Integrated Disease Surveillance Response Practice and Associated Factors Among Health Professionals Working in Public Hospitals in West Hararghe Zone, Eastern Oromia, Ethiopia: Multi-Center Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background

Health workforces across all levels of the healthcare system are the main modulators in the effective implementation of disease surveillance system. However, their level of integrated disease surveillance response (IDSR) practice and determinant factors was hardly investigated in Ethiopia. This study determined the level of IDSR practice and associated factors among health professionals in the west Hararghe zone, eastern Oromia, Ethiopia.

Methodology

A multicenter facility-based cross-sectional study design was conducted between December 20, 2021, and January 10, 2022, among 297 systematically selected health professionals. Trained data collectors collected data using structured pretested self-administered questionnaires. The level of IDSR practice was assessed using six questions where each acceptable practice was given “1” and unacceptable “0”, with a total score of 0 to 6. Hence, a score above or equal to the median was categorized as good practice. Epi-data and STATA were used for data entry and analysis. A binary logistic regression analysis model with an adjusted odds ratio was used to determine the effects of independent variables on the outcome variable.

Results

The magnitude of good practice of IDSR was 50.17% (95% CI: 45.17, 55.17). Being married (AOR = 1.76; 95% CI: 1.01, 3.06), perceived organizational support (AOR = 2.14, 95% CI: 1.16, 3.94), good knowledge (AOR = 2.77, 95% CI: 1.61, 4.78), positive attitude (AOR = 3.30, 95% CI: 1.82, 5.98) and working in an emergency (AOR = 0.37, 95% CI: 0.14, 0.98) were significantly associated with the level of practice.

Conclusion

Only half of the health professionals had a good level of practice in integrated disease surveillance response. Marital status, working department, perceived organizational support, knowledge level, and attitude toward integrated disease surveillance were significantly associated with health professionals’ practice of disease surveillance. Thus, organizational and provider-targeted interventions should be considered to improve the knowledge and attitude of health professionals that improve integrated disease surveillance response practice.

Keywords:

• Integrated disease surveillance
• response
• practice
• health professionals
• public hospitals
• Ethiopia

Abbreviations

AOR, Adjusted Odd Ratio; CHMS, College of Health and Medical Science; COR, Crude Odd Ratio; DSN, Disease Surveillance and Notification; EPHI, Ethiopian Public Health Institute; MOH, Ministry of Health; IDSR, Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response; WHO, World Health Organization.

Data Sharing Statement

All datasets pertinent to the work are included within the article. Detailed raw data analyzed for the work reported can be available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Ethical Consideration

This study was conducted according to the Helsinki Declaration. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Institutional Health Research and Ethics Review Committee (IHRERC) of Haramaya University, College of Health and Medical Science with ethics number: HUSM_2022_857. Before data collection, an official support letter obtained from Haramaya University College of Health and Medical Sciences was submitted to the West Hararghe zone health bureau and each hospital under study. Permission to conduct the study was secured from the head of each hospital. Each study participant provided a written voluntarily signed consent after the purpose, risk, and benefit of the study were explained. All COVID-19 standard safety principles were implemented strictly throughout the data collection process.

Acknowledgments

The authors expressed their heartfelt gratitude and humble appreciation to Haramaya University for giving ethical approval. All study respondents, data collectors, and supervisors who made this study feasible were also grateful. Finally, all cooperative staffs of each hospital as well as all individuals who contributed directly or indirectly to the accomplishment of the study were thankful.

Author Contributions

All authors made substantial intellectual contributions to the work reported, whether in the conception, study design, execution and acquisition of data, analysis, and interpretation or all of these parts; participated in drafting the manuscript, critical review or revision of the article; have read and approved the final version; selected and settled the journal to which the article submitted; and approved accountability in all aspects of the work reported.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.