Study of Utilization of Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response Data in Controlling Infectious Diseases among Public Health Facilities in Kiambu County, Kenya

Abstract

Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response entails data collection, analysis, interpretation, and feedback on communicable and non-communicable diseases. It enables health workers to detect and respond to these diseases. Poor utilization of disease surveillance and response data was identified as a core factor responsible for increasing mortality and morbidity due to infectious diseases in developing countries like Kenya. This study assessed utilization of Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response data in control of infectious diseases among Public health facilities in Kiambu County, Kenya. It specifically investigated the proportion of Health workers trained on IDSR, level of knowledge regarding IDSR and Health system factors influencing IDSR utilization. This was a descriptive cross-sectional survey. It involved public health facilities with key respondents being the health care workers providing curative and preventive health services within the selected health facilities. Stratified sampling technique was used to stratify the 108 health facilities into levels of health care while proportionate sampling was used to select 143 participants in the respective level of care. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data which was entered and analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 20. Chi-square test of independence was used to assess the associations between utilization of IDSR data, training, level of knowledge and health system factors while Regression analysis was used to establish the predictors of utilization of IDSR data. Utilization of IDSR index score shows 64.9% inadequate utilization of IDSR data. The available data has not been adequately utilized to inform action plans, public education, and resource mobilization. The study shows that 13.7% of health care workers had been adequately trained on IDSR while 75% had moderate knowledge of IDSR function. Accordingly, 54.6% of respondents had the opinion that there were inadequate essential supplies for IDSR. Chi-square analysis shows that the respondent’s duration of practice χ2 (2.437, df=3, p=0.045) and level of knowledge on IDSR were associated with utilization of IDSR data χ2 (0.227 df=2, p=0.048). Logistic regression analysis illustrates that the level of knowledge (A.O. R=1.55, p=0.041) and Cadre of respondents (A.O. R=0.827, p=0.023) were predictors of utilization of IDSR data.