Evaluation of the National Tuberculosis Surveillance System in Sana’a City, Yemen (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fadwa Salem ◽  
Essam Mahyoub ◽  
Abdulbary Al-Hammadi ◽  
Labiba Saeed Anam ◽  
Yousef Khader
Keyword(s):  
Surveillance System ◽  
Financial Support ◽  
Qualitative Evaluation ◽  
Electronic System ◽  
Key Stakeholders ◽  
System P ◽  
Catchment Areas ◽  
National Tuberculosis ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
Key Aspects

BACKGROUND Tuberculosis (TB) surveillance system in Yemen has not been evaluated before and it is not clear if the system is able to monitor the TB problem in Yemen efficiently and effectively OBJECTIVE This study aimed to assess the usefulness of the national tuberculosis surveillance system, assess the performance of tuberculosis programs regarding the eight attributes and identify strengths and weakness of the system. METHODS A quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the National Tuberculosis surveillance system was conducted using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated guidelines. The study was carried out in ten districts in Sana’a City. Twenty-eight public health facilities providing TB services for whole population in their assigned catchment areas in Sana’a city were purposively selected. All key stakeholders were interviewed based on their involvement with key aspects of TB surveillance activities. RESULTS A total of 54 persons participated in the evaluation. The overall score percent for usefulness was 71%, indicating an average rank. The TB Surveillance System had an average flexibility (score percent = 78%), poor stability (score percent = 15%), poor simplicity (score percent = 59%), and poor acceptability (score percent = 12%). The timeliness was ranked as average. The sensitivity of the TB surveillance system was 96% and the PPV of the TB surveillance system was 73%. CONCLUSIONS The usefulness, flexibility, PVP, timeliness, and data quality of the TB surveillance system were rated as an average. The system’s stability, acceptability and simplicity were rated as poor. The main weaknesses in the TB surveillance system include lack of governmental financial support, paper-based system, and lack of regular staff training. Developing an electronic system, involvement of private sector in reporting system, securing governmental financial support, and training the staff on TB surveillance are strongly recommended to improve the performance of the system.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Buruli Ulcer Disease Surveillance System in the Ga West Municipality, Ghana, 2011–2015

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanko Rufai ◽  
Enoch Aninagyei ◽  
Samuel Oko Sackey ◽  
Ernest Kenu ◽  
Edwin Andrew Afari
Keyword(s):  
Surveillance System ◽  
Disease Surveillance ◽  
Neglected Tropical Diseases ◽  
Buruli Ulcer ◽  
Control Program ◽  
Mycobacterium Ulcerans ◽  
Ulcer Disease ◽  
Disease Surveillance System ◽  
Key Stakeholders ◽  
Control And Prevention

Background. Buruli ulcer (BU) is one of the most neglected tropical diseases caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans. M. ulcerans infection may manifest initially as a pre-ulcerative nodule, a plaque, or oedema which breaks down to form characteristic ulcers with undermined edges. The Ga West Municipality is an endemic area for Buruli ulcer, and we evaluated the BU surveillance system to determine whether the system is meeting its objectives and to assess its attributes. Materials and Methods. We used a checklist based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated surveillance evaluation guidelines, 2006. We reviewed records and dataset on Buruli ulcer for the period 2011–2015. The evaluation was carried out at the national, regional, district, and community levels using the Ga West Municipality of the Greater Accra Region as a study site. Interviews with key stakeholders at the various levels were done using an interview guide, and observations were done with a checklist. Data were entered and analyzed using Epi info 7. Results. A total of 594 cases of Buruli ulcer were reported from 2011 to 2015 in Ga West. The number of confirmed cases decreased from 109 in 2011 to 17 in 2015. The system was useful, fairly simple, flexible, representative, and fairly acceptable. The system was sensitive with a PVP of 45.3%. Although the data quality was good with 85% of case report forms completed, there was under-reporting (3.6%), some discrepancies of data at the district, regional, and national levels. The system was moderately stable, and timeliness of reporting was 30.7%. Conclusion. The Buruli ulcer surveillance system is meeting its set objectives, and the data generated are used to reliably describe the epidemiologic situation and evaluate the results for actions and plan future interventions. There is a need for timely submission of data. We recommend that the National Buruli Ulcer Control Program (NBUCP) provides logistical support to treatment centres.

scholarly journals First Use of Multiple Imputation with the National Tuberculosis Surveillance System

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Vinnard ◽  
E. Paul Wileyto ◽  
Gregory P. Bisson ◽  
Carla A. Winston
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Imputation ◽  
Odds Ratio ◽  
Surveillance System ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Isoniazid Resistance ◽  
Imputation Methods ◽  
Covariate Data ◽  
Missing Covariate Data ◽  
National Tuberculosis ◽  
Control And Prevention

Aims. The purpose of this study was to compare methods for handling missing data in analysis of the National Tuberculosis Surveillance System of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Because of the high rate of missing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection status in this dataset, we used multiple imputation methods to minimize the bias that may result from less sophisticated methods. Methods. We compared analysis based on multiple imputation methods with analysis based on deleting subjects with missing covariate data from regression analysis (case exclusion), and determined whether the use of increasing numbers of imputed datasets would lead to changes in the estimated association between isoniazid resistance and death. Results. Following multiple imputation, the odds ratio for initial isoniazid resistance and death was 2.07 (95% CI 1.30, 3.29); with case exclusion, this odds ratio decreased to 1.53 (95% CI 0.83, 2.83). The use of more than 5 imputed datasets did not substantively change the results. Conclusions. Our experience with the National Tuberculosis Surveillance System dataset supports the use of multiple imputation methods in epidemiologic analysis, but also demonstrates that close attention should be paid to the potential impact of missing covariates at each step of the analysis.

Derivation of New Surveillance System for Influenza-like Illness Using Claims Data 2014-2018 in Korea (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
HeeKyung Choi ◽  
Won Suk Choi ◽  
Euna Han
Keyword(s):  
Surveillance System ◽  
Claims Data ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Influenza Surveillance ◽  
Utilization Review ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
Influenza Like Illness ◽  
System P ◽  
National Patient ◽  
Antitussive Agents

BACKGROUND Influenza is an important public health concern. A national surveillance system that easily and rapidly detects influenza epidemics is lacking. OBJECTIVE We assumed that the rate of influenza-like illness (ILI) related-claims is similar to the current ILI surveillance system. METHODS We used the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service-National Patient Samples (HIRA-NPS), 2014-2018. We defined ILI-related claims as outpatient claims that contain both antipyretic and antitussive agents and calculated the weekly rate of ILI-related claims. We compared ILI-related claims and weekly ILI rates from clinical sentinel surveillance data. RESULTS We observed a strong correlation between the two surveillance systems each season. The absolute thresholds for the four-years were 84.64 and 86.19 cases claims per 1,000 claims for claims data and 12.27 and 16.82 per 1,000 patients for sentinel data (Figure 5). Both the claims and sentinel data surpassed the epidemic thresholds each season. The peak epidemic in the claims data was reached one to two weeks later than in the sentinel data. The epidemic patterns were more similar in the 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 seasons than the 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 seasons. CONCLUSIONS Based on hospital reports, ILI-related claims rates were similar to the ILI surveillance system. ILI claims data can be loaded to a drug utilization review system in Korea to make an influenza surveillance system.

Photoisomerization-induced patterning of ion-pairing materials based on anionic azobenzene and its complex with a fluorescent π-electronic system

2021 ◽  
Vol 57 (35) ◽  
pp. 4287-4290
Author(s):  
Ryohei Yamakado ◽  
Issei Kitamura ◽  
Mitsuo Hara ◽  
Shusaku Nagano ◽  
Takahiro Seki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Surface Tension ◽  
Mass Transport ◽  
Trace Amount ◽  
Ion Pairs ◽  
Ion Pairing ◽  
Electronic System ◽  
Large Mass ◽  
System P ◽  
The Difference

Large mass transport driven by the difference in the photoisomerization-induced surface tension was demonstrated in ion pairs, enabling fluorescence patterning using a trace amount of photoisomerized anions in complexation with a π-electronic system.

scholarly journals Exploring the mechanisms of collaboration between the Tuberculosis and Diabetes Programs for the control of TB-DM Comorbidity in Ghana

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rita Suhuyini Salifu ◽  
Khumbulani W. Hlongwana
Keyword(s):  
Communicable Disease ◽  
Control Program ◽  
Communicable Diseases ◽  
Local Health ◽  
National Tuberculosis Control Program ◽  
National Tuberculosis ◽  
Local Health Facility ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
And Control ◽  
Non Communicable Disease

Abstract Objectives To explore the mechanisms of collaboration between the stakeholders, including National Tuberculosis Control Program (NTP) and the Non-Communicable Disease Control and Prevention Program (NCDCP) at the national, regional, and local (health facility) levels of the health care system in Ghana. This is one of the objectives in a study on the “Barriers and Facilitators to the Implementation of the Collaborative Framework for the Care and Control of Tuberculosis and Diabetes in Ghana” Results The data analysis revealed 4 key themes. These were (1) Increased support for communicable diseases (CDs) compared to stagnant support for non-communicable diseases (NCDs), (2) Donor support, (3) Poor collaboration between NTP and NCDCP, and (4) Low Tuberculosis-Diabetes Mellitus (TB-DM) case detection.

scholarly journals Impact of External Quality Assurance on the Quality of Xpert MTB/RIF Testing in Viet Nam

2018 ◽  
Vol 57 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vidyanidhi Gumma ◽  
Kyle DeGruy ◽  
Davara Bennett ◽  
Thanh Nguyen Thi Kim ◽  
Heidi Albert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Assurance ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Production Capacity ◽  
Control Program ◽  
External Quality Assurance ◽  
World Health ◽  
External Quality ◽  
National Tuberculosis ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
Health Organization

ABSTRACT Following the endorsement of the Xpert MTB/RIF assay (Cepheid, Sunnyvale, CA, USA) by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2010, Viet Nam’s National Tuberculosis Control Program (NTP) began using GeneXpert instruments in NTP laboratories. In 2013, Viet Nam’s NTP implemented an Xpert MTB/RIF external quality assurance (EQA) program in collaboration with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND). Proficiency-testing (PT) panels comprising five dried tube specimens (DTS) were sent to participating sites approximately twice a year from October 2013 to July 2016. The number of enrolled laboratories increased from 22 to 39 during the study period. Testing accuracy was assessed by comparing reported and expected results; percentage scores were assigned; and feedback reports were provided to sites. On-site evaluation (OSE) was conducted for underperforming laboratories. The results from the first five rounds demonstrate the positive impact of PT and targeted OSE visits on testing quality. On average, for every additional round of feedback, the odds of achieving PT scores of ≥80% increased 2.04-fold (95% confidence interval, 1.39- to 3.00-fold). Future work will include scaling up PT to all sites and maintaining the performance of participating laboratories while developing local panel production capacity.

Disrupting Agriculture

2021 ◽  
pp. 771-812
Author(s):  
Omar F. El-Gayar ◽  
Martinson Q. Ofori
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Big Data ◽  
New Paradigm ◽  
Agricultural Industry ◽  
Decision Systems ◽  
Food And Agriculture ◽  
Key Stakeholders ◽  
Smart Agriculture ◽  
Key Aspects

The United Nations (UN) Food and Agriculture (FAO) estimates that farmers will need to produce about 70% more food by 2050. To accommodate the growing demand, the agricultural industry has grown from labor-intensive to smart agriculture, or Agriculture 4.0, which includes farm equipment that are enhanced using autonomous unmanned decision systems (robotics), big data, and artificial intelligence. In this chapter, the authors conduct a systematic review focusing on big data and artificial intelligence in agriculture. To further guide the literature review process and organize the findings, they devise a framework based on extant literature. The framework is aimed to capture key aspects of agricultural processes, supporting supply chain, key stakeholders with a particular emphasis on the potential, drivers, and challenges of big data and artificial intelligence. They discuss how this new paradigm may be shaped differently depending on context, namely developed and developing countries.

Treatment of fibromyalgia (chronic widespread pain) and chronic fatigue syndrome

2020 ◽  
pp. 1330-1341
Author(s):  
Jonathan Price
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Chronic Fatigue ◽  
Chronic Widespread Pain ◽  
Widespread Pain ◽  
Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
System P ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Key Aspects

Fibromyalgia (FM), one of the chronic widespread pain syndromes, and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) are important and common conditions. They are considered together here because they are commonly comorbid and because of their similarities—they are long-term conditions with a relatively poor prognosis; central nervous system mechanisms and deconditioning play an important role in aetiology; graded exercise and psychological treatments have an important role in management; and comorbid mental disorders are common and have an adverse impact on important outcomes, including disability and chronicity. The prevalence of FM is rising, while that of CFS is declining. There is increased acceptance of the pivotal role of central nervous system factors in FM, while in CFS, the positions of different aetiological ‘movements’ appear bitterly entrenched. The main focus of this chapter is on FM and, in particular, key aspects of aetiology and treatment, especially those relating to the central nervous system.

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