Knowledge and practice of Integrated Diseases Surveillance and Response among Primary Health Care Workers in Kano State, Nigeria

Background: Communicable diseases are among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in developing countries; these diseases can easily be detected, prevented and controlled through the application of Integrated Diseases Surveillance and Response (IDSR). Yet, its (IDSR) uses remain sub-optimal in many developing countries.
Objective: this study aims to assess the knowledge and practice of IDSR among Primary Health Care (PHC) workers in Kano State, Nigeria.
Method: Facility-based cross-sectional descriptive study was used with the aid of participants administered questionnaire. A total of one hundred and seventy-seven participants were selected through multi-stage sampling technique; with a response rate of 92%. P-value of < 5% was considered statistically significant.
Results: the mean and standard deviation of the age of study participants were 38.4± 7.9 years. The aggregate good knowledge score was 38% and on bivariate analysis, age, professional category and gender were significantly associated with good knowledge score (p<0.05). On adjusting for confounding effect, only professional category of CHEW (aOR=1.23, 95%CI=1.11 – 4.46) and CHO (aOR=3.81, 95%CI=1.51 – 7.40) remained predictors of knowledge of IDSR. While, the aggregate practice score of IDSR was 25.8% and on bivariate analysis age, professional category and gender were significantly associated with practice of IDSR. On adjusting for confounding effect, age of 50-59 years (aOR=2.89, 95%CI=1.25-6.71) and professional category of CHEW (aOR=1.27, 95%CI=1.12 – 3.57) and CHO (aOR=10.34, 95%CI=3.37 – 22.78) remained predictors of practice of IDSR
Conclusion: PHC workers should be trained and re-trained on different component of IDSR. IDSR should also be included in the curriculum of health care workers at all level in Nigeria.