Evaluation of completeness, consistency and non-duplication of leprosy notification data on the Notifiable Health Conditions Information System, João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil: a descriptive study, 2001-2019

Evaluación de la completitud, consistencia y no duplicidad de notificación de lepra en el Sistema de Información e Enfermidades de Declaración Obligatoria, en João Pessoa, Paraíba: estudio descriptivo, 2001-2019

Abstract

Objective:

to analyze the completeness, consistency and non-duplication of leprosy notification data in João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil, 2001-2019.

Methods:

this was a descriptive study, conducted with data from the Notifiable Health Conditions Information System, which checked for “duplication” (acceptable: < 5%), “completeness” (excellent = incompleteness ≤ 5%) and “consistency” (excellent: ≥ 90.0%), based on the proportion of complete and consistent fields.

Results:

the sample consisted of 2,410 notifications. Duplication was acceptable (0.3%). The completeness of the “bacilloscopy”, “affected nerves”, “examined contacts” and “reactive episode” fields was very poor (more than 50% incomplete). Consistency between the “operational classification” and “initial treatment regimen” fields was excellent (99.6%), while consistency between “operational classification” and “clinical form” was low (50.7%).

Conclusion:

although duplication was acceptable, poor completeness of diagnosis and follow-up fields hinders epidemiological analysis, recognition of the status of the disease and adoption of measures to control it.

Keywords:
Leprosy; Health Information Systems; Public Health Surveillance; Epidemiology, Descriptive; Epidemiological Monitoring