Completeness and Positive Predictive Value of the AIDS Case Surveillance System in Public Hospitals of the 7 Selected Provinces, 2008

Abstract

  The objectives of this study were to assess the completeness and positive predictive value of the AIDS case surveillance system in 2008. Review of medical records of possible AIDS cases during 1 January – 30 June 2007 were conducted in 43 public hospitals in 7 provinces randomly selected from 7 public health regions. Data of AIDS cases from medical record review were compared with those in the surveillance system to determine the completeness and positive predictive value of the AIDS case reporting. A total of 422 AIDS cases were identified by medical record review. Meanwhile, 200 AIDS cases were reported and 174 met the AIDS case definitions. The completeness and positive predictive value of the AIDS case reporting system were 41.2 % and 87.0 %, respectively. The completeness of reporting for each province ranged between 20.9 % and 91.9 % whereas the positive predictive value ranged 91.9 – 100.0 %. The highest completeness of the AIDS case reporting was observed in regional hospitals (95.0 %), followed by general hospitals (46.6 %) and community hospitals (28.6 %). The regional hospitals also had the highest positive predictive value of the AIDS case reporting. This study indicates the low completeness and somewhat high positive predictive value of the AIDS case surveillance system. It is essential to encourage AIDS case reporting in hospitals, particularly in community hospitals.