BACKGROUND: Since the introduction of the national notifiable diseases information system (SINAN) in Pernambuco State, Brazil, in 1994, many problems have been encountered. The aim of this study was to evaluate the SINAN software, quality of data input, the transfer of the computerised data from the municipality to state levels, human resources and other factors associated with the health information system infrastructure (HIS). METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out in Pernambuco state, North-eastern Brazil, in 2005. A sample of health regions and municipalities was chosen. SINAN forms from those municipalities were analysed and the flow of notifications followed from municipal level to the regional and finally to the state. Professionals from health units, district, municipal and regional Hansen's Disease Control Programme (HDCP) and Epidemiological Surveillance System (ESS) coordinators, health secretaries and managers of the municipalities and health regions selected were interviewed. RESULTS: SINAN software is functioning up to expectation. However, at all levels of the health system, serious weaknesses not related to the SINAN software were found, varying from lack of human resources (limited number of staff and staff development), lack of infrastructure (office space, computers, supplies, etc.) to an absence of effective coordination, management and supervision of the HIS. CONCLUSIONS: Lack of reliable, complete and timely information, and especially the lack of widespread analysis and use of available information in planning and management of health services were the main weaknesses found. Many areas need urgent attention: the quality of patient examination, recording and reporting, the timely processing of quality data, the coordination and management of disease control programmes, and the use of HIS reports by the health services and health managers. Regular feedback, supportive supervision visits and annual reviews are essential to monitor the system and make sure that essential information is decentralised and used by the primary health services and HDCP coordination. Assessing the quality of services from a client perspective would give additional information for the identification of strengths and weaknesses of the Hansen's disease (leprosy) services.
BACKGROUND: Since the introduction of the national notifiable diseases information system (SINAN) in Pernambuco State, Brazil, in 1994, many problems have been encountered. The aim of this study was to evaluate the SINAN software, quality of data input, the transfer of the computerised data from the municipality to state levels, human resources and other factors associated with the health information system infrastructure (HIS). METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out in Pernambuco state, North-eastern Brazil, in 2005. A sample of health regions and municipalities was chosen. SINAN forms from those municipalities were analysed and the flow of notifications followed from municipal level to the regional and finally to the state. Professionals from health units, district, municipal and regional Hansen's Disease Control Programme (HDCP) and Epidemiological Surveillance System (ESS) coordinators, health secretaries and managers of the municipalities and health regions selected were interviewed. RESULTS: SINAN software is functioning up to expectation. However, at all levels of the health system, serious weaknesses not related to the SINAN software were found, varying from lack of human resources (limited number of staff and staff development), lack of infrastructure (office space, computers, supplies, etc.) to an absence of effective coordination, management and supervision of the HIS. CONCLUSIONS: Lack of reliable, complete and timely information, and especially the lack of widespread analysis and use of available information in planning and management of health services were the main weaknesses found. Many areas need urgent attention: the quality of patient examination, recording and reporting, the timely processing of quality data, the coordination and management of disease control programmes, and the use of HIS reports by the health services and health managers. Regular feedback, supportive supervision visits and annual reviews are essential to monitor the system and make sure that essential information is decentralised and used by the primary health services and HDCP coordination. Assessing the quality of services from a client perspective would give additional information for the identification of strengths and weaknesses of the Hansen's disease (leprosy) services.
Authors: José Wilton Queiroz; Gutemberg H Dias; Maurício Lisboa Nobre; Márcia C De Sousa Dias; Sérgio F Araújo; James D Barbosa; Pedro Bezerra da Trindade-Neto; Jenefer M Blackwell; Selma M B Jeronimo Journal: Am J Trop Med Hyg Date: 2010-02 Impact factor: 2.345
Authors: Mauricio Lisboa Nobre; Ximena Illarramendi; Kathryn Margaret Dupnik; Mariana de Andrea Hacker; José Augusto da Costa Nery; Selma Maria Bezerra Jerônimo; Euzenir Nunes Sarno Journal: PLoS Negl Trop Dis Date: 2017-02-13
Authors: Joilda Silva Nery; Anna Ramond; Julia Moreira Pescarini; André Alves; Agostino Strina; Maria Yury Ichihara; Maria Lucia Fernandes Penna; Liam Smeeth; Laura C Rodrigues; Mauricio L Barreto; Elizabeth B Brickley; Gerson Oliveira Penna Journal: Lancet Glob Health Date: 2019-07-19 Impact factor: 26.763
Authors: Celivane Cavalcanti Barbosa; Cristine Vieira do Bonfim; Cintia Michele Gondim de Brito; Wayner Vieira de Souza; Marcella Fernandes de Oliveira Melo; Zulma Maria de Medeiros Journal: Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo Date: 2020-11-27 Impact factor: 1.846
Authors: Guilherme L de Oliveira; Juliane F Oliveira; Júlia M Pescarini; Roberto F S Andrade; Joilda S Nery; Maria Y Ichihara; Liam Smeeth; Elizabeth B Brickley; Maurício L Barreto; Gerson O Penna; Maria L F Penna; Mauro N Sanchez Journal: PLoS Negl Trop Dis Date: 2021-08-25