Data-Driven Monitoring for Improved Maternal and Child Health Outcomes in Rwanda

The Government of Rwanda (GOR) through the Ministry of Health, the National Institute of Statistics and their partners rolled out the dissemination of the Sixth Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey 2019-20 (RDHS-VI, 2019-20) and the second NCDs STEP 2021 Survey from 6-10 March 2023, in a bid to enhance data use and promote data-driven decision-making at the district level.

The surveys provided data to monitor the Rwanda population and the health situation in Rwanda. Specifically, the RDHS data source collects information on a broad range of demographic, health, and social issues such as household characteristics, maternal and child health, breastfeeding practices, early childhood mortality, maternal mortality, nutritional status of women and young children, fertility levels, marriage, fertility preferences, awareness and use of family planning methods, sexual activity, awareness and behaviour regarding AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections; while the NCDs STEP tracked the prevalence of NCDs risk factors; and provided recommendations to each level.

All the district authorities and the Governor of the Western province were involved and actively participated in the discussions around the district profiles presented to inform decision-makers on how to improve the health and well-being of the Rwandans.

Every 5 years, the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) produces a DHS report with support from various partners. The UN through the joint program on data led by UNFPA supports NISR to gather quality disaggregated data to enable monitoring of the progress of SDGs including health programs and policies in the country.

Kwabena Asante-Ntiamoah, UNFPA Rwanda Representative discussing with district authorities and the Governor of Western Province during the workshop held in Karongi District.

“UNFPA Disaggregated data are crucial to monitor the progress toward achieving Sustainable Development Goals. Most importantly, as we are coming to the end of NST1 and going to have NST2, the data collected through the census will inform where the gaps are and what we need to do for the NST2,” Kwabena noted.

The workshops were highly attended, and all the district authorities including the Governors were involved and actively participated in discussions, they all decided to set up dedicated data fora for routine data analysis to improve decision-making and the implementation of health programmes.

“Only one year to complete NST1 and we have to work together to meet the targets. Findings from DHS show us where we have gaps. We have to come up with an improvement plan and monitor its implementation. The Ministry of Health has to work with mayors and governors to achieve the targets. UNFPA has been supporting us in data use for maternal and child health improvement.” - Donatien Ngabo Ntagara, the Director of Monitoring and Evaluation at the Ministry of Health.

According to the 2019-20 RDHS, countrywide 58% of women aged 15-49 use modern methods of family planning, whereas, in the Western Province, the use is at 54%, in the City of Kigali at 55%, the Southern Province at 56%, the Eastern Province at 62 % and Northern Province at 65%.

DHS findings also indicate that 5% of young women between the age of 15 and 19 have begun childbearing in Rwanda. On the prevalence of current contraceptive use among women aged 15-49, findings show that 64 % of women aged 15-49 in Rwanda use any contraceptive methods.

Demographic and Health Survey's findings for the province provide granular data on specific gaps per district and recommendations including making efforts to end maternal and infant mortality, improving family planning services, reducing stunting among children, addressing teen pregnancies, and women empowerment. Conducting a dissemination workshop using a provincial-level approach is a powerful advocacy to create awareness of 2019-2020 DHS findings by district and thematic areas and agree on actionable strategies for improvement.

HABITEGEKO Francois, Governor of Western province, during the workshop to disseminate DHS19/20 findings where district profiles were presented to inform decision makers how to improve health and well being of Rwandans.

“We commend UNFPA for the good collaboration in improving how we have to overcome different challenges in the health sector. After seeing the findings from DHS, we realized our gaps and we have immediately drafted recommendations so that we generate action plans that address the gaps so as to improve the health of our population,” said Habitegeko Francois, Governor of the Western Province.

The United Nations Agency for Sexual and Reproductive Health (UNFPA) uses its comparative advantages to support the government of Rwanda to generate, analyze and use data on population dynamics to inform planning, policy formulation, implementation, and monitoring of interventions in the development and humanitarian settings.