me-introduction-may-2.pptx intro to basic

Editor's Notes

• #1: This training provides an introduction to basic data analysis and interpretation of M&E data for health programs.
• #2: The objectives of this module are to: Read slide.
• #3: Introduction – Provides the learner with an introduction to the workshop – the rationale for data analysis and justification for building skills in this area. Module 1 – Provides the learner with an overview of the statistical terms necessary for conducting basic analyses. Module 2 – Introduces basic descriptive analyses that will enable program staff in setting targets and monitoring and assessing the progress of service delivery activities. Module 3 – Provides an introduction to how best to present data, the steps involved in interpreting results generated by analyses, and how to link the findings back to their programs. Review of key themes – Provides a summary of the main points from Modules 1, 2, and 3.
• #4: Note to facilitator: Have all participants introduce themselves.
• #6: At the end of the session, the learner will: NOTE to facilitator: Read slide.
• #7: The importance of data-informed decision making is expressed on this slide by a national-level policymaker in Nigeria who participated in a data use assessment conducted by MEASURE Evaluation. The assessment involved interviews with a range of professionals at the national, regional, and facility levels. The policymaker interviewed, stated… (READ SLIDE) “… without information, things are done arbitrarily and one becomes unsure of whether a policy or program will fail or succeed. If we allow our policies to be guided by empirical facts and data, there will be a noticeable change in the impact of what we do.” This statement nicely summarizes why we are here today – to discuss the importance of improving data-informed decision making.
• #8: The need for quality health care services is intimately known by all of us. As we know, there is evidence to suggest that the global HIV epidemic is stabilizing, although at an unacceptably high rate. There were an estimated 33 million people living with HIV at the close of 2008, the majority of whom either need or will soon need treatment. Approximately, one-third of the world’s population is infected with TB. Moreover, many new cases are resistant to major TB therapeutic drugs. Each year, malaria causes nearly 1 million deaths, mostly among children under 5 years of age, and an additional 190 to 325 million clinical cases that need to be addressed by the health system. In much of sub-Saharan Africa, the transition from high to low fertility has stalled. In two-thirds of countries in the region, there was no meaningful change in the TFR during the interval between the two most recent Demographic and Health Surveys. In many countries, young people—those below the age of 20—account for the largest proportion of the population. In the next few years, we will see larger numbers of people needing health services as this cohort ages. In the face of this demand we are experiencing … Inadequate numbers and poor distribution of qualified health workers and an inadequate human resources system to support them.
• #9: It is within this context of a high disease burden, a growing population, and insufficient health services, that it becomes extremely important for governments to make the best use of their limited resources. The need to develop strategies, policies, and interventions that are based on quality data and information is urgent.
• #10: M&E systems underpin the data-informed decision-making process. The data allow us to track progress in the delivery of health services and evaluate the outcome and impact of these services on the health status of our communities.
• #11: There are many data sources that contribute to the M&E system. Common data sources include: Service delivery data – This is a data source that you will all become very familiar with, as you are the primary data collectors. Service delivery data reflect the services you provide in your clinical settings. During this module, most of our discussions will rely on service delivery data as a data source. Census – A census is a counting of the people in a specific geographic area. You are all probably familiar with your national census that enumerates the numbers of people in your country. This is also an important data source in the health field because it allows us to calculate the numbers of people in need of specific services. Surveys, evaluations, research studies – Capture information on specific topics and populations. These data sources help us to answer specific questions and frequently give us information that can help us to improve our programs. Surveillance – Tracks the prevalence of specific diseases in a target population over time. Prevalence refers to the total number of cases of a disease in a given population at a specific time. These data help us to estimate the burden of specific diseases. Budget – Last, there are other sources of data that we don’t often consider. For example: budget information can help us track our expenditures and illuminate what specific program elements cost. A point of clarification, in this workshop we often refer to both data and information. Data refers to factual information in raw, unsynthesized form—unprocessed data. Information refers to data that have been synthesized, analyzed, or summarized.
• #12: What is the purpose of monitoring and evaluation? M&E is an essential process in providing effective and efficient services and ensuring that programs are relevant and successful. For example, it helps us to make informed decisions about such questions as appropriate staffing and other necessary resources. M&E helps us know whether a program is being true to its stated goals and objectives. For instance, …. M&E helps us to evaluate whether our programs are having their desired impact. If we want to know how a program is performing, we might assess it against targets that have been set for specific indicators by the program or funding agency or government. For instance, we might assess if a breastfeeding program is reaching its goals in providing counseling to pregnant women during antenatal care (ANC) by the percentage of children under six months who are exclusively breastfed. M&E helps us to generate new knowledge about underserved populations or the need for new services around an emerging health issue. We can also discover factors that influence health outcomes, as well as other important information. However, for M&E to have this desired impact, M&E data and information must be used strategically by programs, service delivery organizations, policymakers, and other stakeholders.
• #13: Oftentimes people see M&E as policing or as a process meant to criticize and undermine their work. In other situations, an M&E unit is only established for the purpose of reporting. Policymakers, program managers, and M&E specialists can be partners in progress—designing new programs, making improvements to plans and programs, policymaking and, at the facility level, identifying gaps and opportunities. Strong decision making and management rely on high-quality M&E or strategic information. Without information, it is difficult to make an effective and successful decision or manage shifts in a program. Finally, data quality is linked to data use. As increased attention is being paid to data quality, especially at the lower levels, it’s important to know that data quality naturally improves as individuals and organizations understand how useful the data and information can be to them.
• #14: The use of monitoring and evaluation data allows providers to make data-informed decisions to design and manage health programs, which results in better health outcomes.
• #15: Now that we have talked about the global importance of using data and information in health decision making, let’s bring the discussion down to a more personal level. Who would like to share with the group how your organization approaches data analysis and interpretation? What is done with those analyzed data? NOTE to facilitator: Encourage participants to share their experiences with the group. Record the participant responses on a flip chart. Be sure to highlight that organizations can use information beyond reporting or producing reports.
• #16: Thank you for noting your responses and experiences. In summary, we can use information to…? NOTE to facilitator: Have the participants suggest responses. After three to four participants speak, show the answers by clicking to reveal them. We can use data and information to: Inform policies and plans Raise additional resources Strengthen programs and improve results Ensure accountability and reporting Improve quality of services provided Contribute to global lessons learned
• #17: Now let’s look at some other examples of how data were used at different levels of the health system to improve programs. In Thailand, the Analysis and Advocacy project (or ‘A squared’) facilitates the use of data and information in advocacy messages to policymakers and decision makers. The project seeks to strengthen the commitment of policymakers to HIV prevention by identifying behavioral and epidemiological data that can be analyzed in different ways to provide insight on what can be done to strengthen the response to HIV. The project and its partners analyzed data with the Asian Epidemic Model and the GOALS model. They determined the responses and resources that would be needed to implement the responses and finally, they communicated these data to stakeholders. As a result of these efforts, Thailand successfully emphasized the prevention agenda in the national strategic plan and developed a “UA Operational plan.”
• #18: Now let’s look at another example. In Nigeria, MEASURE Evaluation has worked with the Nigerian government, international organizations, and other implementing partners in the development of a new routine information system for HIV/AIDS called the Nigerian National Routine Information Management System, or NNRIMS. States and local governments have been trained in the system and regularly prepare and review quarterly reports. In Nasarawa state in Doma LGA, the local government authority (LGA) Chairman noted that only 53 people in Doma tested HIV positive in the first quarter of 2006. The Chairman was alarmed and also concerned that testing was not yet widespread in the LGA. As a result, the Chairman procured 480 HIV test kits to be distributed to four local health facilities, enabling more people to be tested for HIV in Doma.
• #19: In summary: NOTE to facilitator: Read slide.