Data Collection

Data and informationData

– observations and measurements

Processed data (information)– facts extracted from a set of data (interpreted data), – Data brought together to demonstrate facts– Meaningful and useful

Knowledge– Information in context – actionable

42

42 / 60 = 70%Fully Immunized Children < 1y

Where 60 is the target population

42 / 60 = 70%Fully Immunized Children < 1yFor month May 2010Organization Unit: Whatever

With additional contextual insight / experience we may say something about the reliability of the data

Org.Unit Full Immunization Coverage for May 2010

Whatever 70

Notsogood 40

Verybad 15

Superduper 98

Spatial /organizational context

Month 2010 Full Immunization Coverage for Whatever

Jan 43

Feb 44

Mar 70

Apr 52

May 64

Jun 60

Jul 54

Aug 43

Sep 47

Oct 41

Temporal context

MUST KNOW

The % of children under one year who are fully immunised

Drop out rate DPT 1-3; measles coverage

Other programme vaccines given

All doses given over 1 year; vaccinewastage rate; DPT2, polio 2; non-program vaccines

How do we process it?

How do we present it?

How do we use it? Reliable Information

Information CycleWhat do we collect?

Stages Tools Outputs

data sources & tools

Timely Quality

data

Data collection

WHO health care workers at all levels WHATEssential Data SetWHENdaily – collated weekly & processed monthly

WHERE outreach, facilities, districts

HOW tally sheets, registers etcWHY monitor progress towards goals & targets

plan new policies and changesevaluate current servicesassist health management processes

What data elements should be collected?

Can provide useful information for actionCannot be obtained elsewhereAre easy to collect (cost vs usefulness) Do not require much additional work or timeCan be collected relatively accuratelyIs part of one or more indicators

ESSENTIAL DATA SET based on indicators reflecting the health status of the community

Information focus at hierarchical levles

Input (community)– Staff attendence, vaccines, to whom, when, where

Process (district)– Vaccination of children

Output (province)– Coverage of child immunization

Outcome (national)– Immunization rates going up

Impact (international)– Healthier children, less disease. Synergies

Essential data sets

• What is collected?• Only useful stuff?• What did Johan tell us yesterday?

What is the reality?

Sources of data?

– Routine/non-routine• At regular and irregular intervals

– Institution-based/population based (HMN)• Institution based (administrative and operational

activities) e.g. health facilities• Population based data on all individuals within defined

populations - include total population counts (such as the census and civil registration) or household surveys

Where do we get data from?Routine data collection

– Routine health unit and community data• Activity data about patients seen and

programmes run, routine services and epidemiological surveillance; e.g.

• Semi-permanent data about the population served, the facility itself and staff that run it

– Civil registration (vital events being integrated with health e.g. India)

Where do we get data from?

Non-routine data collection– Surveys– Population census (headcounts

proportion/facility catchment’s area)– Quantitative or qualitative rapid assessment

methods

Example: data collected at PHC facilitiesSpecial programme activities

• Reproductive health• Child health & nutrition• HIV/AIDS, STI and TB• Chronic diseases

Routine Service Activities

• Minor ailments• Non-priority activities

Epidemiological surveillance

• Notifiable diseases• Environmental health

Administrative Systems

• Infrastructure, equipment• Human resources• Drugs, transport, labs, finances, budget, staff

Population • Census: age, sex, place• Births & deaths registration

Requirement for data collection

• Standardised definitions:– To ensure comparability between different

facilities, districts and provinces– To ensure comparability across time

Making improvements to a poor indicator /data set /data element in a reporting format may not be advisable due to cost of change and loss of backwards comparability

Main data collection toolsA. Client Record CardsB. Tally SheetsC. RegistersD. Surveys

A: Client record cards

Family planning consultation card

B: Tally sheets• Easy way of counting identical events that do not

have to be followed-up (e.g. headcounts, children weighed)

C: Registers• Record data that need follow-up over long periods

such as ANC, immunisation, FP, TB

D: Reportsmonthly,quarterly

Assessing data collection tools