ASSESSMENT OF TRAINING ON MEASLES CASE-BASED SURVEILLANCE FOR DISEASE SURVEILLANCE AND NOTIFICATION OFFICERS (DSNOs) IN OSUN STATE.

BACKGROUND: Poor knowledge among Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers (DSNOs) as a result of high staff turnover has been identified as a major reason for sub-optimal surveillance performance in Osun State. Training aimed at strengthening the measles surveillance sub-system of the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) was thus conducted for DSNOs in the state in May, 2006.

OBJECTIVES: The immediate impact of the training on participants' knowledge and their role in the measles surveillance process was assessed as well as demographic factors associated with participants' knowledge.

METHODS: Participants were DSNOs from the 30 Local Government Areas of the State and the Ife East Area office. Training materials were received from the WHO country office and adapted for use. Assessment of training was conducted by statistical evaluation of the pre- and post-tests results.

RESULTS: Thirty-one DSNOs with a mean age of 36.2 (± 3.5) years participated. There were 14 (45.2%) males and 17 (54.8%) females and they had been employed for an average of 13.7 (± 2.2) years. Mean pre- and post-test scores were 31 and 61, respectively, and showed a significant statistical difference (paired t-test = 12.665, p=0.000).

CONCLUSION: Training achieved its short-term objective. However, a correlation between knowledge and practice will be based on the subsequent surveillance performance.