Denominators – Methods to assess quality

Review different methods of assessing denominators in DHIS2. This tutorial will introduce the methods briefly; a number of these methods are then broken down individually in subsequent tutorials.

Learn how you can compare your population data with other sources. A key component of this involves finding a source that you trust in which the population projections have been calculated/obtained using a different method then your internal projections, and, ideally, bringing this data into DHIS2. We will review what are generally acceptable differences when comparing these different sources.

Learn how you can use implied rates to further investigate your population denominators. Implied rates are rates that are calculated, rather then derived directly like the denominator figure itself. Examples discussed here include the crude birth rate, the infant mortality rate and growth rates.

Learn how you can compare routine coverage rates, along with interpreting if your data follows expected patterns over time. Surveys, while only conducted periodically, can be another useful tool to compare your data against. As they use different methods to obtain coverage estimates compared to internal figures, it serves as another point of comparison for your denominators. Additionally, examples of patterns of expected data, along with unexpected data, will be reviewed to demonstrate how to spot potential inaccuracies with your data over time.