The Two-Stage Integrated Approach Methodology

The Two-Stage Integrated Approach Methodology
Abstract: Efforts to assess and improve the quality of family planning (FP) data are often poorly planned and uncoordinated, leading to inconsistent findings, duplication of effort, and poor management of already limited resources. Decisions on where to target resources for data quality improvement are often based on where there may be partner resources and interest, as opposed to where resources may be most needed or well spent. Dependencies of this kind also lead to an increased burden on national programs to manage the application of multiple partner-developed tools and systems, and attempts to integrate or triangulate their information with existing health management information system (HMIS) data free from the duplication of reported data.

This integrated approach to data quality assessment represents a joint effort between the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Track20 Project and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Data for Impact (D4I) project to target data quality in a way that accounts for limited resources in FP programs by providing a framework to integrate two tools specifically developed for HMIS data quality and use through both a top-down and bottom-up approach.

Combining the routine data quality assessment (RDQA) approach with the Service Statistics to Estimated Modern Use (SS to EMU) approach for identifying sources of “quality issues” in data represents an important step toward improving targeted management of health information and moving this assessment to facilities and subnational levels with the greatest need. The implementation of the integrated approach will consist of (1) using the SS to EMU tool to conduct a data quality desk review at the management level to identify data inconsistencies in selected indicators, and (2) to use the RDQA to assess the quality of data at the health facility and community site levels.

Access the Training Curriculum for the Integrated Approach to Family Planning Data Quality Assessment resources in English and French.
Shortname: FS-23-644
Author(s): Data for Impact
Year: 2023
Language: English