Dengue Surveillance System in Brazil: A Qualitative Study in the Federal District.

Marco Angelo,Eva Pilot,Walter Massa Ramalho,Helen Gurgel,Nayara Belle

doi:10.3390/ijerph17062062

Abstract

Dengue’s increasing trends raise concerns over global health and pose a challenge to the Brazilian health system, highlighting the necessity of a strong surveillance system to reduce morbidity, mortality, and the economic burden of this disease. Although the Brazilian surveillance system reports more dengue cases than any other country, recent studies suggest that non-reported cases are the majority. The aim of the study is to explore the strengths and weaknesses of the Brazilian surveillance system, particularly looking at the functioning of data collection and reporting. This was done through qualitative semi-structured interviews with 17 experts in dengue surveillance, supported by quantitative data from the official notification system. To select the interviewees, purposive and theoretical sampling were used. Data were analyzed through thematic analysis. The research highlighted that a lack of human and technological resources in healthcare units and surveillance departments slows down the notification process and data analysis. Due to a lack of integration in the private sector, the surveillance system fails to detect the socioeconomic profile of the patients. Investments in public healthcare, human and technological resources for surveillance and better integration in the private healthcare system, and vector surveillance may improve dengue surveillance.

Highlights

Dengue surveillance is crucial to the strategy of dengue prevention and control and the strengthening of surveillance is relevant for a global response to emerging infectious diseases [6]
Brazil’s long history with dengue control and the high incidence of arboviroses led to the development of an articulated and multi-faceted surveillance system, which tackles many aspects of the disease control and prevention
The main problems for the surveillance system occur when, due to lack of resources, the public healthcare system fails to meet the needs of the population, rather than being caused by a failure of the surveillance system itself

Summary

Introduction

Dengue Surveillance, and Relevance in Global Public Health. Dengue is a viral mosquito-borne disease that can lead to severe and sometimes fatal consequences caused by Dengue Virus (DENV), of which five serotypes are known [1]. Dengue incidence has been steadily growing for the past 15 years, and dengue was labeled as the most important re-emerging mosquito-borne disease worldwide [2]. Urbanization, and deforestation occurring globally and modifying the patterns of tropical diseases, dengue’s increasing incidence raises concerns for global health [4,5]. Dengue surveillance is crucial to the strategy of dengue prevention and control and the strengthening of surveillance is relevant for a global response to emerging infectious diseases [6].

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