Data quality monitoring and performance metrics of a prospective, population-based observational study of maternal and newborn health in low resource settings

BACKGROUND: To describe quantitative data quality monitoring and performance metrics adopted by the Global Network´s (GN) Maternal Newborn Health Registry (MNHR), a maternal and perinatal population-based registry (MPPBR) based in low and middle income countries (LMICs). METHODS: Ongoing prospective, population-based data on all pregnancy outcomes within defined geographical locations participating in the GN have been collected since 2008. Data quality metrics were defined and are implemented at the cluster, site and the central level to ensure data quality. Quantitative performance metrics are described for data collected between 2010 and 2013. RESULTS: Delivery outcome rates over 95% illustrate that all sites are successful in following patients from pregnancy through delivery. Examples of specific performance metric reports illustrate how both the metrics and reporting process are used to identify cluster-level and site-level quality issues and illustrate how those metrics track over time. Other summary reports (e.g. the increasing proportion of measured birth weight compared to estimated and missing birth weight) illustrate how a site has improved quality over time. CONCLUSION: High quality MPPBRs such as the MNHR provide key information on pregnancy outcomes to local and international health officials where civil registration systems are lacking. The MNHR has measures in place to monitor data collection procedures and improve the quality of data collected. Sites have increasingly achieved acceptable values of performance metrics over time, indicating improvements in data quality, but the quality control program must continue to evolve to optimize the use of the MNHR to assess the impact of community interventions in research protocols in pregnancy and perinatal health. Fil: Goudar, Shivaprasad S.. KLE University. Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College; India Fil: Stolka, Kristen B.. Research Triangle Institute International; Estados Unidos Fil: Koso Thomas, Marion. Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; Estados Unidos Fil: Honnungar, Narayan V.. KLE University. Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College; India Fil: Mastiholi, Shivanand C.. KLE University. Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College; India Fil: Ramadurg, Umesh Y.. S. Nijalingappa Medical College; India Fil: Dhaded, Sangappa M.. KLE University. Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College; India Fil: Pasha, Omrana. Aga Khan University; Pakistán Fil: Patel, Archana. Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Lata Medical Research Foundation; India Fil: Esamai, Fabian. University School of Medicine; Kenia Fil: Chomba, Elwyn. University of Zambia; Zambia Fil: Garces, Ana. Universidad de San Carlos; Guatemala Fil: Althabe, Fernando. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Instituto de Efectividad Clínica y Sanitaria; Argentina Fil: Carlo, Waldemar A.. University of Alabama at Birmingahm; Estados Unidos Fil: Goldenberg, Robert L.. Columbia University; Estados Unidos Fil: Hibberd, Patricia L.. Massachusetts General Hospital for Children; Estados Unidos Fil: Liechty, Edward A.. Indiana University; Estados Unidos Fil: Krebs, Nancy F.. University of Colorado School of Medicine; Estados Unidos Fil: Hambidge, Michael K.. University of Colorado School of Medicine; Estados Unidos Fil: Moore, Janet L.. Research Triangle Institute International; Estados Unidos Fil: Wallace, Dennis D.. Research Triangle Institute International; Estados Unidos Fil: Derman, Richard J. Christiana Care Health Services; Estados Unidos Fil: Bhalachandra, Kodkany S.. KLE University. Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College; India Fil: Bose, Carl L.. University of North Carolina; Estados Unidos