Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Public Health and Surveillance
Date Submitted: Apr 19, 2019
Date Accepted: Oct 23, 2019
Evaluation of Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) Surveillance System in Yemen, 2010-2015: secondary data analysis
ABSTRACT
Background:
Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) surveillance is an essential strategy for poliovirus eradication.
Objective:
This study aimed to evaluate the performance of the AFP surveillance system in Yemen (2010-2015), identify components that require strengthening and compare the indicators by year and governorates.
Methods:
This descriptive study was based on secondary analysis of AFP surveillance data reported during 2010-2015 from all Yemeni governorates. The WHO minimum performance standards were used to evaluate the performance of AFP surveillance system.
Results:
A total of 3019 AFP cases were reported between January 2010 and December 2015. At the national level, AFP surveillance achieved WHO targets throughout the evaluating period for non-polio AFP rate/100,000 population <15 years, proportion of AFP cases notified within 7 days, proportion of AFP cases investigated within 48 hours of notification, proportion of AFP cases with two adequate stool specimens, and proportion of stool specimens from which non-polio enterovirus was isolated. However, the proportion of specimens arrived at the central level <3 days of 1st sample collection and the proportion of stool specimens with results sent from WHO reference laboratory <28 days of its receiving did not reach the target in 2011 and 2011 and 2015 respectively.
Conclusions:
The AFP surveillance system in Yemen has met most WHO indicators. Nevertheless, the evaluation showed weakness points regarding to the specimens that arrived at the central level <3 days of 1st sample collection and the delay of processing the results and submitting feedback by EMRO laboratory. Therefore, there is a need to strengthen the follow up of specimens submitted to EMRO laboratory.
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