An in-depth review of the UNICEF NutriDash platform, lessons learnt and future perspectives: a mixed-methods study

Objectives Robust data on nutrition are essential to realise the right to nutrition for every child. Created in 2009, UNICEF’s Nutrition Dashboard (NutriDash) collects nutrition programme information from 125 countries. An in-depth review of NutriDash was conducted to understand its strengths and id...

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Main Authors: Louise Mwirigi, Annette Imohe, Bethan Swift, Cristina H Perez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2023-01-01
Series:BMJ Open
Online Access:https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/13/1/e062684.full
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author Louise Mwirigi
Annette Imohe
Bethan Swift
Cristina H Perez
author_facet Louise Mwirigi
Annette Imohe
Bethan Swift
Cristina H Perez
author_sort Louise Mwirigi
collection DOAJ
description Objectives Robust data on nutrition are essential to realise the right to nutrition for every child. Created in 2009, UNICEF’s Nutrition Dashboard (NutriDash) collects nutrition programme information from 125 countries. An in-depth review of NutriDash was conducted to understand its strengths and identify key actions to increase its effectiveness and efficiency.Methods Adapting the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention updated guidelines for evaluating public health surveillance systems, a mixed-methods approach was used. A questionnaire was designed to capture information on key attributes of NutriDash and disseminated to UNICEF country offices for quantitative feedback on user experiences. Structured key informant interviews were held with internal and external stakeholders to gain qualitative perceptions on data generated from NutriDash. Analysis involved producing frequency distributions for the questionnaire data and performing thematic analyses on interview data.Results A total of 53 respondents completed the questionnaire (42% response rate), representing 48 countries and good regional geographic representation. Most respondents (96%) worked in UNICEF country offices. The percentages of participants who agreed or strongly agreed with each attribute of the NutriDash system were as follows: acceptability: 71%, stability: 68%, simplicity; 63%, data quality: 60%, flexibility: 58% and usefulness: 43%. Internal and external stakeholders commented on the value of NutriDash; its use ranging from nutrition global trend monitoring for programme planning to producing reports and dashboards. Key themes derived from this review as areas for improvement included communication, access to data and data quality.Conclusions This review has identified key themes that will inform improvements to NutriDash and form a baseline for future periodic reviews to continuously enhance the system to improve availability of timely quality nutrition programme data. UNICEF will continue to engage with countries, key partners and governments to improve the NutriDash data value chain and ensure the right to nutrition for every child.
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spelling doaj.art-4999d8be55af465395f5f205d6be33ae2023-06-30T13:30:06ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552023-01-0113110.1136/bmjopen-2022-062684An in-depth review of the UNICEF NutriDash platform, lessons learnt and future perspectives: a mixed-methods studyLouise Mwirigi0Annette Imohe1Bethan Swift2Cristina H Perez3Nutrition Section, UNICEF, New York, New York, USANutrition Section, UNICEF, New York, New York, USANuffield Department of Women`s and Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UKNutrition Section, UNICEF, New York, New York, USAObjectives Robust data on nutrition are essential to realise the right to nutrition for every child. Created in 2009, UNICEF’s Nutrition Dashboard (NutriDash) collects nutrition programme information from 125 countries. An in-depth review of NutriDash was conducted to understand its strengths and identify key actions to increase its effectiveness and efficiency.Methods Adapting the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention updated guidelines for evaluating public health surveillance systems, a mixed-methods approach was used. A questionnaire was designed to capture information on key attributes of NutriDash and disseminated to UNICEF country offices for quantitative feedback on user experiences. Structured key informant interviews were held with internal and external stakeholders to gain qualitative perceptions on data generated from NutriDash. Analysis involved producing frequency distributions for the questionnaire data and performing thematic analyses on interview data.Results A total of 53 respondents completed the questionnaire (42% response rate), representing 48 countries and good regional geographic representation. Most respondents (96%) worked in UNICEF country offices. The percentages of participants who agreed or strongly agreed with each attribute of the NutriDash system were as follows: acceptability: 71%, stability: 68%, simplicity; 63%, data quality: 60%, flexibility: 58% and usefulness: 43%. Internal and external stakeholders commented on the value of NutriDash; its use ranging from nutrition global trend monitoring for programme planning to producing reports and dashboards. Key themes derived from this review as areas for improvement included communication, access to data and data quality.Conclusions This review has identified key themes that will inform improvements to NutriDash and form a baseline for future periodic reviews to continuously enhance the system to improve availability of timely quality nutrition programme data. UNICEF will continue to engage with countries, key partners and governments to improve the NutriDash data value chain and ensure the right to nutrition for every child.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/13/1/e062684.full
spellingShingle Louise Mwirigi
Annette Imohe
Bethan Swift
Cristina H Perez
An in-depth review of the UNICEF NutriDash platform, lessons learnt and future perspectives: a mixed-methods study
BMJ Open
title An in-depth review of the UNICEF NutriDash platform, lessons learnt and future perspectives: a mixed-methods study
title_full An in-depth review of the UNICEF NutriDash platform, lessons learnt and future perspectives: a mixed-methods study
title_fullStr An in-depth review of the UNICEF NutriDash platform, lessons learnt and future perspectives: a mixed-methods study
title_full_unstemmed An in-depth review of the UNICEF NutriDash platform, lessons learnt and future perspectives: a mixed-methods study
title_short An in-depth review of the UNICEF NutriDash platform, lessons learnt and future perspectives: a mixed-methods study
title_sort in depth review of the unicef nutridash platform lessons learnt and future perspectives a mixed methods study
url https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/13/1/e062684.full
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