Developing a cutting edge mhealth information system for chw programming

Assessment and improvement of CHW programs can be challenging without data that provide a snapshot of activities, especially those that occur in remote areas. The absence of data particularly impedes optimization of human resources, workload, and operations. Data systems designed to provide timely information on field-based activities are key to strengthening management capacity in programs as large and operationally widespread as CHW programs, especially when the data can be immediately interpreted to support quality improvement.

The Millennium Villages Project (MVP) utilizes cutting edge mobile health (mhealth tools) to collect “real-time” data that can be used to inform CHW program operations. To do this, the MVP's CHW information system has evolved from utilizing paper tools, to SMS, and now to internet-enabled smartphones that allow data collection to happen simultaneously with service delivery. The data collected are used to construct operational indicators on household coverage and health outcomes, which can then be used by managers to make informed decisions on performance, productivity and operational gaps.

This presentation will describe MVP's mhealth system and identify the opportunities and challenges that have emerged in both implementing a data monitoring system for CHW programs and consumption of data to improve operations. Additionally, this presentation will demonstrate case studies that are used to train local CHW program managers on how to use operational data to improve programs.