Parallel 6 - Oral Session 4 (043, 044, 047)

Background: 
A key challenge during COVID 19 was a shift from the conventional ways of field visits to remote monitoring due to the restrictions on movement resulting from lockdown. This study explored how documentation and reporting process among trained providers in Nigeria under the IntegratE project was altered in response to the pandemic. This presentation will share project experience and highlight lessons learned on the adoption of virtual approach to ensure sustainable data quality service reporting by trained community pharmacists (CPs) and patent & proprietary medicine vendors (PPMVs) while leveraging on technology. 
Methods:
Between June and September 2020, IntegratE conducted virtual data quality assessment (DQA) for 82 CPs and PPMVs in Lagos and Kaduna states. Service providers were requested to share scanned copies of their daily FP register, monthly summary forms, client cards, and referral registers. These records were reviewed for completion; triangulated for consistency and assessed for integrity. The assessment results and correction plans were shared with each provider to correct reporting gaps and update DHIS2. We also developed support videos that provided CPs and PPMVs with reminders on how to navigate DHIS2 and enter data using their phones.  
Findings
Findings from the virtual DQA showed 89% average quality score in the domains of data availability, consistency and validity. 96 new providers were trained on the use of DHIS 2 using mobile videos. 247 providers were trained in a hybrid session on DMPA-SC self-injection documentation. 
Conclusion
To build resilient and agile health systems that can endure future public health emergencies, robust health sector reforms should be initiated. A key lesson learned is that to meet with future demands of field activities, organizations need to restructure their training sessions to include remote technical skill literacy. 

NCFP Abstract_FP data reporting.docx

Background/Objectives: The need for evidence-based practice in the FP Programme has been acknowledged at the State policy level; however, routine data management processes did not transmit to effective data use. The Challenge Initiative (TCI) provided technical assistance to the State to implement high impact FP interventions. The objective is to demonstrate the use of innovative approaches to improving data demand and use by policy makers.
Materials and Methods: Literature was reviewed, and primary data collection conducted using individual and group interviews to assess data management processes for stakeholders and policy makers in the State. The study identified barriers and constraints to data use and proffered innovations to making data available for decision making. TCI worked with the State to strengthen their capacity on data management, ensuring that data of the highest quality is collected and inputted into the NHMIS. In an effort to strengthen the systems producing data and ensuring that its of high quality, TCI supported Abia State to implement data auditing approaches like; Data Tools Needs Assessment, Data Quality Assessment and Routine FP Data Reviews.
Results: Data used in the State FP Programme were dependent on periodic surveillance and routine data from M&E activities. As such, there was a system and individual dissatisfaction with the quality of this data in influencing policy and practices. TCI coaching support is informed by evidence collected as part of its MEL Strategy, which includes TCI's flexi-track surveys, RAISE, facility-level surveys, and participatory data collection exercises.
Conclusions: There is need to sustain systems approach to getting research into policy and practice. These proven to work approaches must connect knowledge generation and utilization at the personal and institutional level. A sustained increase in the generation of knowledge through improved research quality will contribute to improved data demand and use by policy makers.