Introduction to Public Health

Surveillance

ADE KARTIKASARI SEBBA., SKM.,MPH

 Learning Objectives
Definition Public Health Surveillance
Systems
Uses of Surveilans Systems
Classification Surveilans Systems
Public Health Surveillance Systems
 Public health surveillance is the ongoing, systematic
collection, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of
data regarding a health-related event for use in public
health action to reduce morbidity and mortality and to
improve health

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Updated Guidelines for Evaluating
Public Health Surveillance Systems. MMWR 2001; 50(RR13); 1-35.
www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5013al.htm
Surveillance: General principle
Health Care System Public Health Authority

Reporting
Data Information

Analysis &
Evaluation Interpretation

Feedback
Action Decision
 Surveillance: Reporting
Health Care System Public Health Authority

Reporting
Data frequency Information

•immediate
•weekly
•monthly ...

Action Decision
 Surveillance: Reporting
Health Care System Public Health Authority

Reporting
Data
methods Information

•Paper
•Telephone, Fax
•E-mail ...

Action Decision
Surveillance: Analysis & Interpretation
Health Care System Public Health Authority

Data
Descriptive analysis
• Time
• Place
• Persons

Action Decision
Surveillance: Analysis & Interpretation
Health Care System Public Health Authority

Data
Data validation
• Missing values
• Bias
• Duplication

Action Decision
 Surveillance: Action
Health Care System Public Health Authority

Data Information

• Control (Rapid response, Case

management, Prevention (e.g. immunization)

• Feedback (buletin
epidemiolgi)
Decision

• Policy (Policy change,

Prediction, planning, Epidemic
preparedness)
 Surveillance: Action
Health Care System Public Health Authority

Data Information

Evaluation
• results of action
• results of surveillance

Action Decision
Why Is Surveillance Important?
 Surveillance information has many uses:
 Monitoring disease trends
 Describing natural history of diseases
 Epidemic (Outbreak) detection
 Monitoring changes in infectious agents
 Identifying areas for research
 Evaluating hypotheses
 Planning public health policy
 Evaluating public health policy/interventions
 Surveillance Systems
Classified as passive or active
Passive surveillance: local and state health
departments rely on health care providers or
laboratories to report cases of disease

Wait for cases to be reported

Primary advantage is efficiency: simple and requires

relatively few resources
Disadvantage is possibility of incomplete data due to
underreporting
 Surveillance Systems
 Active surveillance: health department contacts health
care providers or laboratories requesting information
about conditions or diseases to identify possible cases

Go looking for cases

 Requires more resources than passive surveillance

 Useful when important to identify all cases
 Example: between 2002 and 2005, active surveillance used to
detect adverse events associated with smallpox vaccine. (2)
Ex. passive surveillance
Ex. active surveillance
THANK YOU