Evaluation of a Tuberculosis Surveillance System in the Harare City Health Department in Zimbabwe

Abstract

Aims: To evaluate a tuberculosis surveillance system (TBSS) in Harare. Study Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Harare City Health Department, Zimbabwe, between January 2013 to September 2013. Methodology: Standard CDC surveillance evaluation guidelines were employed to assess the performance of TBSS in the Harare City. Health care officers involved in TB surveillance were recruited. Data were collected using a questionnaire and analysed. Results: Respondents were knowledgeable about the TBSS, with 93% being aware of the TB screening test and 18% knowledgeable of all the five standard questions used in TB screening, while 53% knew about 4 of them. Only 22% could state all the seven clinical case definitions of TB. However 60% were not aware of the objectives of the TBSS. About 64% indicated that they had analysed TB data and 69 % indicated that the TBSS was useful. On simplicity, the majority (95%) of the respondents indicated that it was easy to use the case definitions used in TB classification of patients. The TBSS was acceptable to 100% of the respondents. On flexibility, 76% of the respondents showed that the TB notification form could accommodate additional diseases and 75% indicated that other health conditions be included. Conclusion: The study concluded that the TBSS within the Harare City Health department was simple, flexible, stable, representative and acceptable to the health care workers and data completeness was commendable. The surveillance system addressed the TB control priorities and effectively monitored the disease in the City.