Description of Session
In response to the huge maternal and newborn mortality indices, the Health and Human Services Secretariat with support of WHO set out to implement a Quality of Care (QOC) initiative for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH). Two problems with significant outcomes were targeted namely; Administration of uterotonics within 1 minute of delivery to prevent Post-Partum Haemorrhage and ensuring immediate skin-to-skin contact to newborns for at least 1 hour after delivery to prevent hypothermia.Quality Improvement (QI) teams were set up in health facilities to develop changes around the identified problems and test them using a Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle over a short period. They were then required to measure their performance (process and outcome) to decide if they would adapt, adopt or abandon the changes. Implementation of the initiative was successful but the key performance indicators required for measurement of the tested changes were not available on the traditional HMIS registers which also had data quality issues. Mechanism for data use and feedback on service performance was non-existent. Facilities had no access to analyzed data and their capacity to analyze data was low. This created a unique opportunity to leverage on an electronic platform for data collection, analysis and use as well as reporting by the facilities. Data collection forms were redesigned to capture missing data fields and digitized on the electronic platform with an interface for direct real-time data entries, analysis and report generation dashboard. Daily, weekly, monthly and annual summaries can now be generated. Facility coaches can now use the platform to remotely monitor performance of the facilities before monthly coaching visits. Facilities can now generate and present data visuals (graphs, tables, maps) showing achievements toward targets, indicators, trends and situation data at quarterly peer-to-peer learning meetings.
