Efetividade do tempo de resposta da vigilância epidemiológica em um município da região Centro Oeste do Brasil

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The study focuses on epidemiological surveillance and the disease notification process in a municipality in the Central West region of Brazil, exploring the associated practices and challenges. Initiated from observations during an academic internship, the work identifies issues such as delays in the notification of significant diseases like COVID-19 and Dengue, as well as problems like the lack of optimization and training of health sector workers. OBJECTIVES: The general objective is to analyze the disease notification process and the response time of epidemiological surveillance in a municipality in the Central West region of Brazil. METHODOLOGY: The methodology involved collecting data on the volume of notifications from each health district in the municipality, with the participation of 74% of the approached health professionals. A survey was conducted on the flows used for disease notification, the professionals' perception of the process, and the effectiveness of the epidemiological surveillance system. RESULTS: The results showed an incongruity between the perception of a structured notification system and the actual practice of notification procedures. The existence of partial or incomplete notification processes was identified, affecting the accuracy of disease incidence analysis. Factors facilitating the process include electronic recording systems and professional training, while adverse factors encompass incomplete data entry, communication problems, internet access difficulties, lack of resources, and bureaucracy. CONCLUSION: The study concludes that despite the existence of an apparently structured notification system, there are significant flaws in the practice of disease notification in the studied municipality. These flaws include incomplete processes, delays, and a lack of accurate data, which can lead to misguided decisions in public health and underreporting, negatively impacting the management of epidemiological surveillance. Regular training, professional updating, and improvement of the notification system are essential to address these challenges.

Keywords: Epidemiological Surveillance, Disease Notification, Notification Process, Notification Delay, Health Professional Training, Electronic Recording Systems.