effect of training of school physicians on their knowledge regarding surveillance in Alexandria

Surveillance is important in schools. Training of school health physicians on surveillance is recommended in order to improve the disease surveillance system. The aim of the current study is to assess the effect of a training program on the knowledge of school physicians regarding surveillance. Seventy school health physicians from all Health lnsurance Organization districts were included in the study. Assessment of their baseline knowledge regarding surveillance was done using a pre-designed self -administered structured questionnaire [pretest]. Accordingly, an intervention program in the form of a workshop was prepared to raise their knowledge regarding surveillance. Within one week after the end of the intervention, assessment of the training program was done using the same data collection tool [post -test]. After the intervention, the percentage of physicians with poor and fair knowledge levels regarding surveillance decreased from 37.4% to 10.4% and from 50.7% to 40.3% respectively, while those with good knowledge level increased from 11.9% to 49.3%. The difference in the mean knowledge score before and after the intervention was statistically significant. ln a multiple linear regression model, two factors significantly affected the school physicians' knowledge score after the intervention. These factors were the total knowledge score before the intervention and the physicians' age. Training of school physicians on disease surveillance affects their level of knowledge regarding surveillance which is essential for planning and evaluation of communicable diseases' prevention and control

Estimation of tuberculosis incidence and mortality in Egypt using epidemiological models

To estimate tuberculosis incidence in Egypt, data were collected from national tuberculosis case notification records, vital registration statistics, tuberculin surveys and treatment outcomes. An important source of information was the national comprehensive tuberculin survey results, which estimated a 55.2% case detection rate and a 65.6% case notification rate. The data suggest that only two-thirds of actual cases are being identified and treated by the national programme. The figures for expected versus reported deaths from tuberculosis in Egypt in 1996 suggest underreporting to be almost 80%