Maternal and Child Health Data Quality in the Volta Regional Hospital and Chereponi Government Hospital

Abstract

Introduction: Reliability of reported health data in Sub-Saharan Africa is frequently undermined by issues like data completeness, discrepancies, and consistency in health management information systems (HMIS). Reliability of health data is crucial for monitoring health services, especially in maternal and child healthcare, where data inaccuracies can have serious implications for healthcare planning and outcomes.

Aim: The objective of this study is to assess the quality of Maternal and Child Health (MCH) data at Volta Regional Hospital and Chereponi Government Hospital.

Methods: The research evaluates the quality of maternal and child health data, focussing on three dimensions: completeness, discrepancies, and consistency. Verification factors (VFs) are calculated to assess data accuracy, with a specific focus on discrepancies in data transfer between registers and DHIS2. The study also assesses the consistency of key maternal health indicators, such as antenatal care visits (ANC1, ANC4), immunisation (Penta1, Penta3), and postnatal care. The study uses a facility-based analytical cross-sectional design with quantitative methods, analysing data from both hospitals over a five-year period (2019–2023).

Results: The results show that the two facilities’ levels of data completeness varied, with Volta Regional Hospital exhibiting higher levels than Chereponi Government Hospital. Discrepancies in reported data were more noticeable in Volta Regional Hospital, probably as a result of higher patient loads. Both hospitals’ levels of data consistency over time and between related variables was found to be moderate, with specific areas for improvement being ANC data. These findings underscore the necessity of more stringent data management procedures and ongoing staff training to guarantee data reliability.

Conclusion: The study concludes that better maternal and child health data quality is essential for efficient health service delivery and policy development in Ghana. The findings offer useful information for policymakers and healthcare administrators to improve the quality of health data for maternal and child healthcare in the area.