Dengue Surveillance System in Brazil: A Qualitative Study in the Federal District

Abstract

Dengue’s increasing trends raise concerns over global health and pose a challenge to the Brazilian health system, highlighting the necessity of a strong surveillance system to reduce morbidity, mortality, and the economic burden of this disease. Although the Brazilian surveillance system reports more dengue cases than any other country, recent studies suggest that non-reported cases are the majority. The aim of the study is to explore the strengths and weaknesses of the Brazilian surveillance system, particularly looking at the functioning of data collection and reporting. This was done through qualitative semi-structured interviews with 17 experts in dengue surveillance, supported by quantitative data from the official notification system. To select the interviewees, purposive and theoretical sampling were used. Data were analyzed through thematic analysis. The research highlighted that a lack of human and technological resources in healthcare units and surveillance departments slows down the notification process and data analysis. Due to a lack of integration in the private sector, the surveillance system fails to detect the socioeconomic profile of the patients. Investments in public healthcare, human and technological resources for surveillance and better integration in the private healthcare system, and vector surveillance may improve dengue surveillance.

Efektifitas Aplikasi Kobotoolbox terhadap Peningkatan Pengetahuan Petugas Surveilans Demam Berdarah Dengue

“…Sistem surveilans yang gagal dapat diakibatkan karena lemahnya pengawasan vektor. Pengawasan vektor sangat penting dalam pengawasan surveilans demam berdarah (23) .…”

Improving Dengue Forecasts by Using Geospatial Big Data Analysis in Google Earth Engine and the Historical Dengue Information-Aided Long Short Term Memory Modeling

“…The Federal District of Brazil (FDB) was selected as the study area, which was created in 1960 to house the new national capital, Brasilia, with rapid urbanization and population growth in the past decades [ 25 ]. The urban agglomeration in the FDB has become the third-largest metropolis in Brazil, and has been greatly affected by dengue epidemics in past years [ 26 , 27 ]. In Brazil, the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN) is the official portal for entering and processing reported dengue cases.…”

“…In Brazil, the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN) is the official portal for entering and processing reported dengue cases. According to the dengue cases in the FDB collected by SINAN, the dengue epidemic presents a seasonal pattern, and the annual incidence steadily increases [ 27 ]. A great dengue outbreak was observed in 2019, with 47,745 reported cases [ 27 ].…”

“…According to the dengue cases in the FDB collected by SINAN, the dengue epidemic presents a seasonal pattern, and the annual incidence steadily increases [ 27 ]. A great dengue outbreak was observed in 2019, with 47,745 reported cases [ 27 ]. However, to our knowledge, the model of dengue risk prediction has not been established to date.…”

COVID-19 prevention measures reduce dengue spread in Yunnan Province, China, but do not reduce established outbreak

“…Therefore, to prevent and control dengue epidemic, dengue surveillance is crucial to the strategy. Effective surveillance provides guidance for risk assessment and epidemic response [ 22 ].…”