This community innovation has been accepted at the 2025 DHIS2 Annual Conference
Interoperability to Optimize MNCH Data in Tanzania
The MomCare program has been implemented in Tanzania since 2019 to address critical gaps in maternal and newborn health (MNCH). By leveraging digital tools and data-driven approaches, it enhances maternal care in high neonatal mortality regions, reaching over 40,000 patients in Manyara. Effective MNCH monitoring is crucial for targeted interventions, resource allocation, and health system strengthening. However, government-mandated paper-based reporting results in transcription errors, incomplete data, and underreporting, making accurate health tracking difficult. Additionally, reliance on aggregated reports limits patient-focused care improvements and real-time decision-making. To address these challenges, MomCare developed an interoperable digital solution that automates DHIS2-compliant reports from existing digital tools (Figure 1). This solution leverages FHIR standards to transform patient-level data into DHIS2 reports, eliminating parallel workflows. It allows healthcare providers to engage with patient-centric insights while ensuring accurate aggregate reporting for policymakers (Figure 2). By streamlining reporting, this intervention reduces the administrative burden and enhances MNCH data accuracy, timeliness, and usability. In the first year, the system captured 11,000 patient journeys across 30+ onboarded MNCH providers in Hanang (Appendix I). While paper-based data gaps cannot be directly quantified, contextual interviews and comparative assessments suggest significant improvements in care utilization and reporting efficiency. Providers report reduced workload, simplified data submission, and improved data management. Future efforts will focus on expanding to additional regions and advocating for broader adoption, facilitating the transition from paper-based to fully digital, interoperable workflows. This scalable, open-source model demonstrates how interoperability can enhance patient care and national health data systems in resource-constrained settings.
Primary Author: Femke Heddema
Keywords:
Interoperability, Digital Health, DHIS2, Maternal and Newborn Health (MNCH), Data Automation, Health Information Systems, Data Completeness, Reporting Burden, Workflow Optimization, Data Integration, FHIR Standards, Open-Source Solutions, Health Data Exchange, Data Usability, Health System Strengthening, Public Health Informatics, Scalable Solutions, Data-Driven Decision Making, Health Monitoring, Data Submission, Healthcare Providers, Health Data Standards, Digital Transformation, Electronic Health Systems, Patient Data, Health System Integration, Health Data Quality, Resource-Constrained Settings, Evidence-Based Decision Making, Healthcare Efficiency, Timely Reporting, Health Data Automation, System Interoperability, Monitoring Systems, Health Data Management, Low-and -Middle income countries.
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