Uses for Data

Part of the M&E Plan

Data Use

Who is using data?Who is happy?

How Can We Use Data?

• To know if we are meeting targets.

• To make decisions about programs and policies.

• To prioritize activities.

• To identify support/supervision needs.

• To report back to donors (get more funding!).

What Data Do OTHERS Need?

• NTP Treatment completion, reduced morbidity.

• Donor Feasibility: Will it work?• Vendors # recruited, impact on business.• Politicians Will it save money?

Foreign donor gives us pilot money to train local market vendors to be DOTS observers.

Data Stakeholders

Importance of FeedbackData should not flow in just one direction!

DOTS Nurse

Facility Manager

Regional Office

National Program

Reporting Data• Think about your audience!

What do they know about the program? What do they know about ACSM and TB? How can you “interpret” the data for them?

• What are the most important trends? More data are not always better!

• What is the best way to report the data? Narratives, in person, newsletters, online,

charts/graphs/tables.

Interpreting Data: Example

District # TB suspects screened by volunteer

SS+ diagnosis

A 234 5B 124 9C 26 2D 32 5E 779 116

Total 1195 137

What do these numbers tell you?The volunteers in District E are superstars!Volunteer problems in Districts C and D?Why such wide variability in smear positivity (2% to 15%)?