Event-based surveillance in north-western Ethiopia: experience and lessons learnt in the field

Authors

  • Yumi Toyama Japan Anti-Tuberculosis Association, Kiyose, Tokyo, Japan and Japan International Cooperation Agency Amhara Region Surveillance and Response Project, Bahir Dar, Amhara, Ethiopia
  • Masaki Ota Japan Anti-Tuberculosis Association, Kiyose, Tokyo, Japan and Japan International Cooperation Agency Amhara Region Surveillance and Response Project, Bahir Dar, Amhara, Ethiopia
  • Belay Bezabih Beyene Amhara National Regional State Health Bureau, Bahir Dar, Amhara Region, Ethiopia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5365/wpsar.2015.6.2.002

Abstract

This study piloted an event-based surveillance system at the health centre (HC) level in Ethiopia. The system collects rumours in the community and registers them in rumour logbooks to record events of disease outbreaks and public health emergencies. Descriptive analysis was conducted on the events captured at the 59 study HCs in the Amhara Region in north-western Ethiopia between October 2013 and November 2014. A total of 126 rumours were registered at two thirds of the HCs during the study period. The average event reporting time was 3.8 days; response time of the HCs was 0.6 days, resulting in a total response time of 4.4 days. The most commonly reported rumours were measles-related (n = 90, 71%). These rumours followed a similar pattern of measles cases reported in the routine surveillance system. The largest proportion of rumours were reported by community members (n = 38, 36%) followed by health post workers (n = 36, 29%) who were normally informed by the community members about the rumours. This surveillance system was established along with an existing indicator-based surveillance system and was simple to implement. The implementation cost was minimal, requiring only printing and distribution of rumour logbooks to the HCs and brief orientations to focal persons. In countries where routine surveillance is still weak, an event-based surveillance system similar to this should be considered as a supplementary tool for disease monitoring.

Downloads

Published

17-08-2015

How to Cite

1.
Toyama Y, Ota M, Beyene BB. Event-based surveillance in north-western Ethiopia: experience and lessons learnt in the field. Western Pac Surveill Response J [Internet]. 2015 Aug. 17 [cited 2026 Mar. 21];6(3). Available from: https://ojs.wpro.who.int/ojs/index.php/wpsar/article/view/330

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 3 (2015): July – September

Section

Surveillance System Implementation / Evaluation

License

You are free to:

  • Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format for any purpose, even commercially.
  • Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially.
  • The licensor cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms.

Under the following terms:

  • Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
  • No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.

Notices:

When the Licensor is an intergovernmental organization, disputes will be resolved by mediation and arbitration unless otherwise agreed.

You do not have to comply with the license for elements of the material in the public domain or where your use is permitted by an applicable exception or limitation.

No warranties are given. The license may not give you all of the permissions necessary for your intended use. For example, other rights such as publicity, privacy, or moral rights may limit how you use the material.