Penuel-Charis Consultancy successfully implemented a research project titled “Evaluation of Routine Health Data Quality Among Health Facilities in Two Urban-Poor Municipalities in the Greater Accra Region, Ghana.” The study assessed the performance of routine health information systems to strengthen data-driven decision-making and healthcare delivery.
Project Focus
High-quality routine health data is critical for effective healthcare planning, policy development, and service delivery. In Ghana, the District Health Information Management System (DHIMS2) serves as the primary platform for capturing and managing health data. However, concerns about data quality persist, particularly in urban-poor municipalities such as La-Nkwantanang Madina and Ashaiman.
This study focused on evaluating the quality of routine health data and identifying system-level challenges affecting data management in these settings.
What the Project Did
The project employed a mixed-methods approach to:
- Assess the completeness, accuracy, and timeliness of routine health data across key service areas
- Conduct a desk review of health facility records and compare them with reported data
- Apply the PRISM Toolkit to evaluate data management processes
- Explore contextual and systemic challenges through interviews with health workers and health managers
Key Findings
The study revealed important insights into the performance of routine health information systems:
- Timeliness: Routine health data from lower-level facilities were consistently reported on time
- Accuracy: Data accuracy remained high in Ashaiman (2023–2024) and fairly good in Madina
- Completeness: Data completeness emerged as a major challenge across both municipalities
- System Challenges: Key constraints included:
- Limited logistics
- Inadequate human resources
- Infrastructure gaps
Why This Matters
While timely and relatively accurate data reporting is encouraging, gaps in completeness and systemic constraints limit the overall effectiveness of the health information system. Incomplete data can undermine planning, resource allocation, and the monitoring of health outcomes—especially in high-demand, resource-constrained urban settings.
Recommendations and Impact
Based on the findings, the study recommends:
- Timely provision of logistics by the Ghana Health Service to support data management activities
- Regular refresher training for health workers to strengthen data quality and reporting practices
The findings have been shared with key stakeholders to inform strategies aimed at strengthening routine health information systems. This project contributes to ongoing efforts to build a more responsive, data-driven healthcare system in Ghana, particularly in underserved urban communities.
