Lydia Anne

Theme: Impacts of digitization Sub theme: Quality of data What ensures quality of data? How has digitization improved data quality? How has data quality impacted decision making process? Key issues from the data How the issues are described Implications for intervention, policy or programming What ensures quality of data? -Technology has enabled monitoring of CHV services on the ground thus ensuring that data submitted is real -This is different from those who are using phones because those with phones are monitored and be known if they did their work or not unlike us who use paper forms. -The digital app has been segregated into different sections which are used for data collection thus eliminating chances of household data mix ups at the CHV level - The use of GPS coordinates enables tracking of data collection process therefore eliminating cases of data manipulation, thus ensuring that real data is submitted -Doing capacity building for CHVs in form debrief and refresher trainings gives avenues for performance evaluation. Data review meetings with all stakeholders also help in ensuring quality of data -Conducting of quality checks like making follow-up calls allows for confirmation of the data submitted and services provided -There is need to digitize all CHVs to enable performance accountability thus improving health services at the community level How has digitization improved data quality? -With digitization, data is monitored, submitted in real time and is verifiable -Digitization has done away with cooked data by creating transparency in data collection and submission process -This is different from those who are using phones because those with phones are monitored and be known if they did their work or not unlike us who use paper forms. -The digital app has been segregated into different sections which are used for data collection thus eliminating chances of household data mix ups at the CHV level -Digitization has allowed for data to be submitted at the right time on a daily basis, thus allowing for corrections to be made faster at the supervisory level, if need be -The introduction of eCHIS ensures data is stored safely therefore eliminating cases of data loss leading to credible data being consumed, as it maintains its status from collection -Because I’ll say that before, the county government of <> or rather the sub-county level, used to have many data that is not verified, we used to have maybe cooked data, there are data that earlier had been untapped, but through the intervention of ECHIS platform, now the government is now able to see even the inner depth of the untapped data. Now, they are able to check, verify and if possible, to send their supervisors and implement it in their own way. - The use of GPS coordinates enables tracking of data collection process therefore eliminating cases of data manipulation -Technology has enabled sieving through data and identifying discrepancies and seeking verifications accordingly -There is need for digitizing all CHVs to improve data quality through monitoring and performance accountability -Sustaining of the eCHIS platform will ensure credibility and safety of data collected and submitted thus real data used for interventions How has data quality impacted decision making process? -With the introduction of the eCHIS platform, stakeholders are able to access and view the raw verified data and utilize it for implementation -Because I’ll say that before, the county government of <> or rather the sub-county level, used to have many data that is not verified, we used to have maybe cooked data, there are data that earlier had been untapped, but through the intervention of ECHIS platform, now the government is now able to see even the inner depth of the untapped data. Now, they are able to check, verify and if possible, to send their supervisors and implement it in their own way. -A stable sustainability plan should be put in place to ensure continuity of eCHIS to help in making informed and timely decisions thus ensuring improvement of health services at the community level - § 1 reference coded [0.85% Coverage] Reference 1 - 0.85% Coverage R4:If we get feedback at the right time, maybe if I was slow or reluctant and feedback has come at the right time, I would know I am dragging my group, I will have to pull up my socks so that at least instead of someone who may sit under the tree and start saying this and that house has no problem, number two is okay then she starts ticking knowing that there is no way the CHA will discover that she did not visit those households. This is different from those who are using phones because those with phones are monitored and be known if they did their work or not unlike us who use paper forms. - § 1 reference coded [0.67% Coverage] Reference 1 - 0.67% Coverage R1:You see this phone has an app that we use, so it doesn’t give you a hard time when you want to access a page. You just search for that app and then click on it and then it directs you. Now, in the past the way I was working- I go to a household and find a pregnant mother, I find an infant in that household; I would mix all these things [cases] together and get out of that place. But the phone helps me, if it is pregnancy I know that I want to go and talk to this mama about pregnancy and then next day I would go back and ask her about the baby...just like that - § 1 reference coded [1.50% Coverage] Reference 1 - 1.50% Coverage R:Actually, the smart health app or DESC actually has really improved the data because we are able as the supervisors; we are able to get the data at the right time as compared to the manual. You know manual you have to wait for these people until end month that is when you will see their data so that you are able to discuss but now, you see the data day by day. On a daily basis...yeah, so you find that when a CHV has a problem somewhere with the data, you are able to come in at the right time and maybe do the corrections. - § 1 reference coded [0.49% Coverage] Reference 1 - 0.49% Coverage We had not thought about even ECHIS because this ECHIS never existed, but it just wanted solve the issue of loss of data and the issue of having data, loss of data and having credible quality data from the community. - § 2 references coded [4.44% Coverage] Reference 1 - 1.56% Coverage M:Alright. So how is the DESC intervention enabling the county to align with ECHIS strategy? Is DESC intervention allowing the county to align with ECHIS strategy? R:Yes, okay. So, this is the relationship between the county and ECHIS. The data that is transmitted from the CHV from the grass root level, just as we stated, we have a lot of interested parties in the ECHIS platform. Because I’ll say that before, the county government of <> or rather the sub-county level, used to have many data that is not verified, we used to have maybe cooked data, there are data that earlier had been untapped, but through the intervention of ECHIS platform, now the government is now able to see even the inner depth of the untapped data. Now, they are able to check, verify and if possible, to send their supervisors and implement it in their own way. So, all this, it directly contributes to the implementation of the DESC. Reference 2 - 2.88% Coverage M:Okay, I just want to know whether you have strategies put in place to ensure that you are improving your data quality or rather the data that has been generated on the DESC platform is of quality, is efficient and is up to date. R:Yes, there are strategies. The first strategy I remember we talked about was on actually calling this household. Did the CHV visit you? Were you given this drug? Yes, why? So that is one intervention that is one strategy. Another strategy is we normally have debrief meetings to discuss the quality of the data that is presented before us and we also have refresher trainings, it’s also a strategy whereby we put the CHV on the spotlight on how do they conduct the data? Did they achieve the target? Yes, and last but not least, definitely the data review meetings. So that data review meeting as I said before, incorporates all the interested stakeholders. That comes from the county director, the DCD, the doctors, we have the focal persons, interested CHVs, we also have CHAs, and we also have me, (Giggles) LG staff. Those strategies incorporated with whatever we have on the ground that is what helps us achieve yeah. M:The data quality. R:Yes, yes. M:So, has all these actually improved data quality so far? Everything we’ve discussed, have all these items we’ve discussed improved data quality so far? R:Yes, I think, not I think, I know they’ve really improved data quality because even as we speak, there is data that was sent and I can see the verified data and the unverified data. So, this unverified data, we have to follow through, we want to know why was it unverified and why was it cooked? So, I think to me, it has really improved the data quality. - § 1 reference coded [0.76% Coverage] Reference 1 - 0.76% Coverage R:Another gap was on quality of data-you are just given aggregate at the [Inaudible 48:29]. A CHV can generate data under a tree at the end of the month and submit when they are using the paper based. But this one now, at least the quality...we can count on the quality because they know one, there is GPS coordinates that tell us where you have done your entries, two you are interacting with real time people where we can see this household, this number of people, this is the contact...it is easy to do quality checks unlike how it used to be