Key district health indicators in primary health care. Volume I.

There are currently a large number of indicators being collected and used in the health system. Some of these are based on surveys carried out in selected public health facilities such as the annual antenatal HIV prevalence survey. Others are based on community surveys such as the 5 yearly demographic and household survey which assists in the estimation of infant mortality rates. Other indicators are based on research such as the measurement of client satisfaction at hospitals. A large number of indicators are also calculated from the collection of routine data at facility level. Out of all of these facility-based indicators ten of the most important have been selected for more in depth discussion in this document. This is done in an attempt to assist managers at all levels of the health system from facility managers to programme managers at the national Department of Health to use these indicators as a management tool to improve planning implementation and monitoring of health services. (excerpt)