The Immunization Data Quality Assessment, Sana’a Capital, Yemen, 2021: Surveillance Evaluation
ABSTRACT
Background:
The Expanded Program of Immunization (EPI) aims to increase immunization coverage however, this cannot be achieved without efficient data management system and ensuring data quality.
Objective:
Assess the quality of immunization data at Sana’a capital
Methods:
The WHO Data Quality Self-assessment (DQS) tools were used. Three randomly urban and the only rural districts (Bani-Al Hairth) at Sana’a capital were selected. From each district, one-third of the public health facilities (HF) that are providing EPI services were randomly selected. Accuracy Ratio (AR), Discrepancy Level (DL), completeness, and timeliness were calculated from tally sheets and reports for Bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG), third dose of pentavalent (Penta-3), and the first dose of Measles and Rubella (MR-1) vaccines. The Quality Index (QI) was assessed for the five components (i.e. recording and reporting; archiving, demographics information, core output/analysis, and using data for action) through a pre-structured questionnaire.
Results:
While the overall AR and DL for BCG, Penta-3, and MR-1 showed an over-reporting at HF level, there was an over-reporting for BCG and Penta-3 but under-reporting for MR-1 at the district level. Regarding the overall QI, recording and reporting achieved the highest score (90% and 96%), while using data for action had the lowest score (61% and 78%) at the HF and district level respectively. While completeness and timeliness were 100% at all HF, both were inadequate at Al-Sabain and Bani-Al Hairth districts: 93% and 99%; and 75% and 83% respectively.
Conclusions:
Findings showed that the quality of immunization data in Sana’a capital’s HF and districts was inadequate with weaknesses in using data for action. Furthermore, completeness and timeliness found to be unsatisfactory at the rural and one of the urban districts. Ensuring data quality through strengthening EPI data management system should be prioritized. Larger scale and regular assessments of EPI data management system were recommended.
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