Effect of a modified reporting system on the notification of communicable diseases in a district of Sri Lanka.

Abstract

The investigator designed a package of intervention from his previous work on notifications.The intervention had eight components and was implemented for six months in Matara district which was the experimental area.Result of the intervention were compared with the situation in Rathnapura District which was the control area and also with a similar period before the intervention in the experimental area.It was observed that the number notified from wards in hospitals had increased after the intervention,from 24.1 per cent to 78.8 per cent in the experimental area compared to 15.02 per cent and 16.5 per cent respectively for the two periods in the control area.Investigation of notifications by public health inspectors(PHI) have also increased from 48.9 per cent to 77.4 per cent in the experimental area as a result of the intervention.In the control area it has decreased from 63.6 per cent to 61.5 per cent for the same period.Both medical officers,public health inspectors have improved their knowledge after the intervention.As the intervention is very effective simple,flexible and low cost system which should be implemented in the country to achieve goals in communicable disease control.