Guidance for Selecting and Using Core Indicators for Cross-Country Comparisons of Health Facility Readiness to Provide Services

Author(s): Health Facility Assessment Technical Working Group

Year: 2007

Abstract:
Health information systems depend on health facility surveys for data. International and program-based approaches using health facility data include the Service Provision Assessment (SPA), Macro International; the Facility Audit of Service Quality (FASQ), MEASURE Evaluation; the Service Availability Mapping (SAM) census, World Health Organization; and the Health Facility Censuses (HFC) with a focus on infrastructure, Japan International Cooperation Agency. Several rounds of data from these sources are available for selected countries. A key gap in facility-based information is that definitions of indicators and data elements differ from approach to approach. The recommended core indicators in this document were selected based on existing tools and data. The indicators assess health systems’ functionality rather than the health status of the targeted population.