Healthcare providers’ views of factors influencing family planning data quality in Tshwane District, South Africa

BACKGROUND: The family planning service requires a routine health information system (RHIS) that can produce quality data that will be used for making decisions. However, the quality of data generated is not always of a good standard. Its usefulness in making data-driven decisions in family planning service is questionable. AIM: The study intended to assess the quality of family planning data and determine healthcare providers’ (HCPs’) views on factors influencing data quality in Tshwane district. SETTING: The study was carried out in 13 healthcare institutions in Tshwane district, Gauteng province, South Africa. METHODS: This paper reports on the quantitative strand of a mixed methods study. A sample of 111 HCPs was selected through a stratified random sampling technique, and six months of monthly reports from 13 institutions were reviewed for data quality. A self-administered questionnaire and a tick sheet were utilised to collect data from the HCPs and to review monthly reports for data quality, respectively. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) programme for Windows version 24.0.0 was used to analyse the data. RESULTS: Data quality, mainly accuracy and timeliness, was a challenge. Many HCPs were not trained in the RHIS. They viewed several issues relating to organisational, behavioural and technical factors as barriers to data quality. CONCLUSION: The low quality of family planning data has a negative impact on policy development and decision-making. CONTRIBUTION: There is a need for capacity building through training and supportive supervision, provision of adequate human and technical resources to enhance data quality and use of information for decision-making.