Quality Of Surveillance System Research Articles

Stratification of risk areas for measles transmission: a systematic reviewEstratificación de las zonas de riesgo de transmisión del sarampión: revisión sistemática

To perform a systematic review of scientific publications addressing the use of stratification methods to define risk areas for measles transmission. Articles published in English, Portuguese, and Spanish in journals indexed in the SciELO, PubMed, and LILACS databases were selected. The search terms risk assessment AND measles were used without date limits. Editorials, opinion articles, individual-level observational studies, and publications that did not focus on the application of methods to stratify measles transmission risk areas were excluded. Year of publication, authorship, country where the study was performed, objective, geographic level of analysis, method used, indicators, and limitations were recorded in a data form. Thirteen articles published between 2011 and 2022 in nine countries from the six World Health Organization (WHO) regions were selected. Of these, 10 referred to the Measles Risk Assessment Tool developed by the WHO/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Only one study adapted the tool to the local context. The risk stratification indicators used in the selected studies focused on a combination of the following dimensions: population immunity, quality of surveillance systems, and epidemiologic status. The systematic output of data with adequate quality and coverage was a noteworthy aspect hindering risk stratification. There seems to be limited dissemination of measles risk stratification strategies, especially at local levels. The need to train human resources to process and interpret risk analyses as part of the routine of surveillance services is emphasized.

Surveillance system evaluation of non-communicable diseases through integrated community-based intervention called ‘Posbindu PTM’ in Wonosobo district, Central Java province, Indonesia

Purpose: Non-communicable diseases are leading cause of the global death, especially from cardiovascular disease, cancers, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and diabetes. Prevention and primary detection of non-communicable disease in Indonesia were done through integrated community-based intervention called ‘Posbindu PTM’. Implementation of ‘Posbindu PTM’ needed to be evaluated to determine each component in the non-communicable disease surveillance systems. Methods: This study was descriptive. Respondent were programmer in district health office and programmer in 24 primary health care in Wonosobo. Surveillance system evaluation that used was programs evaluation based on WHO (structure, main function, support function and quality of surveillance system). Results: The weakness of ‘Posbindu PTM’ in Wonosobo were lack of knowledge in the regulation, networking, collaborating, risk factor detecting and reporting; not availability of technical guidebook; low training participant; low monitoring and evaluation activity; also complex reporting system. There was 84% ‘Posbindu PTM’ that had not reported on time and 87,50 % programmer had not done the analysis, interpretation, and dissemination. This was related to the completeness of the report caused too many data that needed to be collected and affect the timeliness of the report. Conclusion: Strengthening ‘Posbindu PTM’ should be done in the reporting system aspect, especially in the timeliness and analysis of the report. Monthly reminder and refreshing in reporting system were done to improve the reporting system aspect.

Uncertainty in estimates of HIV/AIDS: the estimation and application of plausibility bounds

Objectives: To establish the accuracy of the country specific estimates of HIV prevalence, incidence, and AIDS mortality published every 2 years by UNAIDS and WHO. Methods: We review sources of...