Tools
Tools
Kadia, Reine Suzanne Mengue, Kadia, Benjamin, Akem Dimala, Christian and Collins, Andrew E. (2023) 'Usefulness of disease surveillance data in enhanced early warning of the cholera outbreak in Southwest Cameroon, 2018.'. Conflict and Health, Vol 17, e6.
|
Image
Figure 1_Map of SWR showing health districts.pdf - Supplemental Material Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (80kB) | Preview |
|
|
Text
Figure 2_Trends in average data completeness and timeliness against Crisis Intensity.pdf - Supplemental Material Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (107kB) | Preview |
|
|
Text
Figure 3_ Average data timeliness and completeness as reported during the cholera outbreak, 2018-2020.pdf - Supplemental Material Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (129kB) | Preview |
|
|
Text
Table 1_ Priority diseases of epidemic prone potential for immediate reporting.pdf - Supplemental Material Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (141kB) | Preview |
|
|
Text
s13031-023-00504-1.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (2MB) | Preview |
Abstract
Introduction: This study assesses the timeliness and completeness of disease surveillance data for early warning of the cholera outbreak during the socio-political crisis of Southwest Cameroon in 2018. It determines how routine integrated disease surveillance and response (IDSR) data was used for preventative actions and the challenges faced by key health staff in IDSR based decision-making.
Methods: This was a mixed-methods study conducted from June 1st to September 2021. District Health Information System 2 (DHIS2) data from January 2018 to December 2020 for the Southwest region of Cameroon were analysed using simple linear regression on EPI Info 7.2 to determine a potential association of the sociopolitical crisis with timeliness andcompleteness of data. Qualitative data generated through in-depth interviews of key informants were coded and analyzed using NVivo 12.
Results: Routine IDSR data was not a reliable way of providing early warning of the 2018 cholera outbreak due to incomplete and late reports. During high conflict intensity (2018 and 2019), average data timeliness and completeness were 16.3 percent and 67.2 percent, respectively, increasing to 40.7 percent and 80.2 percent, respectively, in 2020 when the conflict intensity had reduced. There was a statistically significant weak correlation between reduced conflict intensity and increased data timeliness (R2 =0.17, p=0.016) and there was also a weak correlation between reduced conflict intensity and data completeness but this was not statistically significant (R2=0.01, p=0.642). Possible reasons for the improvements in early warning included proximity to reporting sites and the presence of the performance based finance scheme. Areas to be maintained included the electronic report aspect of the DHIS2 and the supportive supervision conducted during the outbreak. Staff demotivation, the parallel multiplicity of data entry tools, poor communication, shortage of staff and the non-usability of data generated by the DHIS2 were systemic limitations to the early alert dimension of the IDSR system. Non–systemic limitations included high insecurity, far to reach outbreak sites and health personnel being targeted during the conflict.
Conclusion: Reduced conflict intensity correlated with increased timeliness and completeness of data reporting. The IDSR was substantially challenged during the crisis, and erroneous data generated by the DHIS 2 significantly undermined the efforts and resources invested to control the outbreak. The Ministry of Public Health should reinforce efforts to build a reporting system that produces people-centered actionable data that engages health risk management during socio-political crises.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | WA Public Health > Water > WA 675 Water. Water supply. Sources WA Public Health > Statistics. Surveys > WA 900 Public health statistics WC Communicable Diseases > Infection. Bacterial Infections > Enteric Infections > WC 262 Cholera |
| Faculty: Department: | Clinical Sciences & International Health > Clinical Sciences Department |
| Digital Object Identifer (DOI): | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13031-023-00504-1 |
| Depositing User: | Rachel Dominguez |
| Date Deposited: | 22 Feb 2023 11:23 |
| Last Modified: | 22 Feb 2023 11:23 |
| URI: | https://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/21849 |
Statistics
Actions (login required)
 |
Edit Item |