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Cross JH, Bohne C, Ngwala SK, Shabani J, Wainaina J, Dosunmu O, Kassim I, Penzias RE, Tillya R, Gathara D, Zimba E, Ezeaka VC, Odedere O, Chiume M, Salim N, Kawaza K, Lufesi N, Irimu G, Tongo OO, Malla L, Paton C, Day LT, Oden M, Richards-Kortum R, Molyneux EM, Ohuma EO, Lawn JE. Neonatal inpatient dataset for small and sick newborn care in low- and middle-income countries: systematic development and multi-country operationalisation with NEST360. BMC Pediatr 2023; 23:567. [PMID: 37968588 PMCID: PMC10652643 DOI: 10.1186/s12887-023-04341-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Every Newborn Action Plan (ENAP) coverage target 4 necessitates national scale-up of Level-2 Small and Sick Newborn Care (SSNC) (with Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)) in 80% of districts by 2025. Routine neonatal inpatient data is important for improving quality of care, targeting equity gaps, and enabling data-driven decision-making at individual, district, and national-levels. Existing neonatal inpatient datasets vary in purpose, size, definitions, and collection processes. We describe the co-design and operationalisation of a core inpatient dataset for use to track outcomes and improve quality of care for small and sick newborns in high-mortality settings. METHODS A three-step systematic framework was used to review, co-design, and operationalise this novel neonatal inpatient dataset in four countries (Malawi, Kenya, Tanzania, and Nigeria) implementing with the Newborn Essential Solutions and Technologies (NEST360) Alliance. Existing global and national datasets were identified, and variables were mapped according to categories. A priori considerations for variable inclusion were determined by clinicians and policymakers from the four African governments by facilitated group discussions. These included prioritising clinical care and newborn outcomes data, a parsimonious variable list, and electronic data entry. The tool was designed and refined by > 40 implementers and policymakers during a multi-stakeholder workshop and online interactions. RESULTS Identified national and international datasets (n = 6) contained a median of 89 (IQR:61-154) variables, with many relating to research-specific initiatives. Maternal antenatal/intrapartum history was the largest variable category (21, 23.3%). The Neonatal Inpatient Dataset (NID) includes 60 core variables organised in six categories: (1) birth details/maternal history; (2) admission details/identifiers; (3) clinical complications/observations; (4) interventions/investigations; (5) discharge outcomes; and (6) diagnosis/cause-of-death. Categories were informed through the mapping process. The NID has been implemented at 69 neonatal units in four African countries and links to a facility-level quality improvement (QI) dashboard used in real-time by facility staff. CONCLUSION The NEST360 NID is a novel, parsimonious tool for use in routine information systems to inform inpatient SSNC quality. Available on the NEST360/United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Implementation Toolkit for SSNC, this adaptable tool enables facility and country-level comparisons to accelerate progress toward ENAP targets. Additional linked modules could include neonatal at-risk follow-up, retinopathy of prematurity, and Level-3 intensive care.
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Affiliation(s)
- James H Cross
- Maternal, Adolescent, Reproductive, & Child Health Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
| | - Christine Bohne
- Rice360 Institute for Global Health Technologies, Rice University, Texas, USA
- Ifakara Health Institute, Ifakara, Tanzania
| | - Samuel K Ngwala
- Research Support Center, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi
| | | | - John Wainaina
- Kenya Medical Research Institute, Wellcome Trust Research Program, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | | | - Rebecca E Penzias
- Maternal, Adolescent, Reproductive, & Child Health Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | | | - David Gathara
- Maternal, Adolescent, Reproductive, & Child Health Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
- Kenya Medical Research Institute, Wellcome Trust Research Program, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Evelyn Zimba
- Rice360 Institute for Global Health Technologies, Rice University, Texas, USA
| | | | - Opeyemi Odedere
- Rice360 Institute for Global Health Technologies, Rice University, Texas, USA
- APIN Public Health Initiatives, Abuja, Nigeria
| | - Msandeni Chiume
- Department of Paediatrics, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (Formerly College of Medicine, University of Malawi), Blantyre, Malawi
- Kamuzu Central Hospital, Lilongwe, Malawi
| | - Nahya Salim
- Ifakara Health Institute, Ifakara, Tanzania
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Kondwani Kawaza
- Department of Paediatrics, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (Formerly College of Medicine, University of Malawi), Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Norman Lufesi
- Department of Curative and Medical Rehabilitation, Ministry of Health, Lilongwe, Malawi
| | - Grace Irimu
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Olukemi O Tongo
- Department of Paediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Lucas Malla
- Maternal, Adolescent, Reproductive, & Child Health Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Chris Paton
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Department of Information Science, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Louise T Day
- Maternal, Adolescent, Reproductive, & Child Health Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
- Maternal and Newborn Health Group, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology and International Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Maria Oden
- Rice360 Institute for Global Health Technologies, Rice University, Texas, USA
| | | | - Elizabeth M Molyneux
- Department of Paediatrics, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (Formerly College of Medicine, University of Malawi), Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Eric O Ohuma
- Maternal, Adolescent, Reproductive, & Child Health Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Joy E Lawn
- Maternal, Adolescent, Reproductive, & Child Health Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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Ayele W, Gage A, Kapoor NR, Kassahun Gelaw S, Hensman D, Derseh Mebratie A, Nega A, Asai D, Molla G, Mehata S, Mthethwa L, Mfeka-Nkabinde NG, Joseph JP, Pierre DM, Thermidor R, Arsenault C. Quality of routine health data at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ethiopia, Haiti, Laos, Nepal, and South Africa. Popul Health Metr 2023; 21:7. [PMID: 37210556 PMCID: PMC10199286 DOI: 10.1186/s12963-023-00306-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND During the COVID-19 pandemic, governments and researchers have used routine health data to estimate potential declines in the delivery and uptake of essential health services. This research relies on the data being high quality and, crucially, on the data quality not changing because of the pandemic. In this paper, we investigated those assumptions and assessed data quality before and during COVID-19. METHODS We obtained routine health data from the DHIS2 platforms in Ethiopia, Haiti, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Nepal, and South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal province) for a range of 40 indicators on essential health services and institutional deaths. We extracted data over 24 months (January 2019-December 2020) including pre-pandemic data and the first 9 months of the pandemic. We assessed four dimensions of data quality: reporting completeness, presence of outliers, internal consistency, and external consistency. RESULTS We found high reporting completeness across countries and services and few declines in reporting at the onset of the pandemic. Positive outliers represented fewer than 1% of facility-month observations across services. Assessment of internal consistency across vaccine indicators found similar reporting of vaccines in all countries. Comparing cesarean section rates in the HMIS to those from population-representative surveys, we found high external consistency in all countries analyzed. CONCLUSIONS While efforts remain to improve the quality of these data, our results show that several indicators in the HMIS can be reliably used to monitor service provision over time in these five countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wondimu Ayele
- School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Anna Gage
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, USA
| | - Neena R Kapoor
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, USA
| | | | | | - Anagaw Derseh Mebratie
- School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Adiam Nega
- School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Daisuke Asai
- World Health Organization, Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic
| | - Gebeyaw Molla
- Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Suresh Mehata
- Ministry of Health and Population, Government of Nepal, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Londiwe Mthethwa
- School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | | | - Jean Paul Joseph
- Division d'Épidémiologie et de Laboratoire, Zanmi Lasante, Mirebalais, Plateau Central, Haiti
| | - Daniella Myriam Pierre
- Programme National de Lutte contre les IST/VIH/SIDA (PNLS) Unite de Coordination des Maladies Transmissibles (UCMIT), Ministère de la Sante Publique et de la Population (MSPP), Port-au-Prince, Haiti
| | - Roody Thermidor
- Studies and Planning Unit, Ministry of Public Health and Population, Port-au-Prince, Haiti
| | - Catherine Arsenault
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, USA.
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Meghani A, Rodríguez DC, Bilal H, Tripathi AB, Namasivayam V, Prakash R, Peters DH, Bennett S. Examining policy intentions and actual implementation practices: How organizational factors influence health management information systems in Uttar Pradesh, India. Soc Sci Med 2021; 286:114291. [PMID: 34418584 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Revised: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 07/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
This study investigates the implementation of a recent health management information systems (HMIS) policy reform in Uttar Pradesh, India, which aims to improve the quality and use of HMIS data in decision-making. Through in-depth interviews, meeting observations and a policy document review, this study sought to capture the experiences of district-level staff (street-level bureaucrats) who were responsible for HMIS policy implementation. Findings revealed that issues of weak HMIS implementation were partly due to human resources shortages both in number and technical skill. Delays in recruitment and the presence of inactive staff overburdened existing staff and weakened the implementation of HMIS activities at the block- and district-levels. District staff also explained how inadequate computer literacy and limited technical understanding further contributed to low HMIS data quality. The organizational culture was even more constraining: working within a very rigid and hierarchical organization was challenging for district data staff, who were expected to manage day-to-day HMIS activities, but lacked the discretion and authority to do so effectively. Consequently, they had to escalate minor issues to district leadership for action and were expected to follow their supervisors' directives- even if they contradicted HMIS policy guidelines. High performance pressures associated with achieving top district rankings deviated focus away from HMIS data quality issues. Many district-level respondents described their superiors' "fixation" with becoming a top-ranking district often resulted in disregard for the quality of data informing district rankings. Furthermore, the review of district rankings only partially encouraged district-level leadership to investigate reasons for low-performing indicators. Instead, low district rankings often resulted in punitive action. The study recommends the importance of incorporating the perspectives of district staff, and recognizing their discretion, and authority when designing policy implementation processes, and finally concludes with potential strategies for strengthening the current HMIS policy reform.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankita Meghani
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States.
| | - Daniela C Rodríguez
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Huzaifa Bilal
- Uttar Pradesh Technical Support Unit, India Health Action Trust, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Anand B Tripathi
- Uttar Pradesh Technical Support Unit, India Health Action Trust, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Vasanthakumar Namasivayam
- Uttar Pradesh Technical Support Unit, India Health Action Trust, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India; University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Ravi Prakash
- Uttar Pradesh Technical Support Unit, India Health Action Trust, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India; University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - David H Peters
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Sara Bennett
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
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Shamba D, Day LT, Zaman SB, Sunny AK, Tarimo MN, Peven K, Khan J, Thakur N, Talha MTUS, K C A, Haider R, Ruysen H, Mazumder T, Rahman MH, Shaikh MZH, Sæbø JI, Hanson C, Singh NS, Schellenberg J, Vaz LME, Requejo J, Lawn JE. Barriers and enablers to routine register data collection for newborns and mothers: EN-BIRTH multi-country validation study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2021; 21:233. [PMID: 33765963 PMCID: PMC7995573 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-020-03517-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Policymakers need regular high-quality coverage data on care around the time of birth to accelerate progress for ending preventable maternal and newborn deaths and stillbirths. With increasing facility births, routine Health Management Information System (HMIS) data have potential to track coverage. Identifying barriers and enablers faced by frontline health workers recording HMIS source data in registers is important to improve data for use. METHODS The EN-BIRTH study was a mixed-methods observational study in five hospitals in Bangladesh, Nepal and Tanzania to assess measurement validity for selected Every Newborn coverage indicators. We described data elements required in labour ward registers to track these indicators. To evaluate barriers and enablers for correct recording of data in registers, we designed three interview tools: a) semi-structured in-depth interview (IDI) guide b) semi-structured focus group discussion (FGD) guide, and c) checklist assessing care-to-documentation. We interviewed two groups of respondents (January 2018-March 2019): hospital nurse-midwives and doctors who fill ward registers after birth (n = 40 IDI and n = 5 FGD); and data collectors (n = 65). Qualitative data were analysed thematically by categorising pre-identified codes. Common emerging themes of barriers or enablers across all five hospitals were identified relating to three conceptual framework categories. RESULTS Similar themes emerged as both barriers and enablers. First, register design was recognised as crucial, yet perceived as complex, and not always standardised for necessary data elements. Second, register filling was performed by over-stretched nurse-midwives with variable training, limited supervision, and availability of logistical resources. Documentation complexity across parallel documents was time-consuming and delayed because of low staff numbers. Complete data were valued more than correct data. Third, use of register data included clinical handover and monthly reporting, but little feedback was given from data users. CONCLUSION Health workers invest major time recording register data for maternal and newborn core health indicators. Improving data quality requires standardised register designs streamlined to capture only necessary data elements. Consistent implementation processes are also needed. Two-way feedback between HMIS levels is critical to improve performance and accurately track progress towards agreed health goals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donat Shamba
- Department of Health Systems, Impact Evaluation and Policy, Ifakara Health Institute, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Louise T Day
- Centre for Maternal, Adolescent, Reproductive & Child Health (MARCH), London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel St, London, UK.
| | - Sojib Bin Zaman
- Maternal and Child Health Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | | | - Menna Narcis Tarimo
- Department of Health Systems, Impact Evaluation and Policy, Ifakara Health Institute, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Kimberly Peven
- Centre for Maternal, Adolescent, Reproductive & Child Health (MARCH), London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel St, London, UK
- Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Jasmin Khan
- Maternal and Child Health Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | | | - Md Taqbir Us Samad Talha
- Maternal and Child Health Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Ashish K C
- International Maternal and Child Health, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Rajib Haider
- Maternal and Child Health Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Harriet Ruysen
- Centre for Maternal, Adolescent, Reproductive & Child Health (MARCH), London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel St, London, UK
| | - Tapas Mazumder
- Maternal and Child Health Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md Hafizur Rahman
- Maternal and Child Health Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md Ziaul Haque Shaikh
- Maternal and Child Health Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | | | - Claudia Hanson
- Centre for Maternal, Adolescent, Reproductive & Child Health (MARCH), London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel St, London, UK
- Global Public Health Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Neha S Singh
- Centre for Maternal, Adolescent, Reproductive & Child Health (MARCH), London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel St, London, UK
| | - Joanna Schellenberg
- Centre for Maternal, Adolescent, Reproductive & Child Health (MARCH), London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel St, London, UK
| | - Lara M E Vaz
- International Programs, Population Reference Bureau, Washington DC, USA
| | | | - Joy E Lawn
- Centre for Maternal, Adolescent, Reproductive & Child Health (MARCH), London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel St, London, UK
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Kc A, Peven K, Ameen S, Msemo G, Basnet O, Ruysen H, Zaman SB, Mkony M, Sunny AK, Rahman QSU, Shabani J, Bastola RC, Assenga E, Kc NP, El Arifeen S, Kija E, Malla H, Kong S, Singhal N, Niermeyer S, Lincetto O, Day LT, Lawn JE. Neonatal resuscitation: EN-BIRTH multi-country validation study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2021; 21:235. [PMID: 33765958 PMCID: PMC7995695 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-020-03422-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Annually, 14 million newborns require stimulation to initiate breathing at birth and 6 million require bag-mask-ventilation (BMV). Many countries have invested in facility-based neonatal resuscitation equipment and training. However, there is no consistent tracking for neonatal resuscitation coverage. METHODS The EN-BIRTH study, in five hospitals in Bangladesh, Nepal, and Tanzania (2017-2018), collected time-stamped data for care around birth, including neonatal resuscitation. Researchers surveyed women and extracted data from routine labour ward registers. To assess accuracy, we compared gold standard observed coverage to survey-reported and register-recorded coverage, using absolute difference, validity ratios, and individual-level validation metrics (sensitivity, specificity, percent agreement). We analysed two resuscitation numerators (stimulation, BMV) and three denominators (live births and fresh stillbirths, non-crying, non-breathing). We also examined timeliness of BMV. Qualitative data were collected from health workers and data collectors regarding barriers and enablers to routine recording of resuscitation. RESULTS Among 22,752 observed births, 5330 (23.4%) babies did not cry and 3860 (17.0%) did not breathe in the first minute after birth. 16.2% (n = 3688) of babies were stimulated and 4.4% (n = 998) received BMV. Survey-report underestimated coverage of stimulation and BMV. Four of five labour ward registers captured resuscitation numerators. Stimulation had variable accuracy (sensitivity 7.5-40.8%, specificity 66.8-99.5%), BMV accuracy was higher (sensitivity 12.4-48.4%, specificity > 93%), with small absolute differences between observed and recorded BMV. Accuracy did not vary by denominator option. < 1% of BMV was initiated within 1 min of birth. Enablers to register recording included training and data use while barriers included register design, documentation burden, and time pressure. CONCLUSIONS Population-based surveys are unlikely to be useful for measuring resuscitation coverage given low validity of exit-survey report. Routine labour ward registers have potential to accurately capture BMV as the numerator. Measuring the true denominator for clinical need is complex; newborns may require BMV if breathing ineffectively or experiencing apnoea after initial drying/stimulation or subsequently at any time. Further denominator research is required to evaluate non-crying as a potential alternative in the context of respectful care. Measuring quality gaps, notably timely provision of resuscitation, is crucial for programme improvement and impact, but unlikely to be feasible in routine systems, requiring audits and special studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashish Kc
- International Maternal and Child Health, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Kimberly Peven
- Maternal, Adolescent, Reproductive & Child Health (MARCH), London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
- Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Shafiqul Ameen
- Maternal and Child Health Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Georgina Msemo
- Department of Health Systems, Impact Evaluation and Policy, Ifakara Health Institute, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
- Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Omkar Basnet
- Research Division, Golden Community, Lalitpur, Nepal
| | - Harriet Ruysen
- Maternal, Adolescent, Reproductive & Child Health (MARCH), London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Sojib Bin Zaman
- Maternal and Child Health Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Martha Mkony
- Department of Health Systems, Impact Evaluation and Policy, Ifakara Health Institute, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | | | - Qazi Sadeq-Ur Rahman
- Maternal and Child Health Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Josephine Shabani
- Department of Health Systems, Impact Evaluation and Policy, Ifakara Health Institute, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Ram Chandra Bastola
- Pokhara Academy of Health Sciences, Pokhara, Nepal
- Ministry of Health and Population, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Evelyne Assenga
- Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Naresh P Kc
- Society of Public Health Physicians Nepal, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Shams El Arifeen
- Maternal and Child Health Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Edward Kija
- Department of Health Systems, Impact Evaluation and Policy, Ifakara Health Institute, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Honey Malla
- Research Division, Golden Community, Lalitpur, Nepal
| | - Stefanie Kong
- Maternal, Adolescent, Reproductive & Child Health (MARCH), London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Nalini Singhal
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Susan Niermeyer
- University of Colorado School of Medicine, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Ornella Lincetto
- Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Louise T Day
- Maternal, Adolescent, Reproductive & Child Health (MARCH), London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Joy E Lawn
- Maternal, Adolescent, Reproductive & Child Health (MARCH), London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
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Peven K, Day LT, Ruysen H, Tahsina T, Kc A, Shabani J, Kong S, Ameen S, Basnet O, Haider R, Rahman QSU, Blencowe H, Lawn JE. Stillbirths including intrapartum timing: EN-BIRTH multi-country validation study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2021; 21:226. [PMID: 33765942 PMCID: PMC7995570 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-020-03238-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND An estimated >2 million babies stillborn around the world each year lack visibility. Low- and middle-income countries carry 84% of the burden yet have the least data. Most births are now in facilities, hence routine register-recording presents an opportunity to improve counting of stillbirths, but research is limited, particularly regarding accuracy. This paper evaluates register-recorded measurement of hospital stillbirths, classification accuracy, and barriers and enablers to routine recording. METHODS The EN-BIRTH mixed-methods, observational study took place in five hospitals in Bangladesh, Nepal and Tanzania (2017-2018). Clinical observers collected time-stamped data on perinatal care and birth outcomes as gold standard. To assess accuracy of routine register-recorded stillbirth rates, we compared birth outcomes recorded in labour ward registers to observation data. We calculated absolute rate differences and individual-level validation metrics (sensitivity, specificity, percent agreement). We assessed misclassification of stillbirths with neonatal deaths. To examine stillbirth appearance (fresh/macerated) as a proxy for timing of death, we compared appearance to observed timing of intrauterine death based on heart rate at admission. RESULTS 23,072 births were observed including 550 stillbirths. Register-recorded completeness of birth outcomes was > 90%. The observed study stillbirth rate ranged from 3.8 (95%CI = 2.0,7.0) to 50.3 (95%CI = 43.6,58.0)/1000 total births and was under-estimated in routine registers by 1.1 to 7.3 /1000 total births (register: observed ratio 0.9-0.7). Specificity of register-recorded birth outcomes was > 99% and sensitivity varied between hospitals, ranging from 77.7-86.1%. Percent agreement between observer-assessed birth outcome and register-recorded birth outcome was very high across all hospitals and all modes of birth (> 98%). Fresh or macerated stillbirth appearance was a poor proxy for timing of stillbirth. While there were similar numbers of stillbirths misclassified as neonatal deaths (17/430) and neonatal deaths misclassified as stillbirths (21/36), neonatal deaths were proportionately more likely to be misclassified as stillbirths (58.3% vs 4.0%). Enablers to more accurate register-recording of birth outcome included supervision and data use. CONCLUSIONS Our results show these routine registers accurately recorded stillbirths. Fresh/macerated appearance was a poor proxy for intrapartum stillbirths, hence more focus on measuring fetal heart rate is crucial to classification and importantly reduction in these preventable deaths.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly Peven
- Maternal, Adolescent, Reproductive & Child Health (MARCH) Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
- Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Louise T Day
- Maternal, Adolescent, Reproductive & Child Health (MARCH) Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Harriet Ruysen
- Maternal, Adolescent, Reproductive & Child Health (MARCH) Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Tazeen Tahsina
- Maternal and Child Health Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (iccdr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Ashish Kc
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Josephine Shabani
- Department of Health Systems, Impact Evaluation and Policy, Ifakara Health Institute, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Stefanie Kong
- Maternal, Adolescent, Reproductive & Child Health (MARCH) Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Shafiqul Ameen
- Maternal and Child Health Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (iccdr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Omkar Basnet
- Research Division, Golden Community, Lalitpur, Nepal
| | - Rajib Haider
- Maternal and Child Health Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (iccdr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Qazi Sadeq-Ur Rahman
- Maternal and Child Health Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (iccdr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Hannah Blencowe
- Maternal, Adolescent, Reproductive & Child Health (MARCH) Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Joy E Lawn
- Maternal, Adolescent, Reproductive & Child Health (MARCH) Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK.
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Kong S, Day LT, Zaman SB, Peven K, Salim N, Sunny AK, Shamba D, Rahman QSU, K.C. A, Ruysen H, El Arifeen S, Mee P, Gladstone ME, Blencowe H, Lawn JE. Birthweight: EN-BIRTH multi-country validation study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2021; 21:240. [PMID: 33765936 PMCID: PMC7995711 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-020-03355-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Accurate birthweight is critical to inform clinical care at the individual level and tracking progress towards national/global targets at the population level. Low birthweight (LBW) < 2500 g affects over 20.5 million newborns annually. However, data are lacking and may be affected by heaping. This paper evaluates birthweight measurement within the Every Newborn Birth Indicators Research Tracking in Hospitals (EN-BIRTH) study. METHODS The EN-BIRTH study took place in five hospitals in Bangladesh, Nepal and Tanzania (2017-2018). Clinical observers collected time-stamped data (gold standard) for weighing at birth. We compared accuracy for two data sources: routine hospital registers and women's report at exit interview survey. We calculated absolute differences and individual-level validation metrics. We analysed birthweight coverage and quality gaps including timing and heaping. Qualitative data explored barriers and enablers for routine register data recording. RESULTS Among 23,471 observed births, 98.8% were weighed. Exit interview survey-reported weighing coverage was 94.3% (90.2-97.3%), sensitivity 95.0% (91.3-97.8%). Register-reported coverage was 96.6% (93.2-98.9%), sensitivity 97.1% (94.3-99%). Routine registers were complete (> 98% for four hospitals) and legible > 99.9%. Weighing of stillbirths varied by hospital, ranging from 12.5-89.0%. Observed LBW rate was 15.6%; survey-reported rate 14.3% (8.9-20.9%), sensitivity 82.9% (75.1-89.4%), specificity 96.1% (93.5-98.5%); register-recorded rate 14.9%, sensitivity 90.8% (85.9-94.8%), specificity 98.5% (98-99.0%). In surveys, "don't know" responses for birthweight measured were 4.7%, and 2.9% for knowing the actual weight. 95.9% of observed babies were weighed within 1 h of birth, only 14.7% with a digital scale. Weight heaping indices were around two-fold lower using digital scales compared to analogue. Observed heaping was almost 5% higher for births during the night than day. Survey-report further increased observed birthweight heaping, especially for LBW babies. Enablers to register birthweight measurement in qualitative interviews included digital scale availability and adequate staffing. CONCLUSIONS Hospital registers captured birthweight and LBW prevalence more accurately than women's survey report. Even in large hospitals, digital scales were not always available and stillborn babies not always weighed. Birthweight data are being captured in hospitals and investment is required to further improve data quality, researching of data flow in routine systems and use of data at every level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie Kong
- Centre for Maternal, Adolescent, Reproductive & Child Health (MARCH), London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), London, UK
| | - Louise T. Day
- Centre for Maternal, Adolescent, Reproductive & Child Health (MARCH), London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), London, UK
| | - Sojib Bin Zaman
- Maternal and Child Health Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Kimberly Peven
- Centre for Maternal, Adolescent, Reproductive & Child Health (MARCH), London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), London, UK
- Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Nahya Salim
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
- Department of Health Systems, Impact Evaluation and Policy, Ifakara Health Institute (IHI), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | | | - Donat Shamba
- Department of Health Systems, Impact Evaluation and Policy, Ifakara Health Institute (IHI), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Qazi Sadeq-ur Rahman
- Maternal and Child Health Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Ashish K.C.
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Harriet Ruysen
- Centre for Maternal, Adolescent, Reproductive & Child Health (MARCH), London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), London, UK
| | - Shams El Arifeen
- Maternal and Child Health Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Paul Mee
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Faculty of Epidemiology and Public Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Miriam E. Gladstone
- Centre for Maternal, Adolescent, Reproductive & Child Health (MARCH), London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), London, UK
| | - Hannah Blencowe
- Centre for Maternal, Adolescent, Reproductive & Child Health (MARCH), London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), London, UK
| | - Joy E. Lawn
- Centre for Maternal, Adolescent, Reproductive & Child Health (MARCH), London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), London, UK
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Muinga N, Magare S, Monda J, English M, Fraser H, Powell J, Paton C. Digital health Systems in Kenyan Public Hospitals: a mixed-methods survey. BMC Med Inform Decis Mak 2020; 20:2. [PMID: 31906932 PMCID: PMC6945428 DOI: 10.1186/s12911-019-1005-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2019] [Accepted: 12/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background As healthcare facilities in Low- and Middle-Income Countries adopt digital health systems to improve hospital administration and patient care, it is important to understand the adoption process and assess the systems’ capabilities. This survey aimed to provide decision-makers with information on the digital health systems landscape and to support the rapidly developing digital health community in Kenya and the region by sharing knowledge. Methods We conducted a survey of County Health Records Information Officers (CHRIOs) to determine the extent to which digital health systems in public hospitals that serve as internship training centres in Kenya are adopted. We conducted site visits and interviewed hospital administrators and end users who were at the facility on the day of the visit. We also interviewed digital health system vendors to understand the adoption process from their perspective. Semi-structured interview guides adapted from the literature were used. We identified emergent themes using a thematic analysis from the data. Results We obtained information from 39 CHRIOs, 58 hospital managers and system users, and 9 digital health system vendors through semi-structured interviews and completed questionnaires. From the survey, all facilities mentioned purchased a digital health system primarily for administrative purposes. Radiology and laboratory management systems were commonly standalone systems and there were varying levels of interoperability within facilities that had multiple systems. We only saw one in-patient clinical module in use. Users reported on issues such as system usability, inadequate training, infrastructure and system support. Vendors reported the availability of a wide range of modules, but implementation was constrained by funding, prioritisation of services, users’ lack of confidence in new technologies and lack of appropriate data sharing policies. Conclusion Public hospitals in Kenya are increasingly purchasing systems to support administrative functions and this study highlights challenges faced by hospital users and vendors. Significant work is required to ensure interoperability of systems within hospitals and with other government services. Additional studies on clinical usability and the workflow fit of digital health systems are required to ensure efficient system implementation. However, this requires support from key stakeholders including the government, international donors and regional health informatics organisations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naomi Muinga
- Health services and Research Group, Kenya Medical Research Institute/Wellcome Trust Research Programme, PO Box 43640, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya.
| | | | - Jonathan Monda
- Health services and Research Group, Kenya Medical Research Institute/Wellcome Trust Research Programme, PO Box 43640, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya
| | - Mike English
- Health services and Research Group, Kenya Medical Research Institute/Wellcome Trust Research Programme, PO Box 43640, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya.,Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Hamish Fraser
- Brown Center for Biomedical Informatics, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - John Powell
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Chris Paton
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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Huang F, Blaschke S, Lucas H. Beyond pilotitis: taking digital health interventions to the national level in China and Uganda. Global Health 2017; 13:49. [PMID: 28756767 PMCID: PMC5535287 DOI: 10.1186/s12992-017-0275-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2017] [Accepted: 07/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Innovation theory has focused on the adoption of new products or services by individuals and their market-driven diffusion to the population at large. However, major health sector innovations typically emerge from negotiations between diverse stakeholders who compete to impose or at least prioritise their preferred version of that innovation. Thus, while many digital health interventions have succeeded in terms of adoption by a substantial number of providers and patients, they have generally failed to gain the level of acceptance required for their integration into national health systems that would promote sustainability and population-wide application. The area of innovation considered here relates to a growing number of success stories that have created considerable enthusiasm among donors, international agencies, and governments for the potential role of ICTs in transforming weak national health information systems in middle and low income countries. This article uses a case study approach to consider the assumptions, institutional as well as technical, underlying this enthusiasm and explores possible ways in which outcomes might be improved. METHODS Literature review and case study analysis. RESULTS The two systems considered have had considerable success in terms of gaining and maintaining government support and addressing the concerns of providers without compromising their core elements. In Uganda, the system has flourished in spite of severe resource constraints, using a participatory approach that has encouraged a high level of community engagement. In China, concern with past failures generated the political will to build a high quality surveillance system, using the latest technology and drawing on a highly skilled human resource base. CONCLUSIONS Both example stress the importance of recognising the political, social and historical context within which information systems have to function. Implementers need to focus as much on the perceptions, attitudes and needs of stakeholders as on the technology. Implementers should distinguish between factors which may influence engagement at an institutional level and those aimed at supporting and supervising individuals within those institutions. Finally, we would suggest that designing interoperability into systems at the outset, rather than assuming that this can be achieved at some point in the future, may prove far easier in the longer term.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Huang
- National Center for TB control and prevention, China CDC, Beijing, China
| | | | - Henry Lucas
- Institute of Development Studies, Brighton, BN1 9RE UK
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