Key Concepts in Data Demand and Use: Improving Decision-Making

1. Module 1: Key concepts in data demand & use

2. Module 1: Learning objectives • Understand • the value of data collection and use in program monitoring and improvement • key concepts in data demand and use • decision-making process

3. Why address data demand & use?

4. “… without information, things are done arbitrarily and one becomes unsure of whether a policy or program will fail or succeed. If we allow our programs to be guided by empirical facts and data, there will be a noticeable change in the impact of what we do.” National-level Policymaker, Nigeria

5. What are data? • Definition • Data sources • Service delivery statistics • Census • Surveys, evaluations, research studies • Sentinel surveillance • Budget information

6. Data Infrastructure Facility Routine data Non-routine data National Census Regional Evaluations District Surveillance Surveys

7. Why do we collect data? • Track changes in program performance over time Monitoring • Attribute program outcomes to their causes Evaluation

8. Purposes of monitoring and evaluation • Determine whether a plan or program is on schedule with planned activities • Assess whether a policy, plan, or program has produced desired impacts • Generate knowledge: • Identify factors that influence health outcomes • Inform policy, planning, or program decisions

9. M&E is not an enemy • Policymakers, program managers, and M&E/strategic information specialists can be partners • Strong decision making and management rely on high-quality M&E / strategic information • Data quality is linked to data use

10. Why are data important to a provider? • Understand program performance • Strengthen programs and improve services delivered • Advocate for additional resources, policies, and programs • Ensure accountability to civil society

11. Using data helps providers to… Ask critical questions Open lines of communication Improve services

12. Monitoring and Evaluation allows…. data-based decisions which lead to… better health programs and better health outcomes

13. Role of the provider in M&E and data use • Ensure timely and quality data • Facilitate facility-level data analysis, interpretation, and display • Identify problems /concerns and develop/suggest solutions to address them • Request feedback from management on decisions made

14. Data Quality • Accurate • Complete • Timely

15. Monthly summary of child health & nutrition services – October 2010

16. Monthly summary of child health & nutrition services – October 2010

17. Data Demand & Use

18. Demand for Data • Demand– the value stakeholders place on data, whether or not the data are used • Demand exists if • Specific questions need to be answered and data are sought to answer them • A decision needs to be made and data are sought to inform it

19. Data Use • Use refers to the decision-making process • A decision maker uses information if he/she • Is explicitly aware of the decision to be made or question to be answered • Considers relevant information in making the decision, even if the information is outweighed by other factors

20. What Are Decisions? • Choices that lead to action • All decisions are informed by questions • All questions should be based on data

21. Group participation • What are decisions you make in your daily life? • What are examples of decisions made by others – that affect you in your daily life?

22. Decision Areas • Program design • Program management and improvement • Strategic planning • Advocacy and policy development

23. Who makes decisions? • Traditional decision makers • Program manager, policymaker, funder • Other stakeholders • Any person, group, or organization with a particular interest in a policy or program • Providers, implementers, beneficiaries, civil society

24. Role of the provider in decision making • Data collection – filling out the forms • Data compilation • Data analysis, interpretation, & reporting • Program monitoring • Problem identification & solution development • Best practice identification • Communication

25. TECHNICAL ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIORAL What Determines Data Demand & Use?

26. Data are often underutilized because of… • Technical determinants • Poor data quality • Insufficient data analysis skills * Based on PRISM analytical framework (LaFond, Fields et al. 2005 The PRISM: An Analytical Framework for Understanding Performance of Health Information Systems in Developing Countries. MEASURE Evaluation).

27. Data are often underutilized because of… • Organizational determinants • Roles and responsibilities are unclear • Inadequate support for data use by management • Behavioral determinants • Staff motivation

28. TECHNICAL ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIORAL What Determines Data Demand & Use? CULTURE SOCIETY POLITICS

29. Key Messages • Data are needed to improve the delivery of services • Providers play a critical role in data collection, data monitoring, problem identification, & solution development • Decisions based on evidence lead to better health outcomes • Decision making is affected by three major determinants

30. Group work 1 – Instructions • Select a reporter. • Read the case study and answer the following questions (20 min): • What prompted the data use undertaking? • What was the decision taken? • What types of data were used to make the decision? • What was the outcome of the decision? • Report back (5 min per group).