Completeness and accuracy of data transfer of routine maternal health services data in the greater Accra region.

Kerstin Klipstein-Grobusch,Gbenga A Kayode,Irene Akua Agyepong,Charles Brown-Davies,Evelyn K Ansah,Diederick E Grobbee,Mary Amoakoh-Coleman

doi:10.1186/s13104-015-1058-3

Abstract

BackgroundHigh quality routine health system data is essential for tracking progress towards attainment of the Millennium Development Goals 4 & 5. This study aimed to determine the completeness and accuracy of transfer of routine maternal health service data at health facility, district and regional levels of the Greater Accra Region of Ghana.MethodsA cross sectional study was conducted using secondary data comprised of routine health information data collected at facility level for the first quarter of 2012. Twelve health facilities were selected using a multistage sampling method. Data relating to antenatal care and delivery were assessed for completeness and accuracy of data transfer. Primary source data from health facility level (registers and record notebooks where health information data are initially entered) , used as the reference data, were counted, collated, and compared with aggregate data on aggregate forms compiled from these sources by health facility staff. The primary source data was also compared with data in the district health information management system (DHIMS–II), a web-based data collation and reporting system. Percentage completeness and percentage error in data transfer were estimated.ResultsData for all 5,537 antenatal registrants and 3, 466 deliveries recorded into the primary source for the first quarter of 2012 were assessed. Completeness was best for age data, followed by data on parity and hemoglobin at registration. Mean completeness of the facility level aggregate data for the data sampled, was 94.3% (95% CI = 90.6% – 98.0%) and 100.0% respectively for the aggregate form and DHIMS-II database. Mean error in data transfer was 1.0% (95% CI = 0.8% - 1.2%). Percentage error comparing aggregate form data and DHIMS-II data respectively to the primary source data ranged from 0.0% to 4.9% respectively, while percentage error comparing the DHIMS-II data to aggregate form data, was generally very low or 0.0%.ConclusionRoutine maternal health services data in the Greater Accra region, available at the district level through the DHIMS-II system is complete when compared to facility level primary source data and reliable for use.

Highlights

High quality routine health system data is essential for tracking progress towards attainment of the Millennium Development Goals 4 & 5
The district was not included in the analysis of antenatal variables but was included for delivery variables since complete data were available for deliveries
Data completeness All the available data from a total of 5,537 antenatal registrants and 3,466 deliveries seen over the period of the first quarter of 2012 and recorded into facility primary sources were reviewed

Summary

Introduction

High quality routine health system data is essential for tracking progress towards attainment of the Millennium Development Goals 4 & 5. This study aimed to determine the completeness and accuracy of transfer of routine maternal health service data at health facility, district and regional levels of the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. The primary aim of health information data management is to ensure high-quality data [1,2] to support monitoring, evaluation, research and decision making. Good data management practice is a prerequisite for the achievement of high quality data [3]. Data can be captured by paper-or electronic-based methods. In the case where both methods are used, the process starts with paper-based methods and the data is subsequently transferred electronically. During the data transfer and management processes, transcription, transmission and processing errors may occur leading to data

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