Improving Routine Health Information Systems (RHIS) Performance and Use of Information for Health System Management

Dakar, Senegal

Brochure (sample from 2008)

Application (sample from 2008)

This training course on Improving RHIS Performance and Use of Information for Health System Management is set up as an international workshop on comprehensive assessment of data quality and routine health information use with an emphasis on problem-solving. The course meets an urgent need identified in the field for capacity-building in facility-based and community-based RHIS to help professionals use routine information more effectively and efficiently.

The purpose of this training course is to provide rapid transfer of knowledge and skills in RHIS performance strengthening at both the national and subnational levels.  By the end of the training course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the HMN framework and standards for country health information systems.
• Understand the role of RHIS in health service management.
• Understand three areas of determinants of performance of RHIS.
• Acquire skills for TB, Malaria and HIV program reporting in RHIS.
• Acquire skills to carry out a process to improve RHIS performance, including assessment, analysis, and problem-solving.

This training course was designed for:

• Government and NGO professionals who are responsible for management of health services and health programs at national as well as sub-national levels.
• Government and NGO professionals who are responsible for management of RHIS.
• Government and NGO professionals who are responsible for monitoring and evaluation of health programs.
• Staff of technical assistance projects who aim at improving health system management.

This training course focuses on facility-based and/or community-based routine health information systems (RHIS). RHIS is one of the key sources of information of national health information systems as explained in the framework recently proposed by the Health Metrics Network (HMN). RHIS is the principal source of information for planning and management of the health services at district level and below, and can potentially play an important role in program improvement and reporting at all levels.

The course proposes the "Performance of Routine Information System Management" (PRISM) conceptual framework as the basis for assessing and strengthening RHIS performance. The PRISM, or three-point framework, is predicated on the assumption that improving performance of RHIS requires interventions that in addition to technical determinants also address the organizational and behavioral determinants of RHIS performance. It broadens analysis of RHIS to include the behavior of the collectors and users of data and the context in which these professionals work.

The course introduces a set of PRISM tools for assessing performance of RHIS and its determinants. The course builds knowledge and skills in using the tools for analysis and problem solving and ultimately to improve RHIS performance.

The course also provides updates on tools and methods to assess the data collection, reporting and management systems used to measure indicators of AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria programs. As such, participants will gain skills in the use of RHIS as part of the M&E process for these programs (e.g. measurement and use of key indicators for program improvement and reporting).

Field work is an important component of the Course. Participants will be introduced to examples of use of RHIS for district health system management. They will also have an opportunity to test the PRISM RHIS strengthening tool in the field.

For more information, please contact: measure_training@jsi.com