Evaluation of Measles Surveillance System amidst Covid – 19 pandemic in Asutifi North District, Ahafo Region, Ghana
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Abstract
Background
Measles is a disease of public health importance earmarked for elimination by all WHO Regions. Globally, more than 140 000 people died from Measles in 2018 affecting mostly children under 5 years, despite the availability of safe and effective vaccine.
Methods
A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted. Disease surveillance focal persons were interviewed using semi-structured questionnaire on the system operations and use of Measles case definitions. Measles case-based investigation forms from 2015 – 2020 were reviewed for its timeliness and data quality. CDC updated guidelines for surveillance system evaluation was used to assess its usefulness and attributes. Data was analyzed for frequencies and proportions and results presented in tables and graphs.
Results
Measles surveillance system was timely as 100% (69/69) of the suspected cases were reported on time. Also, the level of representativeness was good as all the 14 health facilities in the District were participating in the Measles Surveillance system. Majority 73.1 (44/60) of the case-based investigation forms filled were incomplete with some columns wrongly filled.
Conclusion
Despite the outbreak of Covid – 19 with most districts battling with how to contain the virus, measles surveillance system was still meeting its objectives of early detection and prompt reporting but with poor data quality.
Article activity feed
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SciScore for 10.1101/2021.03.10.21253259: (What is this?)
Please note, not all rigor criteria are appropriate for all manuscripts.
Table 1: Rigor
Institutional Review Board Statement not detected. Randomization not detected. Blinding not detected. Power Analysis not detected. Sex as a biological variable not detected. Table 2: Resources
Software and Algorithms Sentences Resources Measles case definition: Data Analysis: Measles data was captured using Epi Info Version 7 and analyzed with Microsoft Excel to generate frequencies, tables and graphs. Microsoft Excelsuggested: (Microsoft Excel, RRID:SCR_016137)Results from OddPub: We did not detect open data. We also did not detect open code. Researchers are encouraged to share open data when possible (see Nature blog).
Results from LimitationRecognizer: We detected the following sentences addressing …SciScore for 10.1101/2021.03.10.21253259: (What is this?)
Please note, not all rigor criteria are appropriate for all manuscripts.
Table 1: Rigor
Institutional Review Board Statement not detected. Randomization not detected. Blinding not detected. Power Analysis not detected. Sex as a biological variable not detected. Table 2: Resources
Software and Algorithms Sentences Resources Measles case definition: Data Analysis: Measles data was captured using Epi Info Version 7 and analyzed with Microsoft Excel to generate frequencies, tables and graphs. Microsoft Excelsuggested: (Microsoft Excel, RRID:SCR_016137)Results from OddPub: We did not detect open data. We also did not detect open code. Researchers are encouraged to share open data when possible (see Nature blog).
Results from LimitationRecognizer: We detected the following sentences addressing limitations in the study:Limitation: The major limitation was interviewees recalling events over the past five years, which was likely to be a recall bias, however, this was minimized since key surveillance actors were interviewed. Recommendation: Public Health Actions: We organized Measles Surveillance system orientation training for the District Disease Surveillance Officer, Facility Surveillance focal persons and Clinicians at both public and private health facilities. The orientation meeting was to enhance Measles case detection and ensure data quality for action and decision making in the District. Findings from the study was disseminated during District Health Management Team (DHMT) mid-year performance meeting.
Results from TrialIdentifier: No clinical trial numbers were referenced.
Results from Barzooka: We did not find any issues relating to the usage of bar graphs.
Results from JetFighter: We did not find any issues relating to colormaps.
Results from rtransparent:- Thank you for including a conflict of interest statement. Authors are encouraged to include this statement when submitting to a journal.
- Thank you for including a funding statement. Authors are encouraged to include this statement when submitting to a journal.
- No protocol registration statement was detected.
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