Use of Community Health Data for Shared Accountability: Guidance

Author(s): Tariq Azim, Binyam Tilahun, Stephanie Mullen

Year: 2018

Abstract:

This is a guidance for practice document on how to use health data to be more responsible and accountable to communities for their health status. This document is designed for community leaders (informal and formal, including religious leaders, ethnic group leaders, civic leaders, and civil administration leaders in the community), community activists, and community residents, in general. This document will guide them through the process of using health data for shared accountability for improving their own health. The guidelines may also be used by ministries of health to provide support to communities in developing tools, procedures, and processes to foster community engagement and shared accountability between the health system and the community for the monitoring of and responsiveness to significant health events (e.g., pregnancies, child health, maternal and neonatal deaths, chronic diseases, epidemics). By using these guidelines, health ministries, district health authorities, and nongovernmental organizations can promote a culture of health information use at the community level.

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