This community innovation has been accepted at the 2025 DHIS2 Annual Conference
Neonatal Dataset in 5 LMICs:DHIS2 Interoperability
Background: Every Newborn Action Plan (ENAP) aims to establish Level-2 Small and Sick Newborn Care (SSNC) in 80% of districts by 2025. Achieving this requires robust inpatient data to improve care quality, reduce inequities, and guide evidence-based decisions at facility and national levels. While tools like DHIS2 facilitate aggregate data reporting, critical gaps remain in individual-level data needed for SSNC quality improvement. We describe the co-design and operationalisation of the NEST360 Neonatal Inpatient Dataset (NID) to improve monitoring and care quality in high-mortality settings. Methods: A three-step framework of review, co-design, and operationalisation was used to develop the NID in five countries (Malawi, Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria, and Ethiopia) implementing with the NEST360 Alliance. Existing global and national datasets were reviewed, and variables were prioritised through consultations with clinicians and policymakers. A priori criteria included clinical care and outcome data, a parsimonious (< 60) variable set, and electronic data entry. The tool was refined through multi-stakeholder workshops and consultations. Results: The NID comprises 60 variables across six categories: (1) birth details/maternal history, (2) admission details, (3) clinical complications, (4) interventions/investigations, (5) outcomes, and (6) diagnosis/cause of death. Operationalised in 137 neonatal units across five countries, it has captured >650,000 records. Interoperable with DHIS2, the NID integrates neonatal data into national health systems in real-time, supporting dashboards for quality improvement. Conclusion: The NID is an innovative, parsimonious tool designed to strengthen inpatient SSNC through routine information systems. Integrated with DHIS2 for interoperability and data linkage, it enables facility and country-level comparisons, driving progress towards targets. It is accessible and adaptable via the NEST360/UNICEF Newborn Toolkit.
Primary Author: James Cross
Keywords:
DHIS2 interoperability, neonatal inpatient dataset, small and sick newborn care, routine health information systems, data integration, quality improvement, newborn, neonatal, Africa, low- and middle-income countries, quality of care, health management information systems, hospital records, inpatient care, data for action.