Evaluation of Dengue Surveillance System in Lamlukka Hospital, Lamlukka District, Pathumthani Province, 2013

Abstract

Background: Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever has been a serious public health problem in Thailand including Pathumthani Province. The incidence rates of dengue in Pathumthani between 2008 and 2012 were 152.32, 68.37, 83.40, 79.40 and 53.79 per 100,000 population, respectively. The highest incidence was among people aged 10-14 years and with an occupation identified as students. Between 2008 and 2012, Lamlukka district had the incidence rates of 62.45, 34.70, 61.12, 29.30and 21.56 per 100,000 population, respectively. In 2013, Pathumthani Province reported 1,112 dengue patients with incidence rate 118.18 per 100,000 population, double the rate in 2012 including 3 dengue deaths, reflecting the most severe epidemic in the past 5 years. Therefore, this evaluation study was carried out to assess the performance of the dengue surveillance system both qualitative and quantitative attributes and utilize the result to improve sensitivity, accuracy and timeliness that will subsequently result in effective program planning and policy formation.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted to review data of dengue patients who sought care at Lamlukka hospital from 1 January to 31 December 2013. Case definitions of suspected, probable and confirmed dengue were used to review information abstracted from medical records of 169 patients diagnosed with ICD–10 codes for DF, DHF and DSS diagnoses (ICD-10 CODE: A90-A92), unspecified, AFI, Febrile convulsions, Acute nasopharyngitis [common cold] (ICD -10 CODE: R50.8, R50.9, R56.0).
Results: Of the 169 medical records reviewed, 111 cases met the dengue case definitions and 102 cases (Sensitivity=80.18) were reported in report 506 system. The Positive predictive value (PVP) was 87.25%. The representativeness was good and the majority of reports were timely submitted to district health office.
Conclusions: Dengue surveillance system in Lamlukka Hospital had good performance. The evaluator gave recommendation to further improve the surveillance procedure especially disease diagnosis to meet the standard of system attributes for more effectives utilization of the surveillance data.