Naming the different objects in DHIS2 in a consistent, organised way facilitates your work as DHIS2 administrator when building a data collection tool or their related analytics.
PSI’s naming conventions (also referred to as our nomenclature) define the way PSI classifies and names any object in PSI's DHIS instances. Using standard formatting helps objects in DHIS2 to be easily found and connected. This helps to readily identify what objects are for, organize and connect objects in different parts of the system, and ensure that we maintain standardized metadata. Standard nomenclature also helps to avoid duplication of metadata objects.
The name should always be meaningful, even out of context (e.g. avoid " KE HCT - Confirmed referrals" but rather name the data element "KE HCT - Confirmed referrals for HIV care and treatment"). Ask yourself, would a person from another country with no knowledge of my project know what the object was meant to measure?
For regional/global projects that require metadata to be shared with multiple countries, the country prefix will be replaced by the project name or abbreviation. We also change the order of the prefix to [Project | Health Area] for regional/global projects.
CI | HHH | PROJ | Measure Name |
Country 2-ISO code | Health Area acronym (2 to 4 letters) | Project acronym | Data collection dimension name (brief description) |
Key DHIS2 objects naming conventions
DHIS2 Object | Naming Convention | Name Example |
|---|---|---|
Category | [2-4 letter program code] AND/OR [CORE/ISO2] - [Category name] | CORE - Age groups (0-4, 5-14, 15-24, 25+) WHP - Reason for IUD removal |
Category combination | [2-4 letter program code] AND/OR [CORE/ISO2] - [Category Combo name] | CORE - Age groups (0-4, 5-14, 15-24, 25+) & gender WHP - Reason for IUD removal |
Category option | NOT APPLICABLE | Use shortest possible name. Reuse them as much as possible. |
Data element | [CORE/ISO2] [2-3 letter intervention area code] - [2-4 letter project/program code] [(TRK)] - [DE name] | Aggregated DE: Tracker DE: |
Data element group | [CORE/ISO2] [2-3 letter intervention area code] - [2-4 letter project/program code] - [DE Group name] | UG RH WHP - RH Service Provision |
Data element group set | [CORE/ISO2] [2-3 letter intervention area code] [2-4 letter program code] | UG HIV PLP |
Data Set | [CORE/ISO2] [2-3 letter intervention area code] [2-4 letter program code] - [Dataset name] | UG MCH MUM - Monthly Facility HMIS Form |
Indicator | [CORE/ISO2] [2-3 letter intervention area code] [2-4 letter program code] - [Indicator name] | CORE MAL RDT - % of children under 5 with confirmed malaria receiving ACTs |
Option Set | [CORE/ISO2] [2-3 letter intervention area code] [2-4 letter program code] - [Option set name] | CORE MAL RDT - Results |
Options of an Option Set | NOT APPLICABLE | |
Organisation unit | [OrgUnit name] ([Code]) | Administrative area: Bushenyi (402) Facility: Kicwamba Maternity Clinic (S-KMC-051) Provider: Musoki Jackline (S-KMC-051-012) |
Organisation Unit Group | [ISO2] [group set name] - [group] | Global: Type - Clinic Local: KE Region - Western |
Organisation Unit Group Set | For global OU groups: [group set name] For local OU groups: [ISO2] [group set name] | Global: Type Local: KE Region |
Program | [ISO2] - [2-3 letter intervention area code] [2-4 letter program code] - [Program name] | GT SRH WHP - Client Tracker |
Program Stage | [ISO2] - [2-3 letter intervention area code] [2-4 letter program code] - [Program name] - [Stage name] | SA SRH - VMMC Tracker - Follow-up Visit |
Validation Rule |
Exemptions for naming conventions
Category Options
Options (in an Option Set)
The values for Category Options and the Options on a Optionset are visible on the data collection forms and analytics - adding acronyms at the beginning will create confusion and waste valuable screen space. Also, Categories (like ages, sex, type of organizations) are universal values, that can be used across projects and countries.
Using Codes in DHIS2 objects
Codes are optional for all objects, but may assist in providing an additional mechanism for sorting objects and importing/exporting metadata and data associated with the object across servers. Specific nomenclature for organisation unit codes is described in the organisation unit standard.
DHIS2 Object | Code Convention | Code Example |
|---|---|---|
Data element | [CORE/ISO2]_[3 letter intervention area code]-[2-4 letter project/program code]_[(TRK)]_[123] | CORE_MAL-RDT_003 CD_MAL-RDT_038 |
Organisation unit | Administrative areas: [ISO2][1234] Facilities: [ISO2][PSI/MOH/(project code)][1234] Providers: [facility code]-[provider code] | Facility: KEPSI1034 Provider: KEPSI1034-023 |
Health Areas
Health Area Code | Health Area Name |
HTS | HIV |
TB | Tuberculosis |
SRH | Sexual Reproductive Health (= incl. Family Planning) |
MAL | Malaria |
VMC | Voluntary Male Circumcision |
CC | Cervical Cancer |
HT | Hypertension |
ICM | Integrated Case Management of Childhood Illnesses |
MNH | Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health |
SA | Safe Abortion |
PAC | Post Abortion Care |
STI | Sexually Transmitted Infections |
WASH | Water & Sanitation |
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