TITLE:
Evaluation of Notifiable Disease Surveillance System in Centenary District, Zimbabwe, 2016
AUTHORS:
N. Mairosi, C. Tshuma, T. P. Juru, N. T. Gombe, G. Shambira, M. Tshimanga
KEYWORDS:
Evaluation, Notifiable Disease Surveillance, Centenary, Zimbabwe
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Epidemiology,
Vol.7 No.3,
August
11,
2017
ABSTRACT: Background: Notifiable disease surveillance system (NDSS) data guides immediate
action for events of public health importance. In July 2016, 12 patients
suspected of typhoid were reported to Centenary District Medical Officer
by phone. Following reporting, notification forms (T1) were not submitted
to district, hence province did not receive district consolidated report (T2)
for the notifications. This implies underreporting of notifiable diseases. Study
was conducted to evaluate NDSS in Centenary district. Methods: Using updated
Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, descriptive
cross sectional study was conducted among health workers sampled from
all health facilities in Centenary district. Interviewer administered questionnaire
and checklists were used to collect data, assess data quality and resource
availability. Epi InfoTM 7 generated frequencies and proportions. Results: We
interviewed 50 respondents from 13 health facilities and 64% were females.
Health worker knowledge was rated low, 26% knew whom to notify and 40%
knew forms are completed in triplicate. Reasons for failure to notify notifiable
diseases included, unavailability of reporting forms 32% and lack of reporting
guidelines 16%. Ninety-two percent were willing to participate. Four health
facilities had at least six standard case definitions. The first two patients were
only diagnosed at district level. NDSS information was used to procure antirabies
vaccine and implement control measures. Conclusion: NDSS is useful,
acceptable, unstable and not sensitive. Failure to notify was mainly due to lack
of knowledge on NDSS. We recommend training of health workers and mentoring.
Fifteen (IEC) case definitions and reporting guidelines were distributed
to five health facilities.