Abstract
IntroductionAFP surveillance was adopted globally as a key strategy for monitoring the progress of the polio eradication initiative. Gokwe North district with an estimated 119 655 children <15 years detected 2 cases, 4 cases and 1 case of AFP in 2012, 2013 and 2014 respectively against a target of 5 cases per year. We therefore set out to evaluate the system and find out why it was failing to detect at least 5 cases per year.MethodsA descriptive cross sectional study was carried out. All three hospitals in the district were purposively selected. Twelve of the nineteen health facilities were randomly selected and forty nine health workers were purposively recruited. An interviewer administered questionnaire and key informant interview guide were used to collect data. Quantitative data was analysed using Epi info.ResultsOut of the 49 respondents, 17(34.7%) knew the target age group for AFP surveillance. Twelve (24.5%) knew the number of notification forms to be filled. Seven (14.3%) and ten (20.4%) respondents knew when to follow up an AFP case and when an AFP case should be followed up and completely notified and investigated respectively. Forty one (83.7%) respondents were not trained on AFP surveillance. Nineteen (39%) had AFP notification forms at the clinic and 33(67%) had displayed AFP case definitions. All the 22 health facilities in the district participate in AFP surveillance; however, all have hard to reach areas. Seventeen (34.7%) reportedly took public health actions based on AFP data.ConclusionThe system was found to be useful, simple, acceptable, timely, unstable, not representative and not sensitive. The system was threatened by lack of health worker knowledge and community active search. Advocacy, communication and social mobilization on AFP surveillance might improve the performance of the system in Gokwe North district.
Highlights
Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) surveillance was adopted globally as a key strategy for monitoring the progress of the polio eradication initiative
AFP mimics the clinical presentation of poliomyelitis; AFP surveillance was adopted globally as a key strategy for monitoring the progress of the polio eradication initiative [2]
Permission to carry out the study was obtained from the District Medical Officer Gokwe North district, the Midlands provincial Medical Director (PMD) and the Health Studies Office (HSO)
Summary
AFP surveillance was adopted globally as a key strategy for monitoring the progress of the polio eradication initiative. AFP mimics the clinical presentation of poliomyelitis; AFP surveillance was adopted globally as a key strategy for monitoring the progress of the polio eradication initiative [2]. The global effort to eradicate polio has become the largest public health initiative spearheaded by the World Health Organization (WHO) [3] The characteristics of this infectious disease range in severity from a non-specific illness to severe flaccid paralysis with permanent disability. It primarily infects children younger than five years of age. It is one of the four cornerstone strategies of polio eradication which seeks to identify all cases of polio through a system that targets any case of AFP as a potential case of polio [2]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
