ArticleBMJ open2021
Exploring data quality and use of the routine health information system in Ethiopia: a mixed-methods study.
Article in BMJ open, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 33 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
33 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Pooled it
- Common data quality elements for health information systems: a systematic review.BMC medical informatics and decision making · 2024Pooled it
- A User-Centered Approach to Achieving High Degree of Digital Health Technology Utilization for Community HIV Case Management and Data Collection in Ethiopia.Global health, science and practice · 2026Article
- Stillbirth and newborn data quality and use and related input and process factors: findings of the IMPULSE study in Ethiopia.Journal of global health · 2026Article
- Design and content of health facility routine data recording and reporting forms for maternal, newborn, and child health: a scoping review of literature.JAMIA open · 2026Review
- Variability in Perceived Healthcare Data Quality Across Tanzanian Regional Referral Hospitals: A Hospital-Based Cross-Sectional Study.Health science reports · 2026Article
- Article
- Facility newborn and stillbirth data use and enabling factors at different levels of the health system: findings of the IMPULSE study across 142 sites in the Central African Republic, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Uganda.Journal of global health · 2025Article
- Predictive power of socio-demographic attributes of healthcare workers on data quality in Tanzanian regional referral hospitals.BMC health services research · 2025Article
- Trends in morbidity and mortality from bacterial infections in hospitals in Northwest Ethiopia.BMC infectious diseases · 2025Article
- Negligence in data recording during institutional birth: exploring health workers' perspectives on the barriers and enablers of data documentation practices.Archives of public health = Archives belges de sante publique · 2025Article
- Behavioral factors affecting data quality and information utilization in health facilities in ethiopia, 2023: an exploratory qualitative study.Archives of public health = Archives belges de sante publique · 2025Article
- Health information system in primary health care units of the Central Zone, Tigray, Northern Ethiopia.BMC medical informatics and decision making · 2025Article
- Towards equitable partnerships in global health research: experiences from Ethiopia, Uganda, Lao PDR and Vietnam.BMJ global health · 2025Article
- Practice, enablers and barriers of health information system accountability framework in Northwest Ethiopia 2023.BMC medical informatics and decision making · 2025Article
- Perceived accuracy and utilisation of DHIS2 data for health decision making and advocacy in Kenya: A Qualitative Study.PLOS global public health · 2025Article
- Article
- Evaluation of diabetes care services, data quality, and availability of resources in Ethiopia: Difference-in-differences analysis of the NORAD-WHO NCDs' midterm project evaluation.BMC primary care · 2024Article
- Analyzing health service employees' intention to use e-health systems in southwest Ethiopia: using UTAUT-2 model.BMC health services research · 2024Article
- The quality of routine data for measuring facility-based maternal mortality in public and private health facilities in Kampala City, Uganda.Population health metrics · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
43 authors.
Funding
Abstract
objectiveA routine health information system (RHIS) enables decision making in the healthcare system. We aimed to analyse data quality at the district and regional level and explore factors and perceptions affecting the quality and use of routine data.
designThis was a mixed-methods study. We used the WHO toolkit for analysing data quality and interviewed staff at the point of data generation and along with the flow of data. Data were analysed using the Performance of Routine Information System Management framework.
settingThis study was performed in eight districts in four regions of Ethiopia. The study was nested within a 2-year programme of the Operational Research and Coaching for government Analysts.
participantsWe visited 45 health posts, 1 district hospital, 16 health centres and 8 district offices for analysis of routine RHIS data and interviewed 117 staff members for the qualitative assessment. OUTCOME MEASURES: We assessed availability of source documents, completeness, timeliness and accuracy of reporting of routine data, and explored data quality and use perceptions.
resultsThere was variable quality of both indicator and data element. Data on maternal health and immunisation were of higher quality than data on child nutrition. Issues ranged from simple organisational factors, such as availability of register books, to intricate technical issues, like complexity of indicators and choice of denominators based on population estimates. Respondents showed knowledge of the reporting procedures, but also demonstrated limited skills, lack of supportive supervision and reporting to please the next level. We saw limited examples of the use of data by the staff who were responsible for data reporting.
conclusionWe identified important organisational, technical, behavioural and process factors that need further attention to improve the quality and use of RHIS data in Ethiopia.
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Registered trials
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