Polio eradication initiative in Africa: influence on other infectious disease surveillance development.
BMC Public Health
; 2: 27, 2002 Dec 27.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-12502431
BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization (WHO) and partners are collaborating to eradicate poliomyelitis. To monitor progress, countries perform surveillance for acute flaccid paralysis (AFP). The WHO African Regional Office (WHO-AFRO) and the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are also involved in strengthening infectious disease surveillance and response in Africa. We assessed whether polio-eradication initiative resources are used in the surveillance for and response to other infectious diseases in Africa. METHODS: During October 1999-March 2000, we developed and administered a survey questionnaire to at least one key informant from the 38 countries that regularly report on polio activities to WHO. The key informants included WHO-AFRO staff assigned to the countries and Ministry of Health personnel. RESULTS: We obtained responses from 32 (84%) of the 38 countries. Thirty-one (97%) of the 32 countries had designated surveillance officers for AFP surveillance, and 25 (78%) used the AFP resources for the surveillance and response to other infectious diseases. In 28 (87%) countries, AFP program staff combined detection for AFP and other infectious diseases. Fourteen countries (44%) had used the AFP laboratory specimen transportation system to transport specimens to confirm other infectious disease outbreaks. The majority of the countries that performed AFP surveillance adequately (i.e., non polio AFP rate = 1/100,000 children aged <15 years) in 1999 had added 1-5 diseases to their AFP surveillance program. CONCLUSIONS: Despite concerns regarding the targeted nature of AFP surveillance, it is partially integrated into existing surveillance and response systems in multiple African countries. Resources provided for polio eradication should be used to improve surveillance for and response to other priority infectious diseases in Africa.
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Poliomielitis
/
Administración en Salud Pública
/
Control de Enfermedades Transmisibles
/
Vigilancia de la Población
/
Brotes de Enfermedades
Tipo de estudio:
Screening_studies
Aspecto:
Determinantes_sociais_saude
Límite:
Humans
País/Región como asunto:
Africa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
BMC Public Health
Asunto de la revista:
SAUDE PUBLICA
Año:
2002
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Estados Unidos
Pais de publicación:
Reino Unido