Awareness and Knowledge of Disease Surveillance and Notification by Health-Care Workers and Availability of Facility Records in Anambra State; Nigeria

ABSTRACT

Background: Disease surveillance and notification (DSN) is part of the Health Management Information System (HMIS) which comprises databases; personnel; and materials that are organized to collect data which are utilized for informed decision making. The knowledge about DSN is very important for the reporting of notifiable diseases. Objective: The aim of this study is to examine the awareness and knowledge of health-care workers about DSN; and availability of facility records in Anambra State; Nigeria. Materials and Methods: The study was a descriptive cross-sectional one in which relevant data were collected from health-care workers selected by a multistage sampling technique. Qualitative information was also elicited by key informant interviews; whereas an observational checklist; preceded by a desk review was used to examine the availability of facility records. Results: Although 89.8 of the health-care workers were aware of the DSN system; only 33.3; 31.1; and 33.7 of them knew the specific uses of forms IDSR 001; IDSR 002; and IDSR 003 (IDSR Integrated Diseases Surveillance and Response); respectively. Knowledge of use of the various forms at the facility and local government area (LGA) levels were generally low; although the observational checklist revealed that IDSR 001 and IDSR 002 forms were predominantly found in primary health-care facilities. HMIS forms were less likely to be available in secondary health-care facilities (?[2]=7.67; P=0.005). Conclusions: Regular training and retraining of concerned health-care workers on DSN at the LGA level is recommended. This should run concurrently with adequate and regular provision of IDSR forms; copies of the standard case definitions; and other necessary logistics to the health-care facilities by the local and state governments