Search:
 

Data quality audit (DQA)

Data Quality Audits are performed at random by external consultants who independently verify the levels of basic immunisation coverage achieved in countries receiving GAVI funds. These audits ensure that GAVI's future performance-based funding is correctly calculated whilst also guarding against corruption. Moreover the DQA encourages countries to focus on their monitoring and reporting systems.

The DQA reviews both the numbers of children reported to have received a DTP3 injection and the accuracy of a country's reporting methods.

The DQA is a powerful capacity building tool for immunisation information systems and is a good example of the way in which GAVI can assist country programmes to achieve their own objectives.

Three reasons for accurate recording and reporting practices are:

  • managers of immunisation services need correct and timely information to detect improvement or decline in performance;
  • partners of the GAVI Alliance working at all levels need reliable information to judge the impact of new efforts and new resources on performance;
  • GAVI awards money according to a system of “shares”, one share being earned by the country for each additional child reported to have been immunised relative to the previous or baseline year.

There are many pitfalls that can be avoided if the critical elements of quality are in place. The information collected from a DQA enables auditors to offer advice to health workers, managers and national leaders of immunistion programmes.