Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39849367›Full record

ArticleBMC pediatrics2025

Neonatal indicator data in Tanzania District Health Information System: evaluation of availability and quality of selected newborn indicators, 2015-2022.

Josephine Shabani, Nahya Salim, Christine Bohne, Louise Tina Day, Claud Kumalija, Ahmad Mohamed Makuwani, Felix Bundala, Habib Ismail, Joy E Lawn, Eric O Ohuma

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC pediatrics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
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5citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Josephine ShabaniIfakara Health Institute, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. jshabani@ihi.or.tz.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8006-6135
Nahya SalimDepartment of Pediatrics and Child Health, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Christine BohneRice360 Institute for Global Health Technologies, Rice University, Texas, USA.
Louise Tina DayMaternal, Adolescent, Reproductive, & Child Health Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
Claud KumalijaMinistry of Health, Dodoma, Tanzania.
Ahmad Mohamed MakuwaniMinistry of Health, Dodoma, Tanzania.
Felix BundalaMinistry of Health, Dodoma, Tanzania.
Habib IsmailMinistry of Health, Dodoma, Tanzania.
Joy E LawnMaternal, Adolescent, Reproductive, & Child Health Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
Eric O OhumaMaternal, Adolescent, Reproductive, & Child Health Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.

Funding

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Bill and Melinda Gates FoundationChildren's Investment Fund Foundation Children's Investment Fund FoundationELMA Foundation ELMA FoundationJohn D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur FoundationLemelson Foundation Lemelson FoundationThe Sall Family Foundation The Sall Family FoundationTing Tsung and Wei Fong Chao Family Foundation Ting Tsung and Wei Fong Chao Family Foundation
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe Every Newborn Action Plan (ENAP) indicators are essential in monitoring neonatal healthcare coverage and quality. The District Health Information System (DHIS2), an open-source platform in over 80 countries, supports health data collection and analysis, enabling progress tracking at national and subnational levels. This study evaluates the availability and quality of maternal and newborn health indicators, explicitly focusing on ENAP indicators within Tanzania's DHIS2.

methodsUsing the EN-MINI tool, we assessed data availability for 20 ENAP indicators by analysing their numerators and denominators in Tanzania's DHIS2 (2015-2022) across all healthcare levels. World Health Organization's (WHO) data quality framework was adapted to examine four dimensions: (a) availability of indicators, (b) completeness of indicator reporting, (c) internal consistency of related indicators, and (d) indicator plausibility by comparing DHIS2 data with population-based Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data.

resultsOf the 20 ENAP indicators, 14 were available in Tanzania's DHIS2, with definitions, numerators and denominators aligned with WHO standards. Between 2015 and 2022, the number of facilities reporting at least one delivery annually increased by 19% from 5,898 to 7,016. During this period, 75% to 97% of facilities consistently reported data on skilled attendance at birth and early breastfeeding initiation. In contrast, 4% to 54% of facilities reported on maternal and newborn outcomes, including complications such as stillbirths and maternal mortality. Internal consistency was high (> 94%). However, neonatal mortality rates reported in DHIS2 were lower than those reported in Tanzania DHS for similar periods, even after a 20% adjustment to account for home births.

conclusionTanzania's DHIS2 captures many ENAP indicators; however, notable variability in data quality persists, with substantial data gaps related to maternal and newborn outcomes and complications. To address these challenges, it is crucial to strengthen routine data review, implement robust quality checks, enhance validation processes, provide targeted training, deliver constructive feedback, and conduct supportive supervision. Placing greater emphasis on using DHIS2 data to monitor progress will help identify gaps and drive improvements in data quality, ultimately supporting better maternal and newborn health outcomes.

Indexed as

Health Information SystemsHealth Status IndicatorsInfant HealthQuality Indicators, Health CareData AccuracyFemaleHumansInfantInfant MortalityInfant, NewbornPregnancyTanzaniaDistrict Health Information SystemEvery newborn action planLow- and Middle-Income CountriesNeonatal mortality rateNewborn

Identifiers

PMID39849367
PMCPMC11755859

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.