Demographic Data for Development: Overview Report

Presents findings from case studies in Ethiopia, Ghana, Senegal, and Uganda of the demand for and utilization of data by policy makers and the factors behind their underutilization. Explores ways to improve access to data needed to develop sound policies

Demographic Data for Development: Overview report

The Data for Demographic Development case studies examined the demand for data in four sub-Saharan African countries. The project focused on the views of policymakers, the data they use, the data they want but do not receive, and what they might use but do not request. The underutilization of existing data was explored as was factors that limit the collection, use, and sharing of data. Case studies explored how access to data might be improved. The project’s objective was to create an intimate portrait of access and demand at the country level, thereby complementing the wide array of international initiatives underway. Although the emphasis was on demographic data, the project covered the range of data that are fundamental to developing and assessing policies in the areas of education, health, environment, income, employment, and other measures of development. As explained in this overview report, these case studies explored censuses, surveys, and both budget and service use statistics to determine whether policymakers are getting the data they need to develop sound policies

Demographic Data for Development: Senegal

Current global developmental frameworks, including the Millennium Development Goals and Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers, require recent and reliable data to measure the achievement of targets. At the same time, increased decentralization and democratization have expanded the role that data play in informing development policies and evaluating development interventions at the national level. Increasingly, programs and policies are assessed by their ability to reach goals that have evidence-based indicators, placing a greater demand on countries to produce clear, timely, reliable, and relevant data. The Senegal case study that forms the basis of this report aimed to develop a general picture of the demand for data by policymakers and other data users. It also aimed to elicit views on barriers to data access, quality of available data, and potential interventions to improve the demand and supply of data. Similar case studies were conducted in three other countries: Ethiopia, Ghana, and Uganda. These countries were chosen based on their upcoming censuses, identified statistical capacity, active engagement in the production of important data, and participation in international data initiatives

Demographic Data for Development: Uganda

A recent increase in decentralization and democratization in developing countries has expanded the role that data plays in informing policies and measuring program results. Increasingly, programs and policies are being assessed by their ability to reach goals that have evidence-based indicators. This growing focus on evidence places greater and greater demand on those who generate clear, timely, reliable, and relevant data. In an effort to strengthen data, initiatives around the globe, such as PARIS21 and Health Metrics Network, have been designed to increase access to and use of data by harmonizing measures, providing technical support in data collection, and increasing the dialogue between data producers and users. This report presents the Uganda findings of a qualitative study simultaneously conducted in Ethiopia, Ghana, and Senegal. The case studies aimed to develop a picture of the demand for data, access to data, quality of available data, and perceived supply and demand for demographic data in the four countries. These countries were chosen based on their upcoming censuses, identified statistical capacity, active engagement in the production of important data, and participation in international data initiatives

Demographic Data for Development: Ethiopia

This case study from Ethiopia is one of four looking at data for social and economic development in sub-Saharan Africa. The case studies identified activities to enhance data demand, utilization, and quality in each of the focus countries. They involved interviews with key stakeholders to solicit their views on country-level data needs, utilization, access, and demand. Recent emphasis on programs for poverty reduction and improved development have highlighted the need for data to identify the specific problem areas and assess the progress of new initiatives. The main sources of data are the census; Demographic and Health Surveys; Welfare Monitoring Surveys; and Household Income, Consumption, and Expenditure Surveys. The Ethiopian case study sought a broad range of views from individuals working for the government, nongovernmental organizations, development partners, civil society organizations, and academia/researchers. The entities represented data users and producers. The discussion in this final report synthesizes the multifaceted views of those interviewed, and highlights lessons that can be learned from the opinions shared

Creating \u27safe spaces\u27 for adolescent girls

Adolescence is a time of many transitions and a time to acquire the skills for adult life. Although skills can still be acquired in adulthood, adolescence is a time to lay a foundation of education, financial skills, positive health behaviors, and critical thinking. For many girls in the developing world, the opportunity to move freely in the community becomes limited at the onset of puberty. This may be a well-intentioned protective measure, but the effect can be to limit girls’ opportunity to form strong social networks, gain requisite skills, and learn how to be full members of their community. The Population Council has developed a number of “safe spaces” programs that address the needs of vulnerable adolescents, particularly girls. These programs all build on the key elements of a safe physical space, a mentor, and a friendship or social network for the girls. Promoting Healthy, Safe, and Productive Transitions to Adulthood Brief No. 39 explores what safe spaces are, why social or friendship networks are important, the role of mentors, who the girls are, and lessons learned

Demographic Data for Development: Ghana

The attempts of African countries to develop their economies and to democratize their political systems have led to a renewed interest in the use of demographic and socioeconomic data for decision-making and planning. This new direction calls for clear, timely, reliable, and relevant data. At the international level, initiatives such as the African Charter on Statistics, PARIS 21, and the Health Metrics Network have emerged to provide direction and technical support for strengthening initiatives and activities that harmonize measures and improve data collection processes. This report on Ghana is part of a four-country study involving Ethiopia, Ghana, Senegal, and Uganda. The countries were chosen based on their upcoming censuses, identified statistical capacities, active engagement in the production of data, and participation in many of the international data initiatives. The main aim of the case studies is to provide a broad picture of the demand for and access to data, quality of available data, and the perceived supply of demographic data among policymakers and other stakeholders

Demographic data for development in sub-Saharan Africa

More demographic data are being collected throughout the developing world than ever before, but the effective use of that data to further development goals is often lacking. This working paper summarizes case studies on the demand for data in four sub-Saharan African countries, namely Ethiopia, Ghana, Senegal, and Uganda. The project’s objective was to create a detailed portrait of access and demand at the country level, and to determine whether policymakers are getting the data they need to develop sound policies. Common findings across the four countries include an increased external demand from international initiatives that has not necessarily translated into internal demand for data; a missing link between producers and users of data; and a need for data to be presented in user-friendly formats. Next steps are to support initiatives to establish data access as a right, encourage a culture of data-sharing among funders and producers of data, strengthen intermediaries between policymakers and data collectors, display data in accessible formats such as maps, and disaggregate available data to the most useful levels

Development of a motivation communication training programme to aid diabetes-specialist podiatrists with adherence discussions

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) impact a substantial proportion of patients with diabetes, with high recurrence rates, severe complications, and significant financial burden to health care systems. Adherence to treatment advice (e.g., limiting weight-bearing activity) is low with patients reporting dissatisfaction with the way in which advice is communicated. This study aimed to address this problem via the systematic development of a motivation communication training program. The program was designed to support diabetes-specialist podiatrists in empowering patients to actively engage with treatment. The development process followed an intervention mapping approach. Needs assessment involved observations of 24 patient–practitioner consultations within a diabetes-specialist foot clinic. This informed specification of a theory of change (self-determination theory) and relevant evidence-based communication strategies (drawing from motivational interviewing). The training program was developed iteratively with changes made following feedback from five diabetic foot health care professionals. The resulting training program, consisting of six one-hour face-to-face sessions over an 8-week period, was delivered to a further six diabetes specialist podiatrists, with five participating in postprogram telephone interviews to assess acceptability. Deductive thematic analysis of interview data revealed positive aspects of the training (e.g., valuable and relevant content), ideas for improvement (e.g., online resources and context-specific video examples), the acceptability of motivation strategies, and challenges putting the strategies into practice (such as time constraints and breaking old communication habits). This study contributes to our understanding of integrating motivation principles into routine consultations and holds potential for enhancing adherence to treatment recommendations in patients living with diabetic foot ulcers