Using Routine Data in Evaluations Routine health information system (RHIS) data—data collected at regular intervals at public, private, and community-level health facilities and institutions—have often been passed over by evaluators in favor of other data sources, such as stand-alone surveys tailored to meet specific evaluation objectives. However, in light of the costs and time required to gather primary data, now more than ever there are many reasons to consider routine and existing data. Routine data are available and usually less costly to collect. Still, they come with their own set of challenges to consider and address. For example, routine data systems were not set up with research in mind, so not all indicators, time periods, and facility data will be available. This guidance document and 13 accompanying briefs describing use of routine data in evaluations provide information from experience to help future evaluators and researchers who are considering using routine and existing data in their projects. GUIDANCE DOCUMENT: A Practical Guide to Using Routine Data in Evaluation Assessing Healthcare Quality Using Routine Data: Evaluating the Performance of the National Tuberculosis Program in South Africa Impact of a District-Wide Health Center Strengthening Intervention on Healthcare Utilization in Rural Rwanda: Use of Interrupted Time Series Analysis Evaluating the Impact of Malaria Interventions in Zanzibar, 2000–2015: Report Prepared for the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative Strengthening Tuberculosis Control in Ukraine: Evaluation of the Impact of the TB-HIV Integration Strategy on Treatment Outcomes Quality of Care, Risk Management, and Technology in Obstetrics to Reduce Hospital-based Maternal Mortality in Senegal and Mali (QUARITE): A Cluster Randomized Trial Assessment of the 2017 National Campaign for the Promotion of Family Planning in Mali Improving Maternal and Child Health Outcomes in Kenya: Impact of the Free Maternity Service Policy on Healthcare Use and Lives Saved Can a Quality Improvement Project Impact Maternal and Child Health Outcomes at Scale in Northern Ghana? Impact of a Free Health Care Policy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo during an Ebola outbreak: An interrupted time-series analysis Impact of a Systems Engineering Intervention on PMTCT Service Delivery in Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Mozambique: A Cluster Randomized Trial Strengthening the Care Continuum Project in Ghana: Midterm Assessment Initial Evidence of Reduction of Malaria Cases and Deaths in Rwanda and Ethiopia Due to Rapid Scale-Up of Malaria Prevention and Treatment Support Clubs for Children and Youth in Haiti Living with HIV: Technical Brief on a Case Study Related Resources Considerations for the Use of Routine Data for Evaluation of Public Health Programs Needs Assessment on Resources for Use of Routine and Other Secondary Data for Health Evaluation and Research Webinar on Routine Data Use in Evaluation: Practical Guidance
