Routine immunization information system : Data quality and associated factors

Abstract

A descriptive cross sectional study was carried out in 30 immunization clinics in all 10 Medical Officer of Health (MOH) areas in Kaluthara district to describe the quality and some selected factors affecting data in the routine immunization information system selected data quality variables were accuracy, completeness, legibility and timeliness. Data pertaining to calendar year 2006 was taken for the study. Sampling for the assessment of data quality of documents was carried out using WHO 30 by 7 cluster sampling method. Thus selected 507 Child Health Development (CHDR) A records, relevant B portions and Birth and Immunization Regis entries were studied. Also, 210 clinic immunization register (CIR), clinic summary entries and 120 quarterly MCH returns were studied for the objective assessment of them at Public Health Midwife and Public Health Inspector level. The study revealed that data quality in the immunization information system in Kaluthara district is not up to the optimum standard because the scores for all the components were less than l. There were 37.5 percent CHDR-B records missing and 19.7 percent absent entries in BIR when compared with the CHDR-A. Interestingly, summary portions of the CIR have been accurately filled in only 1.9 percent of times. Clinic summary scored more for the quality than CIR but normally reverse is expected in a manually driven system. Only 15 percent of quarterly EPI returns had been forwarded in time by the MOOH to the RDHS office. But, only 40 percent of them had received warnings by their superiors for the delay in 2006. Than l. There were 37.5 percent CHDR-B records missing and 19.7 percent absent entries in BIR when compared with the A