Table 1 Results from situational analysis checklists

1

a.

Existence of Mental Health policy and plan

Present

b.

Provision of HMIS in Mental Health Policy

Yes, in the Mental Health Policy draft

c.

General health policies which govern Health Management Information System/HMIS

Yes, in draft National Health policy

d.

General health plans that govern HMIS

Yes, National Rural Health Mission

e.

Standard Operating procedures for Mental Health

No

f.

Initiatives to develop Mental Health Information Systems

No, except for its mention in the draft policy

2

Human Resources

a.

Minimum qualification to be an HMIS staff

Graduate in any discipline

b.

HMIS expert qualification

BSc/MSc (Bachelors in Science/ Masters in Science) in Statistics

c.

Number of HMIS specialists (at national level)

20

d.

Number of HMIS trainers

Not available

e.

Training manuals for HMIS

Present

f.

Specialised courses in HMIS

No

3

Data Systems (MH indicators in HMIS)

a.

Mental Health indicators in national HMIS

No^a

b.

Mental Health Out Patient Department attendance included in HMIS

Yes, at tertiary level in some states

c.

Mental Health referrals recorded

No

d.

Psychiatric inpatient bed occupancy rate

No

e.

Mental health training data reflected

No

f.

Average length of stay at hospital

No

3.a

Components within routine HMIS

a.

Data collection

Paper and pencil below Primary Health Centre/PHC, electronic in PHC/CHCs and above

b.

Data compilation

HMIS web portal

c.

Data Analysis

Monthly

d.

Frequency of data reporting to Ministry of Health (Tanzania Ministry of Health and Social Welfare)

Monthly, Quarterly and Annually

e.

Data quality control mechanisms

Yes (Supervision, Audits)

f.

Feedback mechanism to the lowest level

Yes, no implementation on ground

g.

Dissemination of HMIS data

Yes, not involving data collection staff

h.

Public access to HMIS report

Yes