JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Tracking every child for polio eradication in the African region has been an ambitious objective in respose to the recommendations of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) to enhance information gathering in areas with sub-optimal and challenging performance. Achieving this objective require real-time information on active surveillance. Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) case searches were conducted using mobile phones to monitor polio eradication programme through a digitalised platform developed by the Polio Geographic Information System Centre at WHO Regional Office for Africa. The system generated a huge dataset and influenced the development of several tool that produced information products that were critical in managing the polio programme within the African region, which was acknowledged by Africa Regional Certification Commission (ARCC) as a key support to achieving eradication of wild polio virus which was celebrated in August 2020.

Objective:

To document and assess the impact of interactive visualization infographic platforms to guide decision-making in achieving polio eradication in the African continent

Methods:

The study reviewed retrospective data from a web-based interactive visualization platform obtained from real-time active case searches (ACS) conducted in the African region from June 2017-2020 using android mobile phones. The study participants used the interactive tools and applications that guide decision making and gap analyses. The tools were evaluated using an informal user experience evaluation method, which is combined with an automated system that is portrayed on the active surveillance web-based applications,depicting each visit to a geographic entity. The method used requires the users of these platforms to correlate ACS visits and AFP surveillance data through visual displays for their programmatic interventions and accountability.

Results:

The use of interactive visualizations reduces complexity of data misinterpretation, which often lead to an impaired understanding of surveillance blind spots, The information products allows enhanced transparency and accountability of where surveillance activities are happening and a deeper understanding of the gaps that exists at the lowest level, through data triangulation of both ACS and surveillance data to guide programme managers in improving surveillance towards preventing outbreaks of polio cases in the African region. The tools allow for easy accessibility of information at the lowest level and reaches a wider diversity of audience and users of these information.

Conclusions:

The digitalization of disease surveillance, particularly, ACS for Poliomyelitis permits decision-makers to conduct a strategic evaluation of surveillance situations and gaps through interactive visualizations. These have proven to support the African region with an easy and friendly tool that enable transparency through imageries of geographical evidence of active surveillance at designated focal sites and displayed through charts, maps and dashboards for all polio surveillance processes. Other considerations, such as cost, ease of use, learnability, and efficiency of these tools were comparatively better than the traditional system.