Toward Utilization of Data for Program Management and Evaluation: Quality Assessment of Five Years of Health Management Information System Data in Rwanda

Marie P. Nisingizwe, Partners In Health/Inshuti Mu Buzima
Hari S. Iyer, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Modeste Gashayija, Rwanda Ministry of Health
Lisa R. Hirschhorn, Harvard University

Abstract

Health data can be useful for effective service delivery, decision making, and evaluating existing programs in order to maintain high quality of healthcare. Studies have shown variability in data quality from national health management information systems (HMISs) in sub-Saharan Africa which threatens utility of these data as a tool to improve health systems. The purpose of this study is to assess the quality of Rwanda's HMIS data over a 5-year period.