Data Demand and Use in the Health Sector in Central and Eastern Kenya

Akaco Ekirapa, MEASURE Evaluation
Erastus Mburu, ICF International
Edward Kunyanga, ICF International
Scott Moreland, Futures Group

Efforts to improve monitoring and evaluation systems have been increasing however data is often not used effectively by stakeholders to inform policy and programmatic decision making. In Kenya, M&E of health programmes is based on reports from the routine health management information system (HMIS). Challenges with the development of the national HMIS has resulted in informed decision making that has been widely non-existent for effective planning. The study objective is to identify barriers to data use and provide recommendations for practices that will address constraints to data demand and use (DDU) for RH programmes. An assessment was done in 5 districts in two provinces among decision makers, health facility staff and health record information officers. 150 questionnaires will be analysed using STATA 12 and In Vivo. Findings from this study will identify constraints to DDU and inform health programmes on how data can be improved for monitoring reproductive health indicators.