The extent and factors influencing the quality of routine healthcare data in Bahi and Dodoma councils in Tanzania

Abstract

Using data to inform health management decisions is especially vital in lower- and middle-income countries, where resources are limited, and plans are primarily focused on prioritising interventions. Service provision data at the health facilities, referred to as routine facility data, present the largest source for guiding these decisions. Nevertheless, in several settings, these data are perceived as of low quality, which limits their use. We argue that the extent and determinants of data quality vary across different settings. This study examined the quality of routine facility data in the Bahi District Council and Dodoma City Councils in Tanzania. Using a mixed-methods approach, we assessed data quality through completeness, consistency, and timeliness. The study found high quality in the routine facility data, with completeness leading for the outpatient department form in Dodoma CC(98.1%) and for antenatal services in Bahi DC (98.4%). The study also found strong internal and external consistency. Early antenatal visits, for example, were reported at approximately 35% in both facility data and surveys. The study further challenges counting data collection forms as the sole measure of completeness. For example, the number of child health forms indicates that the Bahi scored above 90%, yet only 6% of its facilities completed all essential data in those forms. Relying on counting data collection tools only is not likely to provide a true representation of quality. leaves data quality unconnected to the actual decision. Based on the findings, this study recommends examining completeness on individual data elements to connect them to decisions.