Posters of the First Biannual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the African Neonatal Association 2025

Abstract

Introduction: Reliable data for newborns and stillbirths is essential to ensure every newborn survives and thrives. The IMPULSE Phase 1 study was designed to assess the quality and use of routine data in four countries with high burdens of neonatal deaths and stillbirths. 
Methodology: We used mixed-methods between 2022-24 across 154 sites in the Central African Republic (CAR, n=21), Ethiopia (n=35), Tanzania (n=47), and Uganda (n=51) with the open access  Every Newborn-Measure Improvement for Newborn and Stillbirth Indicators (ENMINI) Tools and two novel instruments to assess i) health and data professionals' perspectives regarding routine data n=313 respondents ii) individual case notes to measure 41 key data elements in a Neonatal Minimum Data Completeness Index (N-MDCI) n=1459 case notes 
Result: Health facilities lacked standardized paper registers and indicator definitions, with reporting processes hindered by poor electricity and internet access. Data completeness in registers was suboptimal: low birth weight 81%, neonatal mortality 79%. In case notes, overall N-MDCI was 53.6%, (national hospitals 66%, first-level referral facilities 42.9%). Factors to improve data quality ranged from 0–57% in CAR, 36–84% in Ethiopia, 23–76% in Tanzania and 31–93% in Uganda. Factors to improve data use varied widely, 0% in CAR to 100% in Ethiopia and Tanzania, consistently lower in health facilities than data offices in all countries. Conclusion: Improvements in routine systems including data standardization and infrastructure are needed to ensure high quality data are available for clinical care, to support quality improvement and for evidence-based public health in high-burden countries