Consultative meeting that examined alignment and discrepancies between health facility and household survey data in Malawi

Abstract

Malawi is midway through its current Malaria Strategic Plan 2017-2022, which aims to reduce malaria incidence and deaths by at least 50% by 2022. Malariometric data are available with health surveillance data housed in District Health Information Software 2 (DHIS2) and household survey data from two recent Malaria Indicator Surveys (MIS) and a Demographic and Health Survey (DHS). Strengths and weaknesses of the data were discussed during a consultative meeting in Lilongwe, Malawi in July 2019. The first 3 days included in-depth exploration and analysis of surveillance and survey data by 13 participants from the National Malaria Control Programme, district health offices, and partner organizations. Key indicators derived from both DHIS2 and MIS/DHS sources were analysed with three case studies, and presented to stakeholders on the fourth day of the meeting. Applications of the findings to programmatic decision-making and strategic plan evaluation were critiqued and discussed.

Keywords: DHIS2; Health Management Information System; Malaria Indicator Survey; Malaria Strategic Plan; Malawi; The DHS program; Workshop.

Fig. 1

Percentage of women who received LLINs at ANC from 2014–2018 (Source: DHIS2 2014–2018)

Fig. 2

Among women who have had a live birth in the past 2 years, percentage of women in households that received an LLIN from ANC (Source: 2015–2016 Malawi DHS and 2017 Malawi MIS)

Fig. 3

Percentage of suspected malaria cases in children under age 5 that received a confirmatory test at facility and village clinics from 2014–2018 Source: DHIS2 2014–2018

Fig. 4

Percentage of children under age 5 with fever in the previous 2 weeks for whom advice or treatment was sought and who had blood taken from a finger or heel for testing (Source: DHIS2 2014–2018)

Fig. 5

Percentage of suspected malaria cases in children under age 5 who received a confirmatory test at facility and village clinics from 2014–2018 by region (Source: 2014 and 2017 Malawi MIS)

Fig. 6

Percentage of children under age 5 with fever in the previous 2 weeks for whom advice or treatment was sought and who had blood taken from a finger or heel for testing by region (Source: DHIS2 2014–2018)

Fig. 7

Percentage of pregnant women who received at least 2 doses of SP during ANC among the total number of new pregnant women registered at ANC (Source: 2014 and 2017 Malawi MIS)

Fig. 8

Percentage of women age 15–49 who received at least two doses of SP/Fansidar during their last pregnancy in the 2 years before the survey (Source: 2014 Malawi MIS, 2015–2016 Malawi DHS, and 2017 Malawi MIS)

Fig. 9

Percentage of women age 15–49 who received at least two doses of SP/Fansidar during their last pregnancy in the 2 years before the survey by region (Source: 2014 Malawi MIS, 2015–16 Malawi DHS, and 2017 Malawi MIS)

Fig. 10

Percentage of pregnant women who received at least two doses of SP/Fansidar during ANC among the total number of new pregnant women registered at ANC by region (Source: DHIS2 2014–2018)