data quality feedback to ISTs and countries

17. Illustrations

18. 2013 Priorities a. Improvement of data quality from the source • Advocacy for more interest on data quality at country level • Standardization of basic data and shape files • Support countries to assess and improve their data quality (DQS, Monthly Data harmonization meeting, enumeration, link between EPI and statistic offices, Census and Surveys, ICC, etc.) • Capacity building and on-site supports for country Data managers

19. 2013 Priorities b. Enhancing data management at higher levels • Build an interactive data visualization system on top of the available IVD integrated database in coordination with the DPC real time system and the African Health Observatory (Use of new technology) • Reinforce coordination with partners • Scale up the use of surveillance sites monitoring system • Continue the development of integrated modules for easy use in countries (using the YF model)

20. AksantiThank you Merci Obrigado