TY - JOUR T1 - Routine Family Planning Data in the Low- and Middle-Income Country Context: A Synthesis of Findings From 17 Small Research Grants JF - Global Health: Science and Practice JO - GLOB HEALTH SCI PRACT DO - 10.9745/GHSP-D-20-00122 AU - Bridgit Adamou AU - Janine Barden-O’Fallon AU - Katie Williams AU - Amani Selim Y1 - 2020/10/27 UR - http://www.ghspjournal.org/content/early/2020/10/27/GHSP-D-20-00122.abstract N2 - Key FindingsWe found 4 major themes affecting family planning data quality, analysis, and use:The enabling environment for managing and using family planning informationBarriers to integrating family planning in routine health information systemsGaps in analyzing, interpreting, and using routine family planning dataFamily planning data use in decision makingSystematic, organizational, cultural, and technical barriers affect data quality and limit subsequent analysis, interpretation, and use of information.Key ImplicationsProgram implementers should consider:Standardizing family planning indicators across sectors (public and private) and data collection toolsConducting regular staff trainings and capacity building to improve data literacy, collection, and reportingInvesting in the human and technological resources needed for effective data collection, analysis, and use.Policy makers should:Enact and commit to continuous financial supportEmphasize well-defined data collection and reporting processes, including clearly defined indicators and harmonized data collection toolsProvide well-supported technical infrastructure.Health information systems rely on high-quality data to measure, track, and inform decision making. Currently, the quality, uptake, and use of family planning data in routine health information systems is limited, presenting an opportunity for improvement on many levels. The current synthesis assessed findings from 17 small grants that MEASURE Evaluation issued to low- and middle-income country research teams between 2015 and 2019. Main findings from that research were collaboratively categorized in 4 major themes: (1) the enabling environment for managing and using family planning information; (2) barriers to integration of family planning in routine health information systems; (3) gaps in the analysis, interpretation, and use of routine family planning data; and (4) family planning data use in management, programmatic, and budgetary decisions. Data quality at the systemic, organizational, technical, and output levels was a crosscutting theme. Collectively, the findings outline barriers to and opportunities for improved integration of family planning data and subsequent strengthening of routine health information systems. ER -