1

Capacity Strengthening and Training

Needs Assessment Results

In order to identify key areas of needs a survey was designed for member centers. The purpose of this

survey was to elicit complementary information or specific details on capacity strengthening and

training priorities at member centers. The underlying goal is to enable the INDEPTH Network to

better target or to tailor capacity strengthening efforts to the pressing needs of members, and/or work

with them to further strengthen their capacities.

For the survey, a series of questions were asked ranging from identifying the specific areas that

centers currently need assistance to the main areas for capacity strengthening or training that they

think INDEPTH should support or should pursue in collaboration with member centers. In all, 32

centers (25 Africa, 7 Asia/Oceania) covering about 37 HDSSs attempted to complete the survey,

although a handful of the forms were not fully completed before submission. This notwithstanding,

the response level to this particular survey given the time was very impressive and clearly highlights

the importance of any form of capacity strengthening to member centers. Table 1 and Figure

1summarizes the broad areas where centers indicate they currently have pressing capacity

strengthening needs.

Table 1: Broad areas where centers require specific assistances and level of importance

Notes: The total number of member HDSSs that completed the survey is 33.

Priority areas for assistance Count Extremely

Important

Import

ant

Doesn't

Matter

Much

Deal

Breaker

Fieldwork/Data collection 8 4 8 4 1

Data management/quality 23 15 14 1 0

Scientific Research 25 17 8 1 1

Policy Dialogue* 14 8 10 1 1

Admin/Accounting* 4 0 4 4 1

Training 13 6 9 3 1

Others (specify): Funding 3 0 2 0 0

2

Clearly, there are two key broad areas where an overwhelming majority of centers are in pressing

need for assistance in terms of capacity strengthening: scientific research and data management

capabilities. These areas were also those that feature most among the priority areas rated by most

centers as extremely important. To some extend policy dialogue and training also seem to feature

among the needs of close to half of those who attempted the survey.

Figure 1: Broad areas of capacity strengthening needs

Specific details on the needs under each broad area

Further to identifying and ranking the broad areas where they need assistance, the center leaders

were requested to provide at list five specific details on their needs under each broad area. Some of

the answers were not so specific, though. As one would expect, the specifics under each broad area

varied considerably across the centers but somehow there are some specific areas of convergence or

areas that came up repeatedly. Under the respective broad areas, we try to underscore the specific

areas that were frequently mentioned across centers. The details by centre are presented in Tables 2-7.

0

4

8

12

16

20

24

28

3

Fieldwork/data collection

In relation to fieldwork and data collection need, the most commonly mentioned specific need is in

relation to electronic data capture (e.g. use of PDA, mobile of data collection, training in automotive

or data collection using electronic gadgets, etc.) The next area that came up several times was quality

assurance and QC or ensuring the quality of data collected and/or effective monitoring with limited

resources. Another closely related detail that was mentioned by several centers is capacity building

for interviewers and supervisors and the rational organization of data collection and/or migration

reconciliation. The more sporadic needs mentioned under this broad area include: linking HDSS with

HIS, Collecting of historical fertility and nuptiality data, understanding missing data from the field,

Verbal Autopsy-Open history (refresher) and collecting of individual, household and compounds

covariates time-dependent. The details by center are presented in Table 2.

Data management/quality

Data management as already noted is a major area of concern to most of the member HDSSs. Because

of the interconnection with the fieldwork and the data collection exercise, we notice that some of the

key specific needs mentioned under data collection also came up under data management. Indeed,

among these already mentioned specific needs that came up here is the electronic data capture systems

with more specifics like administering/managing complete electronic medical records systems and or

linking HDSS data with HIS. Another area that came up prominently in the answers is data quality

assurance and quality control checks or longitudinal data quality assessment. This came up in various forms

like need to reduce errors in data entry from data management, implementation of quality checks,

treatment of missing values, timely completeness, data verification methods and more importantly

evaluation of data in Demography.

One other specific need that came up could be summarize by data storage, handling, security, sharing

and ownership. One of the answers captures this as the need to apply the same data format across

centers (harmonization) where others simply mentioned the need to implement an effective method

of securing data, training in software for longitudinal data management, data management and

cleaning, funding for formalized data management training, standard procedure for data

management, expertise to manage large databases, extracting information from databases and

merging databases, etc.

As centers move from paper capture to electronic or paperless, the data management systems have to

be changed accordingly as older systems like FoxPro, HRS2 are becoming obsolete. So, consistent

with the growing specific need to implement the electronic data capture (PDA, mobile,…) is the

similarly large number of cases where answers like need for programming in SQL, migration from

FoxPro to SQL, training on the administration and database management using SQL server, data

mining and statistical analysis using SQL, data management built on MySQL and learning XML.

4

Table 2: Center Specific areas of assistance under Fieldwork/Data collection

Center Name

Specific areas related to fieldwork/data collection

1 2 3 4 5

ChiliLab

Quality assurance and QC

plan Training data collectors

Tools and technology

support

Dodowa Collecting data using PDA

FilaBavi questionnaire development

capacity building for

interviewers and

supervisors

keeping good

relationship with family

for long time

cross check between

interviewers and

supervisors information transferring

Gilgel Gibe

Kanchanaburi

different methods of data

collection

field work data quality

control

Kilite Awlaelo

use of PDA, mobile for data

collection

Nanoro Electronic data collection

Linking HDSS data with

HIS

Collecting of historical

fertility and nuptiality

data

Collecting of individual

covariates time-

dependent

Collecting of household

and compounds

covariates time-

dependent

Navrongo None

Nouna

Design electronic data

collection forms using PDA

Train fieldworkers in

electronic data collection

devices

Purworejo

Data collection using

electronic gadget

New method/ techniques

updated of DC system

Taabo

Have never done this activity

in the past so they need to

enhance their knowledge in

this area

Rational organization of

data collection

To better adapt our data

collection tools

To ensure the quality

of data collected

Learn from

experienced centers to

better meet future

challenges

Vadu

Effective Monitoring with

limited resources

Understanding missing data

from the field

West Kiang Automative Data Collection

Nahuche Migration Reconciliation VA - Open history

5

Table 3: Center Specific areas of assistance under Data management/quality

Center Name

Specific areas related to data management

1 2 3 4 5

Agincourt Data life cycle

Bandafassi, Mlomp & Niakhar quality indicators development improve databases

Bandim more funding for formalised data management training

ChiliLab Standard procedure for data management QA&QC plans

Supervision and training supervisors

Dabat Training on longitudinal data management

Training on Software for longitudinal data management

Training on Database management using SQL server

Training on Programming using ASP.NET and/or JAVA

Training on INTER-VA model software

Dikgale Manage the data base Identify mistakes in data collection

Extract information from data base

To merge a data base (Exel file) with Dikgale data base

Dodalab Data checking and cleaning How to apply the same format of data in all centres Causes of deaths (VA) Sharing data

Dodowa Programming in SQL Data management using SQL

Understanding and using Visual Basic

FilaBavi computer checking automaticly storage the data

quality insurance in each step

ownership of data set

Kanchanaburi longitudinal database management

database management programme

Kintampo Migration from foxpro to SQL

Mbita Data verification methods

Nanoro

Move from HRS2 to other system of data management build on MySQL

Integrate changing in individual covariate time-dependent in the data base

Integrate changing in individual covariate time-dependent in the data base

Linking HDSS data with HIS

Training of data management team

Navrongo

Expertise to manage and large database like the HDSS data

Ability to do basic statistical analysis

6

Center Name

Specific areas related to data management

1 2 3 4 5

Purworejo Handling data Supervision to quality control

Taabo

Capacity building in administration of SQL database server

We will use PD As very soon and we will need to know how to migrate SQL database in MySQL and also to learn XML language. This is a new experience for us

Reduce errors in data entry from data management

Ensure proper quality control of data

Implement an effective method of securing data

Vadu timely completeness

quality checks during cross checking on the field and at data entry

West Kiang Data Security

Administering/managing complete electronic medical records system

Nahuche Training in SQL Server Data mining & Stats analysis using SQL

Evaluation of data in Demography

Advance STATA programming

Long. Data quality assessment

Magu Additional manpower

Sarpone Electronic data capture systems CRF Designs

Quality checks implementation

PiH/Wosera Electronic data capture systems Data mgmt and cleaning

7

Table 3 shows the specific areas of assistance in data management for the respective centres. Aside

from the forgoing identified clusters of needs, the other needs that can be picked up from the answers

include: Causes of deaths (VA), and Training on INTER-VA model software, ability to do basic

statistical analysis, Advance STATA programming, integrating changing individual covariate time-

dependent into data base as well as Training on Programming using ASP.NET and/or JAVA.

Scientific Research (data analysis, scientific writing, publications)

As noted earlier, the scientific research needs seem to be the most pressing for almost all the centers

that responded to the survey. Though there were numerous answers, it is interesting that we can

easily reduce all the answers to a handful of specific needs namely: longitudinal data analysis (LDA)

or survival analysis which is core to the HDSS process, the art of scientific writing and routine report

writing, identifying appropriate publication channels or journals, skills in different research designs

and proposal writing, training in advanced statistical analysis and statistical software (such as

STATA, R, SAS, SPSS, EPI-INFO, NVIVO) with STATA and R coming up several times. Indeed, given

the workload of data collection, processing, quality control and management it does not come as a

surprise that many of the centers seem to be having hard times managing the art of scientific writing

and publication in high impact journals in combination with the production of technical progress

reports on the different projects (see Table 4 for specific details by centre).

Policy Dialogue/communication and/or dissemination

In the area of policy dialogue and communication, one of the main current needs relates to the

production of newsletters, prepare oral presentation and how to write policy briefs or what might be

termed strategic packaging of research findings. In short they are concern with acquisition of good

communication skills and how to decide what results are interesting to disseminate and by what

channel. The second specific need here relates to effective communication and policy dialogue which

come up in various forms including broad answers and specifics alike: policy

dialogue/communication strategy, engaging policy makers, working with press and media to convey

research results, communication with district health office, establish a communication policy for

lobbying the HDSS, develop a policy dialogue for a good advocacy with authorities, which tools must

be used (policy briefs, etc.), how to prepare the tools?, communicating scientific results to

international and local audience, etc. Lastly, there is reference to communicating results to the

community and creating local communication cells within the HDSS (see Table 5).

8

Table 4: Center Specific areas of assistance under Scientific Research

Center Name

Specific areas related to scientific research

1 2 3 4 5

Agincourt Advanced statistical analysis

Ballabgarh

Bandafassi, Mlomp & Niakhar routine data analysis routine report writing

ChiliLab Desiging good research/study

Skills in intervention study

design and data analysis

Publication support and

follow up improvement

Skills in data

management and

analysis

longitudinal

studies

Dabat Training on STATA, SAS

Training on Longitudinal

data analysis

Training on Manuscript

writing

Training on

Qualitative data

management,

analysis and

write up

Dodalab Longitudinal data analysis

How to write a successful

paper

Dodowa Longitudinal Data analysis

Writing scientific publication

using HDSS data

FilaBavi data analysis scientific writing

find relevant journal to

submit papers

Kanchanaburi longitudinal data analysis

scientific writing and

publications

Karonga Stata workshops Paper writing workshops

Kilite Awlaelo Longitudinal data analysis survival analysis cluster analysis

Analysis of GIS

data

Kintampo

Longitudinal analysis of DSS

data

Mbita Methods of data analysis

Scientific paper writing and

publication

Nanoro working group

9

Center Name

Specific areas related to scientific research

1 2 3 4 5

Navrongo

Ability to do basic data and

statistical analysis

Ability to draft and complete

a manuscript

Nouna

skills in data analysis software

such STATA , EPI INFO,

NVIVO, R

Conduct a successful

scientific writing skills in proposal writing

skills in

publication

targeting high

impact journals

Skills in mortality data

analysis

Ouagadougou scientific writing how to choose the journal?

Purworejo

Updated data management

system Scientific writing

How to publice the paper

for young researcher

Taabo

To be able to draft a research

protocol

Advanced data analysis

(multivariate analysis,

retrospective analysis,

multivariate analysis,

spatial analysis) to fully

exploit the longitudinal data

Know the steps of

scientific writing to

valorize Taabo HDSS

data

Become familiar

with the basic

concepts of a

publication

How to organize and to

manage research

activities within the

HDSS

Vadu Use of open source software

writing skills improvement

of junior staffs

West Kiang Stata

Nahuche LDA Research design Art of scientific writing

Technical paper

on data

cleaning/mgmt

Magu

Additional manpower

(statistician)

Sarpone

Data analysis-stats training on

stata/r/spss Scientific writing

scientific communication

skills

PiH/Wosera

Data analysis-stats training on

stata/r/spss Report writing

10

Table 5: Center Specific areas of assistance under Policy dialogue and communication

Center Name

Specific areas related to policy dialogue

1 2 3 4 5

Bandafassi, Mlomp & Niakhar production of newsletters participative management

Bandim

get people to listen to

something they do not want to

hear

get the system to accept a

critique

Dikgale

To assists with informing Dept

of Health of our results

important for policy

Ifakara Engaging policy makers

Translation of research

findings to policy/action

Strategic packaging of

research findings

Effective

communication Negotiating capital

Nouna

acquiring good

communication skills how to write a policy briefs

communicate scientific

results to international and

local audience

Tips in

disseminating

research findings

Ouagadougou

what result is interesting to

disseminate by which channel?

Which tools must be used?

(policy briefs, etc.)

How to prepare

the tools?

Taabo

Establish a communication

policy for lobbying the HDSS

How to publish the results

to community

Develop a policy dialogue

for a good advocacy with

authorities

Create a local

communication

cell within the

HDSS

Improve and ensure

the HDSS better

management

West Kiang

Dialogue with national health

service and bureau of

statistics to turn the

forthcoming national census

into a national HDSS

Magu Writing policy briefs

Sarpone Writing policy briefs

Comm skills for policy

dialogue

Translating research data

into valuable health info

11

Table 6: Center Specific areas of assistance under Administration/accounting

Center Name

Areas related to administration and accounting

1 2 3 4 5

Bandim more funding for administration

project specific planning and

accounting

Nouna skills in conducting projects audits

skills in using accounting software

such as TOMPRO, SAGE

skills in project financial

reporting

Purworejo How to manage funding effectively Documentation Lack of Funding

Vadu

Timely response to requests from

researchers timely response to funder queries

monitoring all spending and

ensuring to keep within

available limits of the budget

Table 7: Center Specific areas of assistance under Training & others

Center Name

Areas related to Training

1 2 3 4 5

Bandim

funding to promise training

grants time training in English

ChiliLab Training for data managers

Training for young

scientists Data analysis

Dissemination of

scientific

outcomes

Dodalab

Master program on

demography and

epidemiology

Short courses on

longitudinal data

management and analysis PhD training

Dodowa GIS,

FilaBavi

material development to use

data for training

supervisor for research

students

Kanchanaburi data analysis data management

Karonga

Opportunities for internships,

scholarships Analysis skills (see above)

Kintampo

Demography at MSc and PhD

levels

12

Center Name

Areas related to Training

1 2 3 4 5

Mbita Biostatistics and Epidemiology

Nanoro

data management oriented

analysis

for French people, linguistic

ilmmersion for their staff

Nouna Basic biostatistics training

training in good clinical

practice and good

laboratory practics

Training in ethic of

research

training of junior

research in

English skills

Training in InterVA

Betha final version

Purworejo

Data collection using

electronic gadget Data management Data analysis Lack of funding

Taabo

How to assess the health

needs of individual

communities

Plan appropriate

interventions

Evaluate policies and

programs or health

services that promote

and sustain a healthy

environment, healthy

living for individuals and

for populations

Analyze and

propose solutions

to public health

problems

Coordinate data

collection procedures,

lead studies and

critically interpret the

results of statistical

analysis while ensuring

the development of the

presentation of the

results these analyses

to the public and to

health professionals

Vadu

quality data collection on the

field

West Kiang Statistics Demography

Sarpone How to talk to funders

How to develop a business

plan

13

Administration/accounting

As noted previously, this area does not seem to be much of an issue to many but the few issues that

came up are related to funding and the effective management of funds to ensure that they within

budget limits, training in major accounting software as well as gaining insights/skills in project

financial reporting and project audits. This apparently will ensure timely response to requests from

researchers and to funders’ queries. Interestingly here there was sporadic allusion to the development

and maintaining of a web site as well as the role/relationships with affiliated institution (Table 6).

Training

Training is one of the areas that centers are continuously grappling with. In response to this question

of the leader clearly underscore this persistent need in the following terms. We always need additional

training for our junior level staff. As with many HDSSs we are quite remote from other institutions where

training can take place. The senior staff who provide this training and mentorship have many commitments. In

terms of the specifics, reference was commonly made to training on data analysis, data management

oriented analysis, electronic data collection and quality control. This may mainly refer to short

courses though only one case mentioned explicitly short courses on longitudinal data management

and analysis. There is also the express need for training in ethics of research, good clinical practice

(GCP) and good laboratory practices. Indeed, training of data managers and young scientists is

underscored. With respect to long term training and the priority fields of studies: Masters and PhD

training was cited and the main fields that came up include demography and epidemiology, basic

biostatistics or biostatistics and epidemiology, biostatistics and information sciences, statistics and GIS

(see details in Table 7).

Opportunities for internships and mentorship (supervisor for research students), funding to promise

or offer training grants were also mentioned. Meanwhile training in English is obviously a need

among the member HDSSs in non-English speaking countries.

Challenges to capacity strengthening and training and strategies adopted to overcome

Regarding the major challenges to capacity strengthening efforts of the various member HDSS,

funding was the most commonly mentioned by most of the centers. Staff retention, overload and lack

of qualified though commonly accepted was only mentioned by a third of those who mentioned

funding as an issue. A few other challenges that came up include: the absence of a demographer, lack

of clear career path for each worker, lack of qualified staff in use of SQL while the limited linkage

with institutions which provide capacity building, like for short term training, PhD training was also

alluded to.

14

Figure 2: Key challenges to capacity strengthening efforts

The strategies adopted to address these challenges depend on the nature of the challenge mention. To

the perennial challenge of funding centers indicate active search for funding to support the HDSS

either from the parent university (for those affiliated with universities), requesting government

assistance via the national network, seeking external funding as well as developing research

proposals and actively responding to calls for proposals and consultancy. In addition, some centers

do implement a strategy of setting aside 20% of each project to cover data collection costs or charging

other projects that are nested into the HDSS.

Regarding the staff related challenges, center indicated the use of varied incentives to attract and/or

retain qualified staff. Indeed, most of the strategies are more or less consistent with the effort to

enhance the capabilities of the staff. Sending staff for training, applying for scholarships, working

with other HDSS sites in the country, using local experts and training of staff by experts from other

centres (cross-sites within INDEPTH), attending INDEPTH workshops, liaising to create link with

universities abroad, internal workshops and providing various training opportunities, support to

attend conferences as well as paying competitive salaries are among the strategies implemented by

the centers to overcome the challenges identified.

0

5

10

15

20

25

Funding staff retention No qualified

persons

Staff overload Others

15

Main areas of capacity strengthening and training for INDEPTH support

Given the tall list of specific areas that were likely to crop …The survey requested the centers to

provide a list up to five of their key areas of capacity strengthening that INDEPTH should possibly

support. In all 22 of the 33 centres that attempted the survey provided at least an answer to this

question. Among the tall list that came up, the most prominent areas include longitudinal data

management and analysis methods, data verification methods and data quality control, SQL training,

scientific writing and publications, routine report production and proposal development. Training

workshops and training grants/support in various areas including data management, demography,

biostatistics and information sciences as well as a course in demographic surveillance are some of the

main areas for training that INDEPTH should possibly support as indicated by the centres. Of course,

funding, fund raising and financial management also featured among the proposed activities (see

details in Table 8).

Potential areas of collaboration that INDEPTH can pursue

A follow up question require the centres to suggest potential areas of collaboration that INDEPTH can

develop with them respectively. A total of 21 centres mentioned at least an area. Among the potential

areas mentioned are the following: organizing INDEPTH trainings and workshops, on the job

trainings and sandwich programmes, data management and analysis, cause of death analysis using

interVA, joint research and publications, funding and financial support. More importantly, a

considerably long list of areas for collaborative studies came up some of which already appear on

INDEPTH’s scientific agenda while others seems new. These areas to be considered include: studies

on chronic diseases, NCD, clustering of adult mortality, maternal and child health, GIS and health

indicators, parasitology, vaccine trials of INDEPTH interests, health impact assessment,

environmental health, epidemiological studies, social economic status, social gerontology, monitoring

and evaluation research, antibiotic use and resistance, universal health coverage as well as migration

and health. Table 9 shows the details on potential areas by centre.

On the strategy frequently adopted by INDEPTH for training held by the Secretariat in Accra of

counting on the best available international faculty to facilitate, most of those who responded to this

question agree that this is a good initiative, reliable and fantastic idea that allows for well organized-

and experienced trainers. However, it is also recommended to provide opportunities to sites in the

INDEPTH network to play roles in the training activity and to involve more scientists from HDSSs.

Other members caution that though it is a good strategy, this may make INDEPTH too dependent on

that faculty and that it will be better to have more than one faculty to facilitate specific issues. In short

HDSS members should be involved if the skills needed are there. Yet another thought that this

strategy is acceptable but would prefer to invite international faculty from ONLY the HDSS centers.

Note worthy was the suggestion for regional workshops on grounds that this would be very useful to

decrease travel time. Indeed, this is an idea that INDEPTH has debated on for a while the cost factor.

Furthermore, members would definitely prefer practical trainings, not theoretical ones.

16

There is more or less general consensus that center to center (mentorship) support is a fantastic idea,

Centres are strongly in support of this and are consequently willing to release their staff to assist

others. Indeed, some members stated that this is a priority and that this is one of the positive points of

the Network to get mutual assistance which is helpful in better use of available strengths within

network. In terms of reasonable duration for release of staff this ranged from about one week per staff

to a maximum of about two months per year.

17

Table 8: Tabular summary of main areas for INDEPTH Support

Center Name

Main areas for INDEPTH Support

1 2 3 4 5

Bandafassi, Mlomp & Niakhar data management

data analysis (fertility,

migration, nuptiality) routine report production

Bandim training grants English training data manger training

Dabat

training on longitudinal data

management and analysis

training on database

management using SQL server

training on manuscript

writing

Training on

ASP.NET and/or

JAVA

interview and field

supervision skill

Dikgale

To allocate a person to train

staff in data management and analysis

DodaLab

Longitudinal data

management and analysis Causes of deaths Data sharing

Dodowa SQL GIS

Kanchanaburi data analysis data management

Karonga

Training workshops (on site

would be very good)

Kilite Awlaelo Data Analysis data base-HRS2 or HRS3

Kintampo training in demography SQL training

data analysis

(longitudinal) publications

Mbita Data analysis methods Data verification methods

Nanoro Data analysis Electronic data capture system

Modeling of population,

environment parameters

and diseases

Navrongo data management scientific writing Financial management

Nouna

Support junior researcher for

Master degree training

Support training in data

analysis using basics statistical

software

Support training in

scientific writing and

proposal writing

support training

in data

dissemination

and publication

Ouagadougou data quality control scientific writing publications

Purworejo Funding Updated methodology Course in demographic Research

18

Center Name

Main areas for INDEPTH Support

1 2 3 4 5

surveillance proposal writing

Taabo

Scientific Research (data

analysis, scientific writing,

publications)

Public health: biostatistics and

information sciences

Data

management/quality

Fieldwork/Data

collection

Policy Dialogue,

communication

and/or dissemination

Vadu

paper writing and proposal

writing data collection using technology

Nahuche Longitudinal data analysis Scientific writing

Proposal development

and writing

Magu

data analysis techniques for

quantitative

data analysis techniques for

qualitative data data archiving

making photo

identity card for

HDSS members

Sarpone Data Management Policy Dialogue Fund raising

PiH/Wosera

ISHARE project will continue

to provide a training platform

to the participating sites,

please continue

Certificate or Degree training

(with Wit or I2IT) for the data

management staff

Human resource

management training

19

Table 9: Tabular summary of Potential areas for collaboration

Center Name

Potential areas for INDEPTH Collaboration

1 2 3 4 5

Bandafassi, Mlomp & Niakhar workshops

Bandim you tell me

Dabat Training, field epi Joint publication Financial support

Hosting our own

web-site joint research

Dikgale Studies on chronic diseases

DodaLab NCD Maternal and child health

Inequity in health care

seeking behaviour

Universal health

coverage

Antibiotics use and

resistance

Dodowa Clustering of adult mortality GIS and Health indicators

Health Impact

assessment

Kanchanaburi social gerontology migration and health

monitoring and

evaluation research

Kilite Awlaelo

Creating partnership

opportunities

Kintampo data analysis publications data management

Mbita Maternal and Child health Parasitology Environmental Health

Social economic

status

Nanoro

Training in good clinical

practices

Navrongo

On the job training and

sandwich programmes

Nouna

Pursue collaboration in cause

of death analysis using

InterVA

Pursue collaboration in use of

electronic devices for HDSS

data collection

Strengthen researchers

capacities in data

analysis

Use the HDSS

platform for

health

intervention

effectiveness

assessment

20

Center Name

Potential areas for INDEPTH Collaboration

1 2 3 4 5

Ouagadougou publications funding

Purworejo Research Training

Taabo Monitoring Evaluation Sharing of experiences

Vadu

organizing INDEPTH trainings

and workshops

Vaccine trials of INDEPTH

interests Epidemiological studies

Nahuche

Investing in training of our

staff to support the budding

HDSS sites in the northern

part

Research that seeks

interventions to reduce the

exceedingly high maternal

mortality

Magu

Starting disability interest

group

Sarpone Clinical trials at any Phase

Training (GCLP, Molecular

biology, Parasitology,

Immunology of malaria)

Neglected Tropical

Diseases

PiH/Wosera NCD survey iSHARE Nutrition study

21

Appendix A: Selections of Specific needs within the broad areas

Broad area Selected key specific needs

Fieldwork/Data collection • Use of PDA, mobile and/electronic gadget for data collection, designing the

necessary forms, etc

• Ensuring the quality of data collected: Quality assurance and QC plan: field

work data quality control

• Capacity building for interviewers and supervisors and rational organization of

data collection, migration reconciliation

• Linking HDSS data with HIS

• VA - Open history refresher

• Collecting of historical fertility and nuptiality data

• Collecting of individual covariates time-dependent

• Collecting of household and compounds covariates time-dependent

• Learn from experienced centers to better meet future challenges

Data management/quality

• Electronic data capture systems including managing complete electronic

medical records system and/or linking HDSS data with HIS

• Data life cycle: handling, storage of data, sharing data, ownership of data and

how to implement an effective method of securing data

• Longitudinal data quality assessment/ Evaluation of data in Demography

• Capacity building in administration of SQL database server

• Training on longitudinal data management

• longitudinal database management

• Expertise to manage and large database like the HDSS data

• how to migrate SQL database in MySQL and also to learn XML language

• database management programme

• Ability to do basic statistical analysis

• Causes of deaths (VA)

• Training on Programming using ASP.NET and/or JAVA

• Training on INTER-VA model software

• Quality checks during cross checking on the field and at data entry

• Understanding and using Visual Basic

Scientific Research (data

analysis, scientific writing,

publications)

• Longitudinal data analysis, Survival analysis

• Scientific paper writing and publication, Cluster analysis

• Find relevant journal to submit papers

• Analysis of GIS data

• Methods of data analysis

• Use of open source software

• Writing scientific publication using HDSS data

• Writing skills improvement of junior staffs

• routine data analysis

• Training on Manuscript writing

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Policy

Dialogue/communication

and/or dissemination

• To assists with informing Dept of Health of our results important for policy

• Engaging policy makers

• Translation of research findings to policy/action

• Develop a policy dialogue for a good advocacy with authorities

• Prepare oral presentation

• Communication of study results to the community as part of dissemination

Administration/accounting • Timely response to requests from researchers

• skills in conducting projects audits

• Standard structure of the center

• How to manage funding effectively

• skills in using accounting software such as TOMPRO, SAGE

• The role and relationship with affiliated institution

• Develop and maintain web site

• Timely response to funder queries

• Computer accounting

• Monitoring all spending and ensuring to keep within available limits of the

budget

Training • Material development to use data for training

• Statistics

• Supervisor for research students

• quality data collection on the field

• Biostatistics and Epidemiology

• GIS and Demography

• Training for data managers

• Demography at MSc and PhD levels

• Basic biostatistics training

• training in good clinical practice and good laboratory practices

• for French people, linguistic immersion for their staff

• Dissemination of scientific outcomes

• Training in InterVA version

Others • Lack of funding

• How to assess the health needs of individual communities

• Plan appropriate interventions

• Evaluate policies and programs or health services that promote and sustain a

healthy environment, healthy living for individuals and for populations

• Analyze and propose solutions to public health problems

• Coordinate data collection procedures, lead studies and critically interpret the

results of statistical analysis while ensuring the development of the

presentation of the results to the public and to health professionals

• How to talk to funders

• How to develop a business plan

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Appendix B: Review by Tim Evans (to be incorporated into the draft report)

1) In terms of the survey design it will be good if you can be clear as to the logic informing the design. Is there

an underlying framework that identifies what the "capacities" or "competencies" of INDEPTH sites should be?

Do the questions cover the full spectrum of these expected competencies?

The capacities or competencies of the INDEPTH members have been shifting with changes in the

landscape of world research and as they gain experience over time. There is a no clear underlying

framework that outlines exactly what the competencies of an INDEPTH member should be. But it is

normally expected that they should be able to collect good quality data on the major population

dynamics of the defined populations they cover, process and provide core data for INDEPTHStats as

well as analyze and publish scientific papers. Though not in exact details, our questions in the survey

effectively covered the broad spectrum of their expected/anticipated areas of competencies. In

addition, we left the questions sufficiently open in the hope of capturing all their needs and

constraints

2) I raise this issue, because the first set of results Table 1 identify data management and scientific research as

the key constraints in contrast to say data collection and training.

Regarding the results presented in Table 1, these are simple counts of the HDSSs (or leaders) who

mentioned that a particular area is where the HDSS has some critical needs for assistance. These

results where data management and scientific research received the highest hits (hence identifying

these areas as where most HDSSs have needs) is simply a reflection of the fact that most of these

HDSSs have been involved in data collection for such a long time that they no longer see data

collection and/or fieldwork as an issue. In fact, even considering the number of rounds they do per

year, it will be surprising if they will need assistance (aside from funding). Furthermore, the results

are consistent with what we observed from the INDEPTH member survey that was previously

completed by 41 HDSSs. Based on this member survey, the 41 HDSSs as at 2011 had a total of 64

statisticians and 78 demographers (masters and PhDs level). Some of them as noted in the current

needs assessment survey do not even have a demographer. When we looked at data managers, the 41

HDSSs in question had a total of 66, alongside 57 database administrators and 52 software developers

(for a total of 173). If we compare the latter figures to the data entry staff (270) and fieldworkers/field

supervisors (1271), it is just logical that the main constraints for most of these HDSSs would emerge at

the data management level. Of course, there are a few who may be having serious challenges with the

field operations. But as noted in the current survey, we believe that the eventual introduction of

electronic data capture will minimize the problems even at the data management level.

3) Regarding training -- this seems a bit fuzzy...as it is so intimately linked to capacity building. Is the

expectation that each DSS should have a training function i.e. a capacity for training? Is the intent of the

question then to assess whether the DSS sites feel they have this capacity for training? OR is the question

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asking if the sites have unmet needs for training? I get the sense it is the latter and if so, it seems to be a bit

redundant with respect to the inventory of topical areas for training i.e. collection, management, etc..

The expectation is that most, if not all HDSSs should be able to initiate and support some form of

training. However, the question was intended to assess the types of training needs that they had and

whether these are really pressing needs relative to those in the other areas. As you rightly put it we

were asking them whether they had unmet needs for training.

4) I'm wondering if the survey has asked if there are things that have worked or not worked related to building

individual capacities of staff (mentoring, sandwich PhDs, internships, fellowships, career development awards,

etc) and/or institutional capacities (managing DSS data entry systems efficiently; grants management; HR

management to promote retention and careers of staff; sustainable financing)?

This is an important question that we missed in the survey! We need to go back to those who

responded with this question on the things that worked or did not work in their efforts to build

individual capacities of staff. We asked a related question though, on the major challenges to their

capacity strengthening and training efforts. The most commonly cited challenges relates to funding

and staff retention of those trained. These come up frequently even during discussions with various

members. We will definitely follow up with the question on things that have worked or not worked.

5) I think it would be interesting to get some insights on what has been attempted at the individual site level vs

across the INDEPTH network in terms of capacity strengthening -- has capacity strengthening been left largely

to individual sites? or has the Network fostered capacity strengthening efforts and if so how effective have they

been.

In general both INDEPTH and the individual sites are actively involved in capacity strengthening at

different levels. The beneficiaries of INDEPTH efforts differ across the Network, though.