Malaria Information System
Health Information Systems are central to intervention assessment
and form the basis for effective management, enabling evidence-based decision-making
on appropriate use of both human and financial resources.
MIS have been developed and implemented for each of the South
African malarious provinces as well as Mozambique and Swaziland, as part of
the Lubombo SDI Malaria Control
Programme. This computerised information system allows the input, management
and output of malaria case and spray data which is used for both management
and research purposes and aims to provide accurate, up-to-date malaria information
in a range of user-friendly formats.
The information systems provide for the management of two types
of malaria-related data:
1. Malaria case data, and
2. Information relating to the malaria control activities, e.g. indoor residual
spraying.
It includes a spatial component based on GIS which is being
customised to minimise end-user skill requirements and optimise access to
the different data sets. The information collected during routine operations
and entered into the MIS consists of both in- and out-patient data of confirmed
or clinically diagnosed malaria cases.
In South Africa, all cases are definitively diagnosed. Definitive
diagnosis takes place at selected health facilities in Swaziland. There has
recently been phased implementation of definitive diagnosis in Mozambique
as part of the Global Fund initiative.
The input screens mirror the data collection forms and the
automatic-linking and drop-down list minimising data entry errors. Pre-designed
outputs are provided in the form of maps, graphs or tables (eg. number of
can refills per week per person). This facilitates report writing and allows
problems to be identified and addressed on an ongoing basis.
Spatial data has been collected for the region and includes
administrative boundaries, population, health facility locations, towns and
other relevant information. New sources are continually sought to ensure that
current data at appropriate scales are provided.
Collaborators
Medical Research Council; Malaria Control Programmes: Mpumalanga,
KwaZulu-Natal, Northern Province; Department of Health, Pretoria; Ministry
of Health, Mozambique; Ministry of Health, Swaziland.
Funding
Medical Research Council, Innovation Fund (SA), Business Trust
(SA), Global Fund for Aids, TB and Malaria
