MIMMS Community level qualitative data: Professional health workers (PHW) 2014-15 - Eight provinces in South Africa

Description:
The data set consists of 39 transcripts of interviews with professional health workers. Gauteng province was excluded from the study as approval from Department of Health could not be obtained.
Abstract:
This project was conceived to investigate the functionality of the South African civil registration and vital statistics system, and to identify those shortcomings that undermine its effectiveness and accuracy in the surveillance of birth and death statistics relative to expectant mother, infants and children. Through a Gap analysis the challenges, bottlenecks and short circuits (the 'gaps') within the surveillance system that serve to compromise the efficiency and effectiveness of the system were identified.

The project's aim was to strengthen the existing surveillance strategies for monitoring maternal and child morbidity and mortality in South Africa. The objectives of the project were the following: assess the current surveillance system and strategies for monitoring maternal and child morbidity and mortality in order to identify gaps and challenges within the system; and to describe the availability and performance of maternal, obstetric and infant health care services.

The gap analysis included gathering information related to the functioning, challenges and efficiency of the surveillance system at all levels including communities and assessment of the availability and performance of the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics system (CRVS) and maternal and child health (MCH) services.

All nine provinces of South Africa were included in the gap analysis. A total of eighteen (18) districts, one urban and one rural per province participated in the gap analysis. The target population included Department of Home Affairs and Department of Health officials working in different components of the CRVS system and MCH respectively at community, facility, district, provincial and national level. It also included all community leaders (these included traditional leaders, community leaders and farm owner/representative), Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs), community health workers and pregnant women. For the health facility assessment, the target population included selected public health facilities across the nine provinces and health professionals in charge of MCH and notification of diseases and stillbirths. Data collection included both qualitative and quantitative approaches.