IDSR as a Platform for Implementing IHR in African Countries

Kasolo, Francis; Yoti, Zabulon; Bakyaita, Nathan; Gaturuku, Peter; Katz, Rebecca; Fischer, Julie E.; Perry, Helen

doi:10.1089/bsp.2013.0032

Cited by 88 publications

(117 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…The furthest Health facility was 32 km from the main tarred road (The Great East Road). This was better than other studies in Mozambique and Malawi were 67% and 74% of Health Facilities in 21% of rural districts respectively did not have functional Post Boxes [16].…”

Section: Observational Check List Of Health Facilities In Rufunsa Discontrasting

confidence: 65%

Assessment of Factors Affecting the Implementation of the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response in Public Health Care Facilities - The Case of Rufunsa District, Zambia

Haakonde¹,

Munsanje²,

Chishimba³

2018

Divers Equal Health Care

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Late reporting of disease outbreaks and other health related events of public health significance have been linked to poor implementation of the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR). As such strengthening the capacity of health workers involved in IDSR implementation is required. The main objective of this study was to assess the factors affecting the implementation of the IDSR in public health care facilities in Rufunsa District, Zambia.A cross-sectional facility based descriptive study design as well as observation was done in which 34 study subjects were conveniently sampled from the 9 health facilities in the district. Data collection was done using a pretested semi structured questionnaire and an institutional-tailored observational checklist. Analyses were done using SPSS version18.The study revealed that factors that affected the implementation of the IDSR were low knowledge levels among Health Workers about IDSR as only 36.3% of them received training in IDSR in the last 12 months at the time of this study. Other factors that created gaps in the implementation of IDSR were negative attitudes of the health workers as 9.0% of them were of the opinion that the IDSR system wasted much of their time, as its implementation interfered with their clinical work and about 51.5% were demoralised as they felt that support from the managers at the District, Province and Ministry of Health Headquarters was inadequate. Poor practices of health workers towards IDSR was also identified as a factor affecting IDSR Implementation. For instance, it was revealed that about 27.3% of the health workers either infrequently or never reported a disease which required mandatory reporting in the last 12 months as they stated that the process of reporting was cumbersome as the forms were too many and complicated. They further echoed that IDSR implementation lacked prompt feedback from the Managers at the District. Resource-wise, all facilities in the district lacked adequate resources for IDSR implementation. For example between 11.1 to 44.4% of the health facilities lacked one or more types of reporting forms. Other resources lacking were electricity, and good network connectivity since about 51.5% relied on mobile phones for sending reports which required prompt feedback. Therefore, to ensure effective IDSR implementation, adequate funding directed to the strengthening of IDSR activities should be deliberately put in the budget's yellow book. Regular IDSR trainings are to be offered to health workers which should be followed by mentorship and supervision by the District and Provincial Health Offices as well as the Ministry of Health. Keywords: Integrated disease surveillance and response; Implementation; Disease reportingKey points of what the paper will add to the topic:1. Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response(IDSR) as a strategy by the World Health African Regional Office (WHO-ARO), helps in keeping the countries alert about notifiable diseases occurences.2. It promotes generation of quality data abo...

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Section: Observational Check List Of Health Facilities In Rufunsa Discontrasting

confidence: 65%

Assessment of Factors Affecting the Implementation of the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response in Public Health Care Facilities - The Case of Rufunsa District, Zambia

Haakonde¹,

Munsanje²,

Chishimba³

2018

Divers Equal Health Care

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“…As a result, planning and decision-making is based on unreliable and low quality data (10,11). In view of this, the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa (WHO-AFRO) and other partners were asked by the various ministries of health to develop strategies that would enable countries to prepare and respond adequately and overall strengthen surveillance capacities (12). In 1998, WHO-AFRO adopted the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) strategy for its member countries as a comprehensive public health strategy (8, 13Á17).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ebola Virus Disease Surveillance and Response Preparedness in Northern Ghana

Adokiya

Awoonor-Williams

2016

Online Journal of Public Health Informatics

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Background: The recent Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak has been described as unprecedented in terms of morbidity, mortality, and geographical extension. It also revealed many weaknesses and inadequacies for disease surveillance and response systems in Africa due to underqualified staff, cultural beliefs, and lack of trust for the formal health care sector. In 2014, Ghana had high risk of importation of EVD cases. Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the EVD surveillance and response system in northern Ghana. Design: This was an observational study conducted among 47 health workers (district directors, medical, disease control, and laboratory officers) in all 13 districts of the Upper East Region representing public, mission, and private health services. A semi-structured questionnaire with focus on core and support functions (e.g. detection, confirmation) was administered to the informants. Their responses were recorded according to specific themes. In addition, 34 weekly Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response reports (August 2014 to March 2015) were collated from each district. Results: In 2014 and 2015, a total of 10 suspected Ebola cases were clinically diagnosed from four districts. Out of the suspected cases, eight died and the cause of death was unexplained. All the 10 suspected cases were reported, none was confirmed. The informants had knowledge on EVD surveillance and data reporting. However, there were gaps such as delayed reporting, low quality protective equipment (e.g. gloves, aprons), inadequate staff, and lack of laboratory capacity. The majority (38/47) of the respondents were not satisfied with EVD surveillance system and response preparedness due to lack of infrared thermometers, ineffective screening, and lack of isolation centres. Conclusion: EVD surveillance and response preparedness is insufficient and the epidemic is a wake-up call for early detection and response preparedness. Ebola surveillance remains a neglected public health issue. Thus, disease surveillance strengthening is urgently needed in Ghana.

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“…In Chama district, Zambia, the IDSR system reported two suspected cutaneous human anthrax cases, and the next day, a multi-sectoral response team was constituted and deployed to respond [41]. The animal health surveillance system in Monduli district is not well structured, with lack of veterinary extension officers to report or record deaths of livestock in the village and to the higher levels.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%