Childhood communicable disease surveillance: Perception and performance of paediatric residents, Sudan 2019-2020

Abstract

<jats:p>Background Communicable disease surveillance system is heavily relied upon for effective diseasecontrol, health decision-making and to build health strategies. This study assessed the perception andperformance of paediatric residents toward two running surveillance programs in Khartoum state, Sudan.Methods This is a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted among paediatric residents in KhartoumState, Sudan 2020. Data was collected through structured, self-administered questionnaire. The totalnumber of residents included in the study was 305. They were selected using “stratified random sampling”technique. Data were analyzed via Statistical Packages for Social Sciences version 23. The level ofsignificance was at p ≤ 0.05.Results Two hundred and sixty-three paediatric residents participated in the study; 56% (n=148) of theparticipants knew the correct definition of the case of a child to be included in acute flaccid paralysissurveillance program, while 38% (n=99) correctly defined the case definition of measles and rubella ofthe surveillance program. There was no significant association between attending an awareness sessionabout the programs and the knowledge of the correct case definition of the surveillance programs (p=0.357for acute flaccid paralysis surveillance and p= 0.333 for measles and rubella surveillance). In contrast,there was a statistically significant association between the level of residency of paediatric residents andthe correct perception of acute flaccid paralysis surveillance program (p=0.033), whereas, there was nosignificant association between the level of residency and correct knowledge of measles and rubellasurveillance program (p=0.363); 92.5% (n=147) of respondents who met a case of acute flaccid paralysisduring their training period, notified the case. While three quarters (n=180) of those who met a case ofmeasles during their training period did not notify the case. More than half (n=100) of them stated thatthey did not know that they should notify. Of two hundred forty-eight participants who notified about acuteflaccid paralysis or measles cases, a quarter (n=61) of them received feedback from the surveillance staffabout the results of the patients.Conclusion The study revealed the significant gap in the knowledge and practice of disease surveillanceand notification among residents particularly for the measles and rubella surveillance program, and this willimpact negatively on the health system, and impede the achievement of disease elimination. We recommendimplementing effective training courses for residents and update them regularly about disease surveillanceand notification.</jats:p>