Assessment of malaria reporting and epidemic preparedness systems in health facilities in Eldoret West District, Uasin Gishu County, Kenya

The most important factor in reducing the impact of an epidemic is a timely response with implementation of effective control measures at the point of detection. This study sought to assess the malaria reporting and epidemic preparedness systems of health facilities in Eldoret West District, Kenya. A crosssectional study design was adapted. A census technique was used to select all the forty five health facilities in the district comprising of government, mission and non-governmental facilities. An interviewer administered questionnaire was used for data collection and analysis done using Stata. Categorical variables were summarized as frequencies and corresponding percentages. The overall reporting rate was 91.7% for all the health facilities. Only 15 health facilities (33%) plotted malaria trend lines for number of cases of malaria. Malaria epidemics were reported within 24 hours in 22 health facilities but they lacked the appropriate supplies to respond to confirmed cases or epidemics. The overall malaria reporting completeness rate was above 90% implying that the malaria surveillance system was generally good. Concerted efforts by concerned stakeholders should ensure improvement of malaria epidemic preparedness system in all health facilities and provision of information to health personnel on malaria outbreak response strategies

Factors associated with Schistosomiasis control measures in Mwaluphamba Location, Kwale County, Kenya

The study set out to investigate the factors associated with Schistosomiasis control measures in Mwaluphamba location of Kwale County. A descriptive cross-sectional study design was used. Mwaluphamba location was purposely sampled and simple random sampling was used to select 338 respondents in villages in each location. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data. A majority of the respondents were males (60%), Muslim affiliated (85%), aged 41 years and over (39%) and most (56%) of them had achieved at least a primary level of education. Results showed that 40% of the respondents were knowledgeable of health education as a service offered by health care providers to control Schistosomiasis. Male respondents and those of Islamic affiliation were five times (OR: 4.686) and three times (OR: 3.13) more likely to seek health education in comparison to their female counterparts respectively. Respondents’ who had achieved at least a primary level of education and those that earned an income of above one thousand shillings significantly utilized mass treatment. Respondents with income levels below a thousand shillings were less likely to seek both health education and mass treatment compared to those with a higher income. In conclusion, there was a statistically significant association between respondents’ socio-demographic factors and control measures for the infection. There is need for equal implementation of all control measures to overcome the socio-demographic barriers and to ensure effective control of Schistosomiasis infection

A systematic review on improving implementation of the revitalised integrated disease surveillance and response system in the African region : a health workers' perspective

BACKGROUND : The revised integrated disease surveillance and response (IDSR) guidelines adopted by African member states in 2010 aimed at strengthening surveillance systems critical capacities. Milestones achieved through IDSR strategy implementation prior to adopting the revised guidelines are well documented; however, there is a dearth of knowledge on the progress made post-adoption. This study aimed to review key recommendations resulting from surveillance assessment studies to improve implementation of the revitalised IDSR system in the African region based on health workers’ perspectives. The review focused on literature published between 2010 and 2019 post-adopting the revised IDSR guidelines in the African region. METHODS : A systematic literature search in PubMed, Web of Science and Cumulative Index for Nursing and Allied Health Literature was conducted. In addition, manual reference searches and grey literature searches using World Health Organisation Library and Information Networks for Knowledge databases were undertaken. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement checklist for systematic reviews was utilised for the review process. RESULTS : Thirty assessment studies met the inclusion criteria. IDSR implementation under the revised guidelines could be improved considerably bearing in mind critical findings and recommendations emanating from the reviewed surveillance assessment studies. Key recommendations alluded to provision of laboratory facilities and improved specimen handling, provision of reporting forms and improved reporting quality, surveillance data accuracy and quality, improved knowledge and surveillance system performance, utilisation of up-to-date information and surveillance system strengthening, provision of resources, enhanced reporting timeliness and completeness, adopting alternative surveillance strategies and conducting further research to improve surveillance functions. CONCLUSION : Recommendations on strengthening IDSR implementation in the African region post-adopting the revised guidelines mainly identify surveillance functions focused on reporting, feedback, training, supervision, timeliness and completeness of the surveillance system as aspects requiring policy refinement.Supporting information : S1 Table. Excluded studies from systematic literature review. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0248998.s001S2 Table. PRISMA checklist. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0248998.s002S3 Table. Surveillance system functions. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0248998.s003S4 Table. Summary of sub-themes with frequency and intensity effect sizes. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0248998.s004S1 File. PROSPERO protocol. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0248998.s005S2 File. PubMed search strategy. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0248998.s006S3 File. Data extraction form. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0248998.s007S4 File. Johns Hopkins nursing evidence-based practice appraisal tool. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0248998.s008http://www.plosone.orghj2021School of Health Systems and Public Health (SHSPH)UP Centre for Sustainable Malaria Control (UP CSMC

A systematic review on improving implementation of the revitalised integrated disease surveillance and response system in the African region: A health workers' perspective.

BackgroundThe revised integrated disease surveillance and response (IDSR) guidelines adopted by African member states in 2010 aimed at strengthening surveillance systems critical capacities. Milestones achieved through IDSR strategy implementation prior to adopting the revised guidelines are well documented; however, there is a dearth of knowledge on the progress made post-adoption. This study aimed to review key recommendations resulting from surveillance assessment studies to improve implementation of the revitalised IDSR system in the African region based on health workers' perspectives. The review focused on literature published between 2010 and 2019 post-adopting the revised IDSR guidelines in the African region.MethodsA systematic literature search in PubMed, Web of Science and Cumulative Index for Nursing and Allied Health Literature was conducted. In addition, manual reference searches and grey literature searches using World Health Organisation Library and Information Networks for Knowledge databases were undertaken. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement checklist for systematic reviews was utilised for the review process.ResultsThirty assessment studies met the inclusion criteria. IDSR implementation under the revised guidelines could be improved considerably bearing in mind critical findings and recommendations emanating from the reviewed surveillance assessment studies. Key recommendations alluded to provision of laboratory facilities and improved specimen handling, provision of reporting forms and improved reporting quality, surveillance data accuracy and quality, improved knowledge and surveillance system performance, utilisation of up-to-date information and surveillance system strengthening, provision of resources, enhanced reporting timeliness and completeness, adopting alternative surveillance strategies and conducting further research to improve surveillance functions.ConclusionRecommendations on strengthening IDSR implementation in the African region post-adopting the revised guidelines mainly identify surveillance functions focused on reporting, feedback, training, supervision, timeliness and completeness of the surveillance system as aspects requiring policy refinement.Systematic review registrationPROSPERO registration number CRD42019124108