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Assessing compliance with policies and protocols

Last edited: February 25, 2011

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Routine service statistics about clients, including the numbers and percentages of clients who said yes to screening questions, are an important way to gauge an institution’s response to gender-based violence.

However, the quality of these service statistics depends on the reliability of the information systems and the willingness of health care providers to comply with clinic policies—both of which may vary from clinic to clinic. The availability and quality of statistics also depend on whether or not the health programme decides to implement routine screening, what kind of policy it adopts, what kind of  questions it asks, what kind of information system it has, and the capacity of staff to collect data.

Random record reviews are a way to evaluate the completeness of record keeping with regard to screening for gender-based violence and how well providers understand and use screening policies and protocols.

Methods that can be used include:

  • Review of screening data
  • Review of routine service statistics
  • Review of protocols and procedures by:
    • Asking for documentation of all available protocols and procedures, including screening protocols
    • Determining whether there are protocols and procedures for the management of gender-based violence, including sexual violence
    • Determining whether the protocols are clear, unambiguous and easily accessible to all staff.

Illustrative tools:

 Sample tables for gathering screening data (International Planned Parenthood Federation/ Western Hemisphere Region). This series of model tables were developed to collect comparable screening data across facilities. These tables illustrate the types of data that can be collected and analyzed on a routine basis. Their use of these tables depends on whether or not the health programme decides to implement routine screening, what kind of policy it adopts, what kind of questions it asks, and what kind of information system it has. Available in English and Spanish.

Random record review protocol (International Planned Parenthood Federation/ Western Hemisphere Region). The quality of routine service statistics such as the numbers and percentages of clients who said yes to screening questions depends on the reliability of the information systems and the willingness of health care providers to comply with clinic policies—both of which may vary from clinic to clinic. Available in English and Spanish.