Data Triangulation: Use of Health Facility Immunization Reporting Tools

This document from JSI's Coordination and Implementation of Child Health Record Redesigns Project outlines various immunisation tools used at the health facility level and how they are used in harmonisation with immunisation programmes (the Expanded Programme on Immunization, or EPI) to increase coverage and improve data quality. The document shows how immunisation data analysis and use can be strengthened, utilising existing tools and building capacity at health facility and district levels.

JSI explains that immunisation reporting tools vary between (and possibly even within) countries, but typically various paper-based tools are used at health facilities. The data collected from each tool provides important information for individual child tracking as well as for numbers vaccinated and calculating percentage coverage and drop-outs. Use of these tools should be part of the monitoring and feedback system for: data quality improvement; self-assessment and use by the facility staff; and observation during supervision visits. They should also be reviewed during quarterly meetings - with opportunities for facility and district staff to share data and experiences.

Eight tools are described, with pictorial examples given, including: EPI register, home-based record, or HBR (vaccination card), tickler file, community register or child vaccination list by name, tally sheet (by vaccination session), coverage wall charts, stock inventory ledgers (vaccines, syringes, HBR (card) stocks, etc.), EPI Monthly Report. Although parts of the content are similar, each tool provides some distinct information that assists with name-based and/or number-based reporting and data summarising. The graphic on page 5 provides a visual representation of how these tools inter-relate and complement one another.