Maureen TEMBEI AYOK1*, Maurice EBODE2, Martin YAKUM 1,*, Joel BAYIHA1, Benjamin AZIKE2, Joliette AZAKOH 3, Anthony Chebe 2, Sonia Nafack3, Pascal GOURA1, Frank KIADJIEU 1, Landry BEYALA1, Manualla CHEUGEU 3, Ismael KENGMO3, Jerome ATEUDJIEU 1,
1M.A. SANTE (Meilleure accès aux soins de santé), P.O.Box 33490 Yaoundé –Cameroun 2M.A. SANTE (Meilleure accès aux soins de santé), Kousseri –Cameroun ; 3M.A. SANTE (Meilleure accès aux soins de santé), Douala –Cameroun
CaHReF 2018, Yaoundé Congres hall, 08 – 11 January 2019 , OSEP071
Background: Data from health facilities can provide immediate and ongoing information relevant to public health decision-making but only if certain conditions such as standardization of data tools, high quality and diversity of services rendered is met. Cameroon lacks an organized and coordinated health information system at all levels of care.
Objectif: This study assessed the quality of data collected and the standardization of out-patient registration tools at health facility level in Cameroon.
Methodology: A descriptive cross sectional study design was used. Seven health districts and 22 health facilities within the far north and littoral regions were purposively sampled. At health facilities, all external consultation registers were reviewed and assessed for data quality and completeness using semi-structured questionnaires. Random sampling of the last 100 patients per register was done to assess presence and level of data completeness of 20 key variables. Descriptive statistics was used in SPSS version 22 to summarize and describe the data.
Results: There exist a unique system of manual data collection and management with a mixture of locally adapted and nationally provided data collection tools often not standardized in place. Important variables for out-patient consultation such as vital parameters were not present in national registers, although information on these parameters at times were collected and recorded by health facility staff. Proportion of level of data completeness was low with only 4.3% of 47 registers reported as being complete. Majority of registers were filled by health staff among which medical doctors and nurses were found to be the most responsible for external consultation.
Conclusion/Recommandation: Data quality at health facility level in Cameroon is poor in terms of data completeness and standardization of data tools for out-patient registration. This affects the quality of information generated within the National Health Information System and national decision-making. Nationally provided consultation registers should be standardized, contextualized and made available for all external consultation purposes per health facility. Training is needed on importance of complete and quality data in disease surveillance for public decision making.
Key Words: Data Completeness, Quality, Health Information System.