Tricia Aung|Debora Niyeha|Shagihilu Shagihilu|Rose Mpembeni|Joyceline Kaganda|Ashley Sheffel|Rebecca Heidkamp
Optimizing data visualization for reproductive, maternal, newborn, child health, and nutrition (RMNCH&amp;N) policymaking: data visualization preferences and interpretation capacity among decision-makers in Tanzania
Johns Hopkins University|Johns Hopkins University|Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences|Tanzania Food and Nutrition Center|Johns Hopkins University|Johns Hopkins University
reproductive maternal newborn child health nutrition rmnchn data indispensable tool program policy decisions low middleincome countries however equipped evidence doesnt necessarily translate program policy changes study aimed characterize data visualization interpretation capacity preferences among rmnchn tanzanian program implementers policymakers decisionmakers design effective approaches towards promoting evidencebased rmnchn decisions tanzaniawe conducted 25 semistructured interviews kiswahili junior midlevel senior rmnchn decisionmakers working tanzanian government institutions used snowball sampling recruit participants different rank roles rmnchn decisionmaking using semistructured interviews probed participants statistical skills data use asked participants identify key messages rank prepared rmnchn visualizations used grounded theory approach organize themes identify findingsthe findings suggest data literacy statistical skills among rmnchn decisionmakers tanzania varies participants demonstrated awareness many critical factors influence visualization choiceaudience key message simplicitybut assessments data interpretation preferences suggest may weak knowledge basic statistics majority decisionmakers statistical training since attending university appeared discomfort interpreting using visualizations bar charts pie charts mapsdecisionmakers must able understand interpret rmnchn data receive empowered act addressing inadequate data literacy presentation skills among decisionmakers vital bridging gaps evidence policymaking would beneficial host basic data literacy visualization training rmnchn decisionmakers levels tanzania expand skills developing key messages visualizations