Health information systems and disability in the Lao PDR: a qualitative study

Abstract

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities provides an opportunity to strengthen disability-related health information. This study analysed the health information system in Lao PDR and sought evidence of interventions to improve disability-related health information. The study was based on a literature review and key informant interviews (N = 17) informed by the Health Metrics Network's Framework and Standards and the Performance of Routine Information System Management framework. The Lao health information system is in an embryonic stage with health data often incomplete, inaccurate and poorly used. Indicators related to disability or functioning are not included, and capacity to diagnose the health condition of disability is limited. No studies of health information interventions were found. As a State Party to the CRPD, the Lao PDR has a legal obligation to collect health-related information on people with disabilities. Given the nascent stage of development of the health information system in the Lao PDR and diagnostic capacity, indicators related to basic functioning and access to services should be integrated into household level surveys. As the health information system further develops, small, incremental changes in the type of disability information and rehabilitation and the way it is collected can be implemented. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Strengthening health information systems for disability-related rehabilitation in LMICs

“…In Mozambique, the questions were used in national surveys on living conditions among people with disabilities ( UNESCO 2014 ). In Lao PDR, it is proposed that the WG SS should be included in the next census and incorporated into the Lao PDR Social Indicator Survey (LSIS) for easy and cost-effective use of its existing infrastructure, reporting processes and channels for data dissemination ( Durham et al 2015 ).…”

“…For example, a respondent from Lao PDR said that often in rural or remote settings, people with disabilities may not have a formal diagnosis due to shortages of trained health professionals. They can, however, be offered rehabilitation following a functional assessment, which is relatively simple to perform and can be undertaken by a range of health-workers and auxiliary staff ( Durham et al 2015 ). In Thailand, indicators of functioning based on the ICF have been used in a pilot project to create functional profiles of people with disabilities ( Tongsiri and Hawsutisima 2013 ).…”

“…Key gaps should then inform the second stage of strategic HIS-strengthening with a focus on joint planning and prioritization to meet these needs through the creation of a minimum dataset and a strategic plan for progressive strengthening of the national disability and rehabilitation HIS. In the short term, in countries with weak HIS and limited disability and rehabilitation data, a ‘good enough’ approach to HIS strengthening should be supported ( Durham et al 2015 ). This approach focuses on the collection of a minimal amount of indicators which explicitly meet a purpose for specified end-users, aiming in the first instance to meet local data needs.…”

The determinants of vaccination in a semi-rural area of Vientiane City, Lao People’s Democratic Republic: a qualitative study

“…Provider shopping has been reported elsewhere in rural Lao People’s Democratic Republic, with few people using only one provider [40]. Not having a single entity responsible for delivering immunisation to the community may also result in a lack of responsibility for tracking and following up of children who are not recorded to be fully immunised, especially as vaccination records are often lost and the health information system is weak [41, 42]. This ‘smorgasbord’ of providers could be confusing for consumers, diluting the why, when and where of immunisation services.…”