Health Information for Planning

Health Information for Planning equips Zambian tertiary students with the knowledge to identify, access, and critically appraise the data and evidence necessary for informed decision-making. This topic covers the wide array of information sources essential for health planning, including demographic and epidemiological data (e.g., mortality and morbidity rates), health services activity data (e.g., hospital bed occupancy, outpatient visits), health economic data, and qualitative data from communities. Students will learn about key tools such as the District Health Profile, Health Management Information Systems (HMIS), census data, and survey reports. For university and college learners in Zambia, the ability to find, interpret, and synthesise diverse data sets is fundamental to conducting accurate situational analyses, identifying health needs, setting baselines, and monitoring progress. This topic addresses the challenge of often imperfect or incomplete data in resource-limited settings and teaches strategies for making the best possible decisions with available information. Mastery of health information management is a direct learning outcome for health services planning and budgeting courses, ensuring graduates can base their plans on robust evidence, a critical requirement for professional practice and success in tertiary assessments.