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Table 3 Descriptions of selected metrics and approach to missing data

From: Applicability of the five case model to African eHealth investment decisions

Metric

Description

Percentage of countries with available data

Handling of missing data

1. Status of national eHealth strategy

A score of the extent to which a country has addressed each of the following four aspects pertinent to eHealth in a published document: UHC strategy or policy, eHealth policy or strategy, health information systems policy or strategy, national telehealth policy or strategy. Information was derived from the eHealth Strategy score in the WHO GOE Survey, updated for countries that had published more recent strategy documents found on Internet search

74%

Data values were set to zero for fourteen countries where data were not available

2. GOE survey score

An aggregate percentage of the maximum points a country can score for all key aspects evaluated in the survey

61%

For 21 countries whose data were not available the mean was applied

3. CHE as a percentage of GDP

The level of current health expenditure expressed as a percentage of GDP. Estimates of current health expenditures include healthcare goods and services consumed during each year. This indicator does not include capital health expenditures such as buildings, machinery, IT and stocks of vaccines for emergency or outbreaks [31].

96%

Data values were set to zero for two countries where data were not available

4. CHE per capita

The level of current expenditures on health per capita in current US dollars. Estimates of current health expenditures include healthcare goods and services consumed during each year [32].

96%

Data values were set to zero for two countries where data were not available

5. Rate of growth of real GDP

A measure of the annual rate of change of a nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) after adjusting for the effect that inflation or deflation has on the economy [33, 34].

96%

Data values were set to zero for two countries where data were not available

6. IDI score

A composite index that combines fourteen indicators on ICT access, use and skills, capturing key aspects of ICT development in one measure that allows for comparisons to be made between countries and over time of the level of ICT development across the world [35]. It is published by the ITU based on internationally agreed ICT indicators.

87%

Data values were set to zero for seven countries where data were not available

7. Internet penetration score

An average of two data elements: Internet penetration percentage [38] calculated by dividing Internet user estimates by published population estimates and the IDI score for the percentage of individuals using the Internet [39].

100%

Data set complete

8. HCI score

Quantifies the contribution of health and education to the productivity of the next generation of workers [40]. The HCI index score ranges from zero to one and measures the productivity of a child born today as a future worker relative to the benchmark of full health and complete education [41].

83%

Data values were set to zero for nine countries where data were not available

9. Ibrahim Governance Index score

A tool that measures and monitors governance performance in African countries [42]. Performance is measured across four key components: safety and rule of law, participation and human rights, sustainable economic opportunity, and human development. A summary score provides an indication of overall governance performance.

100%

Data set complete