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ABSTRACT
Purpose: To develop and implement mechanisms to collect, report, and assess the World Health Organization (WHO) core eye health indicators in Chile, Honduras, Mexico, Peru, and Uruguay.
Methods: Simple templates for a situational analysis (of data collection and reporting processes), a national data collection strategy, and a national work plan to implement the core eye health indicators were developed. Public and private sector representatives from the ministries of health (MOHs), national vision committees, and national societies of ophthalmology of each country used these tools with 2013 baseline data to improve their data collection processes and collected 2015 data. Final analysis and cross-validation were performed using intraocular lens sales data and last observation carried forward imputation.
Results: Study tools were effectively implemented in all five countries and resulted in improved intersectoral stakeholder collaboration and communications, which improved the data collection and reporting processes. More complete and accurate data were reported by 2015 compared to the 2013 baseline.
Conclusions: Multisectoral stakeholders, including national professional societies and national vision committees, should collaborate with MOHs to improve the quality of data that are reported to WHO. This study involved these stakeholders in the data collection processes to better understand the realities of indicator implementation, better manage their expectations, and improve data quality. WHO Member States across the globe can feasibly adapt the study tools and methodologies to strengthen their data collection processes. Overall, the reliability and validity of the indicators is hampered with limitations that prevent fully accurate data from being collected.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank the Fred Hollows Foundation, Orbis International, and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness for their generous support of this study. The authors would also like to thank the following individuals for their provision of the study data and consent to use Francisco Martinez-Castro Mexico, NSO, Mexico; Benito Celis, NSO, Mexico; Martín Sanchez, NSO and National VISION 2020 Committee, Uruguay; Gonzalo Vargas; NSO, Chile; Fernando Barria, NSO, Chile; Harvy Honorio Morales, MOH and the National Committee for the Prevention of Blindness, Peru; and Doris Alvarado, NSO and National VISION 2020 Committee, Honduras.
Funding
This study was funded by the Fred Hollows Foundation, Orbis International, and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness.
Declaration of interest
KAE and MJC were paid consultants of the Fred Hollows Foundation during this study; VCL is a former employee of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness; JMO is a former employee of Orbis International; JMF is employed by the University of São Paulo and serves as a Strategic Adviser for the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness Latin America; FMC is regional chair to the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness Latin America.
This submission has not been published anywhere previously and is not simultaneously being considered for any other publication.
Supplemental data
Supplemental data for this article can be access on the publisher’s website.