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Improving disease surveillance data analysis, interpretation, and use at the district level in Tanzania.
- Source :
- Global Health Action; 2022, Vol. 15 Issue 1, p1-12, 12p, 2 Diagrams, 4 Charts, 2 Graphs
- Publication Year :
- 2022
-
Abstract
- An effective disease surveillance system is critical for early detection and response to disease epidemics. This study aimed to assess the capacity to manage and utilize disease surveillance data and implement an intervention to improve data analysis and use at the district level in Tanzania. Mapping, in-depth interview and desk review were employed for data collection in Ilala and Kinondoni districts in Tanzania. Interviews were conducted with members of the council health management teams (CHMT) to assess attitudes, motivation and practices related to surveillance data analysis and use. Based on identified gaps, an intervention package was developed on basic data analysis, interpretation and use. The effectiveness of the intervention package was assessed using pre-and post-intervention tests. Individual interviews involved 21 CHMT members (females = 10; males = 11) with an overall median age of 44.5 years (IQR = 37, 53). Over half of the participants regarded their data analytical capacities and skills as excellent. Analytical capacity was higher in Kinondoni (61%) than Ilala (52%). Agreement on the availability of the opportunities to enhance capacity and skills was reported by 68% and 91% of the participants from Ilala and Kinondoni, respectively. Reported challenges in disease surveillance included data incompleteness and difficulties in storage and accessibility. Training related to enhancement of data management was reported to be infrequently done. In terms of data interpretation and use, despite reporting of incidence of viral haemorrhagic fevers for five years, no actions were taken to either investigate or mitigate, indicating poor use of surveillance data in monitoring disease occurrence. The overall percentage increase on surveillance knowledge between pre-and post-training was 37.6% for Ilala and 20.4% for Kinondoni indicating a positive impact on of the training. Most of CHMT members had limited skills and practices on data analysis, interpretation and use. The training in data analysis and interpretation significantly improved skills of the participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- PREVENTION of epidemics
PUBLIC health surveillance
EVALUATION of human services programs
RESEARCH methodology
ATTITUDES of medical personnel
MOTIVATION (Psychology)
INTERVIEWING
DATABASE management
HUMAN services programs
PRE-tests & post-tests
QUALITY assurance
RESEARCH funding
DESCRIPTIVE statistics
PROFESSIONAL competence
ACCESS to information
DATA analysis
PHYSICIAN practice patterns
HEMORRHAGIC fever
STANDARDS
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 16549716
- Volume :
- 15
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Global Health Action
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 161178883
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2022.2090100