The South Sudan Health Informatics Association has published the first comprehensive national assessment of data skills within the health workforce, surveying over nine hundred health workers across all ten states — from county hospital information officers to state programme managers and community health supervisors. The report, available now in the association’s publications library, offers the clearest picture yet of where the country’s health information capacity stands and where investment is most urgently needed.
The findings paint a picture of dedicated practitioners with solid foundations but critical gaps. More than three-quarters of respondents correctly described routine reporting procedures, and facility-level register keeping scored surprisingly well where supervision existed. However, only one in five felt confident performing basic analysis of the data they themselves collect, fewer still could produce a simple chart or written data summary, and the concept of data-driven planning — using one’s own facility data to adjust services — was described as "rare" by most county supervisors interviewed. Female health workers, who form the majority of the maternity and immunisation workforce, reported significantly less access to any formal data training.
The assessment also documented the enabling environment: electricity, connectivity and supervision. Facilities with a functioning solar power source were four times more likely to use digital tools routinely; facilities visited by a supervisor at least quarterly had half the report-timeliness failure rate of those without; and access to a printer or smartphone proved a better predictor of reporting compliance than staff numbers.
Based on the findings, the report makes six recommendations: embed data-use modules in all in-service training; prioritise female staff for training quotas; establish a minimum equipment package for county information offices; institutionalise quarterly supportive supervision; expand the SSHIA mentorship model that showed the strongest measured gains; and adopt a national data skills framework with certification standards. The association is already translating the recommendations into its next training curriculum and advocacy agenda with the Ministry of Health and partners.
