Data for Action

COURSES AND PROGRAMMES CAN BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE

WHY?

A wealth of data are “routinely” collected to monitor the utilization and coverage of health services and activities, to follow-up on the status of people at risk, and to survey the occurrence of health problems or life events.

Data sources of these monitoring and surveillance systems are mostly public but still insufficiently known and/or used. Lack of data management skills to deal with incomplete data sets and the limited knowledge of data analysis tools and frameworks/designs lead to a substantial underutilization of data.

However, policy makers and health program managers need well-prepared information to tailor their decision making and action to the size, nature, and spread of health problems or to factors influencing service coverage for particular population groups.

WHAT?

The short course “Data for Action” will provide you with specific skills and tools to analyze and appraise evidence from longitudinal routinely collected data, taking into account its imperfections and biases. On the basis of case studies on diseases such as dengue, tuberculosis or plague, you will learn how to utilize (interrupted) time series analysis and risk mapping with open access R-studio and QGIS software. You will also explore entry points for dialogue with policy makers and options to disseminate your findings effectively.

The analysis of primary research data or ‘big data’ are outside the scope of this course. Study designs for the evaluation of health programs are covered in the course “Design & Evaluation of Health Programs”.

FOR WHOM?

Are you a health professional, health system or program manager or a researcher and are you involved in or interested in the analysis of routine/existing/secondary data and its use for action? Then this short course is for you.

HOW?

The “Data for Action” course draws on expertise of ITM staff and its partner institutions in data management and analysis, surveillance & monitoring systems, and operational research. The course also builds on the rich exchange of experience between participants working in different systems and settings.