Strengthening Data Quality for Evidence-Based Planning and Management – a Systematic Review of Immunization Records in India

Vishal Agarwal, John Snow Inc.(JSI)
Nitesh Tailor, John Snow India Private Ltd
Mrinal Mohapatra, John Snow India Private Ltd
Gopal Krishna Soni, John Snow India Private Ltd

Background: India's Universal Immunization Program (UIP), launched in 1985, is the largest in the world. Routine administrative data generated from health facilities is captured in diverse systems like HMIS (Health Management Information System). A study was conducted in four states of India to assess the quality of immunization data. Objectives: Assessment of immunization data quality. Methodology: The DQA was conducted in 4 Urban cities of 4 states of India, using an India specific tool from Feb-May 2024, based on WHO’s Data Quality Self-Assessment manual and GAVI’s Immunization DQA manual. Data was assessed on Availability, Completeness, Consistency and Agreement. Results: The availability of records and reports at UPHC level varies from 5% to 100%. Completeness of records ranged from 31% to 51%. Main Reason of incompleteness of Monthly Progress report was blank fields related to birth doses and AEFI data. Agreement between the reports in hard copies and e-copies in HMIS portal was low (76%). Consistency was also unsatisfactory in paper copies (33.3%). Conclusion: The quality of administrative data can be improved through regular monitoring with use of information technology to facilitate real time data visibility. Regular analysis on good quality will lead to effective program review to improve immunization coverage.

Keywords: Data and Methods, Qualitative data/methods/approaches, Children, Adolescents, and Youth, Linked data sets

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