KNOWLEDGE OF DISEASE SURVEILLANCE AND NOTIFICATION AMONG HEALTH INFORMATION MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONALS IN PRIMARY HEALTH CARE CENTERS IN KWARA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Disease surveillance and notification constitute the operational backbone of public health
outbreak prevention and control. Health Information Management Professionals (HIMPs)
serve as the designated reporting officers at Primary Health Care (PHC) centres under the
Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) framework in Nigeria, yet systematic
assessments of their DSN knowledge base remain scarce in Kwara State. Objectives: This study
assessed the level of knowledge of disease surveillance and the level of knowledge of disease
notification among HIMPs in three selected Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Kwara State.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted using complete enumeration of
all 43 HIMPs in Ekiti (n = 14), Irepodun (n = 13), and Oke Ero (n = 16) LGAs. A validated,
pre-tested, self-administered questionnaire comprising Likert-scale items was used. Data were
analysed using SPSS Version 25 with descriptive statistics; the criterion mean was 2.50.
Results: HIMPs demonstrated a high level of knowledge of disease surveillance (grand mean
= 2.80), with strong familiarity with surveillance as a continuous scrutiny process (x̄ = 2.93),
systematic data collection and collation (x̄ = 2.73), and disease occurrence data interpretation
(x̄ = 2.73). A high level of knowledge of disease notification was also established (grand mean
= 2.83), with respondents demonstrating clear understanding of the skilled manpower
requirement for timely information dissemination (x̄ = 2.83), the need for prompt public health
action (x̄ = 2.83), and the role of notification in disseminating surveillance intelligence (x̄ =2.83).

Conclusion: HIMPs in the three selected LGAs of Kwara State possess a high level of
knowledge of both disease surveillance and disease notification, providing a positive
operational foundation for effective IDSR implementation. Continuous professional
development is recommended to sustain and deepen this knowledge base.