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