Abstract

OLIVEIRA, Maria Elisa Paula de; SOARES, Maria Raquel de Aquino Lima; COSTA, Maria da Conceição Nascimento  and  MOTA, Eduardo Luiz Andrade. Assessment of completion of typhoid fever notification forms registered at Sinan by health services in the State of Bahia. Epidemiol. Serv. Saúde [online]. 2009, vol.18, n.3, pp.219-226. ISSN 1679-4974.  http://dx.doi.org/10.5123/S1679-49742009000300004.

This study assessed the filling out of typhoid fever epidemiological investigation forms (EIF) from 2003 to 2006 in the State of Bahia, Brazil and indicated its impact on surveillance and epidemiological profile of the disease. Data consisted of cases registered in the Information System for Notifiable Diseases (Sinan) and hospital medical records. The indicator used was each field completion rate which was classified as excellent (>90%), average (70%-89%) or low (<70%). Completion of variables ranged mostly from average (70%-89%) to low (< 70%) and only identification data were fulfilled 100%. Statistically significant differences were observed comparing data before and after resolving pending cases (with a 15% average annual increase of confirmed cases from 2004 to 2006). Also, the percentage of completion of the "final classification" field increased from 81.9% to 89.5% in 2003 and from 67.0% to 77.6% in 2005). Findings show the need to invest on data quality improvement related to the completion of all fields of typhoid fever investigation forms in Bahia and to instruct professionals on the importance of health information.

Keywords : health information; evaluation of completeness; typhoid fever; epidemiologic surveillance.

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