Surveillance of Acute Flaccid Paralysis: Influence of Healthcare Professionals’ Attitudes on Case Detection in the Centre-South Region of Burkina Faso in 2022
Background: Acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) surveillance is a key component in polio eradication. In Burkina Faso, particularly in the Centre-Sud region, cases reporting deficiencies were observed in 2021, raising questions about healthcare workers’ attitudes. This study aims to analyze the impact of these attitudes on the effectiveness of AFP surveillance. Methods: A descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2 to 24, 2022, among 268 randomly selected healthcare professionals in public health facilities in the region. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire and statistically analyzed, employing logistic regression to identify factors influencing case reporting. Results: The study’s findings indicate that 62.3% of the 268 participants were female, and 45.1% were nurses. Only 30.7% had identified an AFP case in the past three years, and 47.8% had received training specifically in AFP surveillance. Multivariate analysis revealed that having received training (OR = 2.303, p = 0.005), demonstrating high interest in surveillance, and being male (OR = 1.897, p = 0.028) significantly increased the likelihood of case reporting. Conclusion: This study highlights the positive effect of targeted AFP surveillance training and strong professional engagement on the detection and notification of AFP cases, while revealing lower reporting rates among female healthcare workers. Findings underscore the need for gender-sensitive and context-specific strategies to strengthen AFP surveillance, including policy actions to enhance capacity building and motivation among frontline staff.
References
[1]
Aka, L.B.N., Ekra, K.D., Yao, G.H.A., Douba, A., Akani, B.C., Keita, Z., et al. (2020) Surveillance des paralysies flasques aiguës en Côte d’Ivoire de 2007 à 2016: Importance et profil épidémiologique des entérovirus non poliovirus. SantéPublique, 31, 837-843. https://doi.org/10.3917/spub.196.0837
[2]
Adegoke, O., Takane, M., Biya, O., Ota, M., Murele, B., Mahoney, F., et al. (2018) Strengthening the Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) Surveillance Component of the Polio Eradication Initiative through Short Message Service (SMS) Reminders; Experience from Sokoto State, Nigeria 2014. JournalofImmunologicalSciences, 2, 68-74. https://doi.org/10.29245/2578-3009/2018/si.1110
[3]
Goni Dit Alassan, M.B., et al. (2024) Surveillance de la paralysie flasque aiguë au Niger de 1998 à 2021. Médecine Tropicale et Santé Internationale, 4, mtsi.v4i4.2024.449.
[4]
Asres, M., et al. (2013) Knowledge and Practice of Frontline Health Workers (Health Extension Workers and Community Volunteer Surveillance Focal Persons) towards Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) Case Detection and Reporting in Pastoralist and Semi-Pastoralist Areas of Ethiopia. Ethiopian Medical Journal, 51, 51-57. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24380207/
[5]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (2021) Surveillance Standards for Vaccine-Preventable Diseases. CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/surv-manual/php/index.html
[6]
Nsubuga, P., White, M.E., Thacker, S.B., et al. (2006) Public Health Surveillance: A Tool for Targeting and Monitoring Interventions. In: Jamison, D.T., Breman, J.G., Measham, A.R., et al., Eds., Disease Control Priorities in Developing Countries, Washington DC. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK11770/
[7]
Nsubuga, P., et al. (2010) Strengthening the Quality and Effectiveness of Disease Surveillance in the African Region: A Review of the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response Strategy. BMC Public Health, 10, Article No. S5.
[8]
Buchan, J. and Dal Poz, M.R. (2002) Skill Mix in the Health Workforce: Reviewing the Evidence. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 80, 575-580. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2567564/
[9]
Fouad, F.M., Sparrow, A., Tarakji, A., Alameddine, M., El-Jardali, F., Coutts, A.P., et al. (2017) Health Workers and the Weaponisation of Health Care in Syria: A Preliminary Inquiry for the Lancet—American University of Beirut Commission on Syria. TheLancet, 390, 2516-2526. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(17)30741-9
[10]
Brown, V.B., Oluwatosin, O.A. and Ogundeji, M.O. (2017) Impact of Training Intervention on Immunization Providers’ Knowledge and Practice of Routine Immunization in Ibadan, South-Western Nigeria: A Primary Health Care Experience. PanAfricanMedicalJournal, 26, Article 216. https://doi.org/10.11604/pamj.2017.26.216.11545
[11]
Hagan, J.E., Gaonkar, N., Doshi, V., Patni, A., Vyas, S., Mazumdar, V., et al. (2018) Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Private Sector Immunization Service Providers in Gujarat, India. Vaccine, 36, 36-42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2017.11.046
[12]
Mwengee, W., Okeibunor, J., Poy, A., Shaba, K., Mbulu Kinuani, L., Minkoulou, E., et al. (2016) Polio Eradication Initiative: Contribution to Improved Communicable Diseases Surveillance in WHO African Region. Vaccine, 34, 5170-5174. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2016.05.060
[13]
Tang, C., Chen, X., Guan, C. and Fang, P. (2022) Attitudes and Response Capacities for Public Health Emergencies of Healthcare Workers in Primary Healthcare Institutions: A Cross-Sectional Investigation Conducted in Wuhan, China, in 2020. InternationalJournalofEnvironmentalResearchandPublicHealth, 19, Article 12204. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191912204
[14]
Chikaphupha, K.R., Kok, M.C., Nyirenda, L., Namakhoma, I. and Theobald, S. (2016) Motivation of Health Surveillance Assistants in Malawi: A Qualitative Study. MalawiMedicalJournal, 28, 37-42. https://doi.org/10.4314/mmj.v28i2.2
[15]
Yalley, A.A. (2024) Layers of Inequality: Gender, Medicalisation and Obstetric Violence in Ghana. InternationalJournalforEquityinHealth, 23, Article No. 243. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-024-02331-z
[16]
Ng’etich, A.K.S., Voyi, K. and Mutero, C.M. (2021) Assessment of Surveillance Core and Support Functions Regarding Neglected Tropical Diseases in Kenya. BMCPublicHealth, 21, Article No. 142. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-10185-1
[17]
Mavimbe, J.C., Braa, J. and Bjune, G. (2005) Assessing Immunization Data Quality from Routine Reports in Mozambique. BMCPublicHealth, 5, Article No. 108. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-5-108
