Accuracy and Quality of Routine Immunisation Data Monitoring System in two South-Eastern Districts of Nigeria

Abstract

Background To assess the accuracy and quality of immunisation data in Ogbaru (OGB) and Onitsha North (ONN) Local  Government Areas (LGAs) of Anambra State, Nigeria.

Methods A validated methodology of immunisation Data Quality Audit was used. All the Health Facilities  (HFs) conducting immunisation in OGB (28) and ONN (20) as well as the two LGAs'  Immunisation Units (IUs) were visited. The records of the third dose of Diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus  (DPT3) and measles immunisation at the HFs from January to December 2009 was recounted and  compared with reported data at the LGA IUs for the same period. An Accuracy Ratio (AR), which  expresses the ratio of immunisation recounted at the HFs to that reported to the LGAs IUs was obtained.  AR of 0.95 to 1.05 indicates data accuracy. Immunisation Focal Persons (IFPs) in each HF were  interviewed using a validated tool that contained a 70-point knowledge scale and a 120-item quality score (QS) on the data monitoring system.

Results The proportions of HFs with accurate data for DPT3 were 32.1% and 45.0% (p=0.39) in OGB and ONN respectively. The overall AR was 0.89 in OGB and 0.96 in ONN. The mean knowledge score   among IFPs in the LGAs was 44.1±8.0 and 46.2±6.9 (p<0.05), while the mean QS for HFs was   74.5±18.0 and 73.6±13.2 in OGB and ONN respectively (p<0.05). There was a fair correlation between   the overall QS and the overall knowledge score in the two LGAs, r=0.3 (p<0.05).

Conclusion Auditing showed inaccurate and low quality of data reporting in the LGAs.

Keywords Routine immunisation; Immunisation monitoring system; Data quality audit.