scholarly journals Evaluation of Public Health Surveillance Systems in Refugee Settlements in Uganda, 2016 - 2019: Lessons Learnt

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex Riolexus Ario ◽  
Emily Atuheire Barigye ◽  
Innocent Harbert Nkonwa ◽  
Jimmy Ogwal ◽  
Denis Nixon Opio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Data Analysis ◽  
Surveillance System ◽  
Disease Surveillance ◽  
Public Health Surveillance ◽  
Health Surveillance ◽  
Health Facilities ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
Village Health ◽  
Village Health Teams

Abstract BackgroundCivil wars in the Great Lakes region resulted in massive displacement of people to neighboring countries including Uganda, with associated humanitarian emergencies. Appropriate disease surveillance enables timely detection and response to outbreaks. We describe evaluation of the public health surveillance system in refugee settlements in Uganda and document lessons learnt.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional survey using the US CDC Updated Guidelines for Evaluating Public Health Surveillance Systems in four refugee settlements in Uganda i.e., Bidibidi, Adjumani, Kiryandongo and Rhino Camp. Using semi-structured questionnaires, key informant and focus group discussion guides, we interviewed health facility in-charges, key personnel and village health teams from 4 districts, 53 health facilities and 112 villages.ResultsAll health facilities assessed had key surveillance staff; 60% were trained on IDSR and most village health teams were trained on disease surveillance. Case detection was at 55%; facilities lacked standard case definitions (SCDs) and were using parallel Implementing Partner (IP) driven reporting system. Recording was at 79% and reporting was at 81%. Data analysis and interpretation was at 49%. Confirmation of outbreaks and events was at 76%. Preparedness was at 72% and response was at 34%. Feedback was at 82%. Recording, reporting, preparedness, feedback and confirmation of outbreaks and events were highly achieved, and capacity to evaluate and improve the system was moderately achieved. There were low scores in capacity to detect, respond and analyse data.ConclusionPublic health surveillance system had high sensitivity, timeliness and predictive value positive. It was simple, acceptable with fair data quality attributes. It was less flexible, less stable with low representativeness. The system had good recording, reporting, preparedness, feedback and confirmation of outbreaks and events. The capacity for detection, response and data analysis and interpretation was low. Lessons learnt were: IPs offer tremendous support to surveillance; training of surveillance staff on IDSR maintains effective surveillance functions; supplies of tools, personnel etc. should be planned and executed; functionalization of district teams ensures achievement of surveillance functions and attributes; regular support supervision of health facilities necessary; harmonization of reporting improves surveillance functions and attributes; appropriation of funds to districts to support refugee settlements is complementary.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Measles Surveillance Systems in Ginnir District, Bale Zone, Southeast Ethiopia: A Concurrent Embedded Mixed Quantitative/Qualitative Study 

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Falaho Sani ◽  
Mohammed Hasen ◽  
Mohammed Seid ◽  
Nuriya Umer
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Surveillance System ◽  
Public Health Surveillance ◽  
Health Surveillance ◽  
Health Facilities ◽  
Surveillance Data ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
Southeast Ethiopia ◽  
Bale Zone

Abstract Background: Public health surveillance systems should be evaluated periodically to ensure that the problems of public health importance are being monitored efficiently and effectively. Despite the widespread measles outbreak in Ginnir district of Bale zone in 2019, evaluation of measles surveillance system has not been conducted. Therefore, we evaluated the performance of measles surveillance system and its key attributes in Ginnir district, Southeast Ethiopia.Methods: We conducted a concurrent embedded mixed quantitative/qualitative study in August 2019 among 15 health facilities/study units in Ginnir district. Health facilities are selected using lottery method. The qualitative study involved purposively selected 15 key informants. Data were collected using semi-structured questionnaire adapted from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for evaluating public health surveillance systems through face-to-face interview and record review. The quantitative findings were analyzed using Microsoft Excel 2016 and summarized by frequency and proportion. The qualitative findings were narrated and summarized based on thematic areas to supplement the quantitative findings.Results: The structure of surveillance data flow was from the community to the respective upper level. Emergency preparedness and response plan was available only at the district level. Completeness of weekly report was 95%, while timeliness was 87%. No regular analysis and interpretations of surveillance data, and the supportive supervision and feedback system was weak. The participation and willingness of surveillance stakeholders in implementation of the system was good. The surveillance system was found to be useful, easy to implement, representative and can accommodate and adapt to changing conditions. Report documentation and quality of data was poor at lower level health facilities. Stability of the system has been challenged by shortage of budget and logistics, staff turnover and lack of update trainings.Conclusions: The surveillance system was acceptable, useful, simple, flexible and representative. Data quality, timeliness and stability of the system were attributes that require improvement. The overall performance of measles surveillance system in the district was poor. Hence, regular analysis of data, preparation and dissemination of epidemiological bulletin, capacity building and regular supervision and feedback are recommended to enhance performance of the system.

scholarly journals Cholera Public Health Surveillance System in Cameroon

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Moise C. Ngwa ◽  
Song Liang ◽  
Leonard Mbam ◽  
Mouhaman Arabi ◽  
Andrew Teboh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Data Analysis ◽  
Surveillance System ◽  
Disease Surveillance ◽  
Public Health Surveillance ◽  
National Level ◽  
Health Surveillance ◽  
Rapid Response ◽  
Surveillance And Response ◽  
Public Health Surveillance System

Public health surveillance is essential for early detection and rapid response to cholera outbreaks. In 2003, Cameroon adopted the integrated disease surveillance and response (IDSR) strategy. We describe cholera surveillance within IDSR-strategy in Cameroon. Data is captured at health facility, forwarded to health district that compiles and directs data to RDPH in paper format. RDPH sends the data to the national level via internet and from there to the WHO. The surveillance system is passive with no data analysis at districts. Thus the goal of IDSR-strategy of data analysis and rapid response at the district has not been met yet.

scholarly journals Electronic Reporting of Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response: Lessons Learned from Northeast, Nigeria, 2019.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luka Mangveep Ibrahim ◽  
Ifeanyi Okudo ◽  
Mary Stephen ◽  
Opeayo Ogundiran ◽  
Jerry Shitta Pantuvo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Disease Surveillance ◽  
Public Health Surveillance ◽  
Health Surveillance ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Health Facilities ◽  
Supportive Supervision ◽  
Electronic Reporting ◽  
Surveillance And Response ◽  
Word Clouds

Abstract Background: Electronic reporting of integrated disease surveillance and response (eIDSR) was implemented in two states in North-East Nigeria as an innovative strategy to improve disease reporting. Its objectives were to improve the timeliness and completeness of IDSR reporting by health facilities, prompt identification of public health events, timely information sharing, and public health action. We evaluated the project to determine whether it met its set objectives.Method: We conducted a cross-sectional study to assess and document the lessons learned from the project. We reviewed the performance of the Local Government Areas (LGAs) on rumors identification and reporting of IDSR data on the eIDSR and the traditional system using a checklist. Respondents were interviewed online on the relevance; efficiency; sustainability; project progress and effectiveness; effectiveness of management; and potential impact and scalability of the strategy using structured questionnaires. Quantitative data were analyzed and presented as proportions using an MS Excel spreadsheet. Qualitative data was cleaned, converted into an MS Excel database, and analyzed using Epi Info version 7.2 to obtain frequencies. Responses were also presented as direct quotes or word clouds.Results: The number of health facilities reporting IDSR increased from 103 to 228 (117%) before and after implementation of the eIDSR respectively. The completeness of IDSR reports in the last six months before the evaluation was ≥ 85%. Of the 201 rumors identified and verified, 161 (80%) were from the eIDSR pilot sites. The majority of the stakeholders interviewed believed that eIDSR met its predetermined objectives for public health surveillance. The benefits of eIDSR included timely reporting and response to alerts and disease outbreaks, improved completeness, and timeliness of reporting, and supportive supervision to the operational levels. The strategy helped the stakeholders to appreciate their roles in public health surveillance.Conclusion: The eIDSR increased the number of health facilities reporting IDSR, enabled early identification, reporting, and verification of alerts, improved completeness of reports, and supportive supervision on staff at the operational levels. It was well accepted by the stakeholder as a system that made reporting easy with the potential to improve the public health surveillance system in Nigeria.

scholarly journals Use of Severity Indicators in a Public Health Surveillance System

2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rhonda A. Lizewski ◽  
Howard Burkom ◽  
Joseph Lombardo ◽  
Christopher Cuellar ◽  
Yevgeniy Elbert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Surveillance System ◽  
Public Health Surveillance ◽  
Additional Data ◽  
Outpatient Setting ◽  
Health Surveillance ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
Fusion Model ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Public Health Surveillance System

While other surveillance systems may only use death and admissions as severity indicators, these serious events may overshadow the more subtle severity signals based on appointment type, disposition from an outpatient setting, and whether that patient had to return for care if they their condition has not improved.  This abstract discusses how these additional data fields were utilized in a fusion model to improve the Electronic Surveillance System for the Early Notification of Community-based Epidemics (ESSENCE).

scholarly journals Evaluation of the Michigan Disease Surveillance System for Histoplasmosis Reporting

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Veronica A. Fialkowski ◽  
Leigh M. Tyndall Snow ◽  
Kimerbly Signs ◽  
Mary Grace Stobierski
Keyword(s):  
Surveillance System ◽  
Disease Surveillance ◽  
Public Health Surveillance ◽  
Health Surveillance ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
Disease Surveillance System ◽  
Increasing Trend ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
Over Time

The histoplasmosis surveillance system was evaluated using the 2001Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Updated Guidelines for Evaluating Public Health Surveillance Systems. From 2004 to 2014, a total of 1,608 confirmed or probable cases were reported into MDSS, with a slight increasing trend in case numbers over time. Michigan’s histoplasmosis surveillance system is relatively simple, but the misclassification of cases is troublesome. Development of tools for LHDs to aid in classification of cases may improve the PPV and decrease case investigation time. Increasing the number of hospitals that report directly to MDSS would indicate more acceptability, and increase sensitivity.

scholarly journals Attributes, Supportive and Core Functions of Public Health Emergency Surveillance leadership, and Implementation for Tropical Diseases Control

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
chalachew yenew ◽  
Sileshi Mulatu
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Data Analysis ◽  
Surveillance System ◽  
Health Surveillance ◽  
Public Health Emergency ◽  
Health Facilities ◽  
Systematic Evaluation ◽  
Supportive Supervision ◽  
Standard Format ◽  
Awi Zone

Abstract BackgroundPublic health surveillance (PHS) is the continuing organized gathering, investigation, elucidation, and well-timed distribution of health-related information for activities and program evaluation. Conducting a surveillance system evaluation is crucial for monitoring the efficacy and effectiveness of intervention programs in health care systems. Evaluate the Status of Attributes, Supportive and Core Functions implementation of Public Health Emergency Surveillance (PHES) in the case of Awi Zone, Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia, 2020 was the main aim of the study.Methods A descriptive prevalence study design was used to evaluate the surveillance system of the Awi zone selected woreda. 25 study sources are used in the study (5 District Health Offices (5HOs), 10 Health Centers (10HCs), and 10 Health Posts (10HPs)). Purposive sampling techniques were utilized. Data were obtained by communicable diseases control the standard format of systematic evaluation of four surveillance units from January to August 2020 through observation, document review, and interviewing surveillance officers and focal persons using a semi-structured survey.ResultsThe structure of public health surveillance (PHS) data flow from health posts to health districts be sound structured. However, coordination and supervision of the surveillance activities were not frequent. From those supervised health facilities, most of them are not receiving feedback. There was no budget line, written feedback, epidemic and preparedness, and a response plan regular based on supportive supervision at all visited health facilities. ConclusionsSupervisions were made as integrated supportive supervision in the last six months. However, there was no program-specific supportive supervision of Public Health Emergency Management (PHEM). Data analysis was not routinely practiced in both visited districts and was not used for decision making. Therefore, we recommend that districts and sub-city health offices should conduct regular surveillance data analysis, perform supportive supervision, avail budgets, and mitigate resource constraints and improve data quality on the job training and supportive supervision.

scholarly journals Establishing a Plan of Action Implementing Integrated Disease Surveillance in Sudan

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hayat Khogali ◽  
Ngozi A. Erondu ◽  
Betiel H. Haile ◽  
Scott J. McNabb
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Surveillance System ◽  
Disease Surveillance ◽  
Public Health Surveillance ◽  
One Health ◽  
Health Surveillance ◽  
Strategic Approach ◽  
Public Health Surveillance System

A recent assessment of the Sudan public health surveillance system found fragmented and siloed disease programs and an overburdened workforce due to vertical systems and inefficient processes. A plan of action was developed to support improving public health surveillance strengthening by: 1) implementing a strategic approach to achieving IHR (2005), 2) implementing One Health and IDSR aims, and 3) establishing an E-surveillance ICT platform for increasing public health surveillance capacity to safely and rapidly detect and report infectious diseases in Sudan.

Monitoring disease and risk factors: surveillance

2020 ◽  
pp. 154-163
Author(s):  
Richard Hopkins ◽  
Aaron Kite-Powell
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Surveillance System ◽  
Public Health Surveillance ◽  
Health Surveillance ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
Public Health Informatics ◽  
Public Health Action ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Health Action ◽  
Public Health Surveillance System

Public health surveillance is ‘the ongoing, systematic collection, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of data about a health-related event for use in public health action to reduce morbidity and mortality and to improve health. Data disseminated by a public health surveillance system can be used for immediate public health action, program planning and evaluation, and formulating research hypotheses. This chapter discusses purposes for surveillance, surveillance opportunities, surveillance system design, public health informatics, evaluating a surveillance system, and general principles for effective surveillance systems.

scholarly journals Implementation of Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) in Swaziland

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Siphiwe M Shongwe-Gama ◽  
Dr. Thulani Maphosa ◽  
Phinda Khumalo ◽  
Vusie Lokotfwako ◽  
Nhlanhla Nhlabatsi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Disease Surveillance ◽  
Public Health Surveillance ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Health Surveillance ◽  
Health Facilities ◽  
Health Systems Strengthening ◽  
Notification System ◽  
Surveillance And Response ◽  
And Control

Objective: To strengthen public health surveillance and monitor implementation of Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response in the Kingdom of Swaziland.Introduction: Swaziland adopted the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) strategy in 2010 to strengthen Public Health Surveillance (PHS) that fulfills International Health Regulations (2005) and the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA). This strategy allows the Ministry of Health (MoH), Epidemiology and Disease Control Unit (EDCU) to monitor, prevent and control priority diseases in the country. We used a health systems strengthening approach to pilot an intervention model for IDSR implementation at five hospitals in Swaziland over a pilot phase of three months.Methods: Our intervention included cross-country IDSR trainings, sensitizations and onsite trainings targeting national and regional health teams for over 250 health workers. The EDCU developed and disseminated standardized case definitions for health facilities (HFs) to detect, confirm and report priority conditions. Trained health care workers were tasked to cascade knowledge sharing and sensitization about IDSR with their HFs during in-service trainings. The facilities were to use IDSR standard case definition as guidelines for diagnosing and reporting cases; submit monthly reports on all priority conditions to Health Management Information System (HMIS) and intensify reporting through immediate disease notification system (IDNS) for all notifiable conditions. Indicators and monitoring tools for disease surveillance and response as recommended by the technical guidelines for IDSR in the African region were developed. The intervention was evaluated at five purposively selected high-volume referral hospitals (attending to ≥1500 to 15000 outpatient visits per month), which also have maternity services.Structured questionnaires in the form of a monitoring tool, checklists and observations were used to collect data. Quantitatively, monthly reports submitted by the five facilities to HMIS were reviewed and analyzed for completeness and timeliness. Clinic supervisors were identified from outpatient, inpatient, maternity and laboratory departments as key informants to explore successes and challenges of IDSR implementation. Additionally, IDSR officers visited health facilities and observed the registers and reporting forms used to report IDSR priority conditions and the availability of IDSR guidelines.Results: The five HFs submitted monthly reports from June to August 2017 with a calculated completeness of 80% in June 2017, 60% in July and 40% in August. Timeliness was calculated was at 20% in June, 20% in July and 40% in August. IDSR officers observed that all five HFs document cases of priority diseases in registers during consultations and use daily tally sheets. However, it was observed that diseases reported through the immediate diseases notification system were not all documented in the morbidity registers and vice versa. Health workers reported to be unaware about all diseases that require immediate notification to trigger investigation, hence some disease like perinatal deaths were never notified through the IDNS system during the period of evaluation. All five hospitals reported not utilizing the standard cases definitions provided to identify and report IDSR priority diseases.Conclusions: The proportion of completeness and timeliness from the five HFs during the evaluation period was low compared to WHO recommended standards of >= 80% from all HFs. This therefore, poses challenges in monitoring and responding to the priority conditions as per IDSR standards and recommendations. All five hospitals reported not utilizing the standard cases definitions to identify and report IDSR priority diseases and this poses challenges in comparison of data across sites, monitoring priority diseases, conditions and events and also identifying the alert or epidemic thresholds. There is need to capacitate more health workers on IDSR for Swaziland to strengthen PHS and be able to prevent and control public health threats timely.

scholarly journals Improvement of a national public health surveillance system through use of a quality circle

2006 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 7-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
G Krause ◽  
J Benzler ◽  
G Reiprich ◽  
R Görgen
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Surveillance System ◽  
Public Health Surveillance ◽  
Health Surveillance ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
Quality Circle ◽  
National Public Health ◽  
Public Health Surveillance System

Surveillance systems for infectious diseases build the basis for effective public health measures in the prevention and control of infectious diseases. Assessing and improving the quality of such national surveillance systems is a challenge, as many different administrations and professions contribute to a complex system in which sensitive information must be exchanged in a reliable and timely fashion. We conducted a multidisciplinary quality circle on the national public health surveillance system in Germany which included clinicians, laboratory physicians, and staff from local and state health departments as well as from the Robert Koch-Institut. The recommendations resulting from the quality circle included proposals to change the federal law for the control of infectious diseases as well as practical activities such as the change of notification forms and the mailing of faxed information letters to clinicians. A number of recommendations have since been implemented, and some have resulted in measurable improvements. This demonstrates that the applied method of quality circle is a useful tool to improve the quality of national public health surveillance systems.

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