Use of data in health planning process: Stories from council health management teams in Tanzania

Abstract

Introduction: In Tanzania, the provision of primary health care services is vested to Local Government Authorities. Council Health Management Teams  prepare Comprehensive Council Health Plans to guide the provision of health services within the authorities. The purpose of this study was to describe  the process of preparing CCHPs, including the data sources used.

Methods: Three focus group discussions were conducted with 15 CHMT members. Participants were selected using convenience sampling. Thematic  analysis was conducted after discussions that were translated into English and transcribed.

Results: The focal person and coordinators for the Health Management Information System were cited as the main sources of data for planning. District  Health Information System (DHIS2) was the main source of data used in planning although there were some indicators reported, which were far from reality, and therefore, considered unreliable.

Conclusion: CHMT members should be trained in the basic analysis, and use of DHIS2 data. This would improve their data analysis, and use
skills since are imperative to developing a culture of data use in planning.