Evaluation of the surveillance, prevention and control of influenza in public health services in Thailand during the year 2015

Abstract

Influenza remains a major public health problem and importance issue in Thailand. The report by the Bureau of Epidemiology, Department of Disease Control, as of December 29, 2014 showed that from January 1 - December 23, 2014, a total of Influenza were 70,948 cases and have patients and deaths continues. Patients are cluster in many places where people live together. Although some measures to surveillance prevention and control the epidemic of influenza in the country were undertaken, there was less evidence of effectiveness. This study is to evaluate the measures of surveillance, prevention and control in public health services in Thailand during 2015, and to assess the problem and the barriers for implementation. The method of this study, use a purposive sampling. The data collected in the same provinces during the project of the national strategic plan for emerging infectious disease preparedness, prevention and response (2013-2016) was used to perform the evaluation. The study was conducted at the settings of 12 offices of disease prevention and control, and at the 24 provincial health offices. The questionnaire and the in-depth interview methods were used for the data collection. The total sample size was 459 people. The results showed that more than 80.0% of the staffs were providing the services for the influenza prevention and control in the areas of large people gatherings which was recommended by the Department of Disease Control. About 99.0% of staff was providing the services on the influenza surveillance, prevention and control recommended by the Ministry of Public Health. About 96.0% of the staff confirmed that they had committees for the surveillance, prevention and control of the influenza. About 90.0% of the offices staff was conducting the risk assessment for the important diseases in the area. There was the preparedness emergency response plans for epidemic of influenza in 83.0% of studied staff. The training on the improvement of the staff performance for surveillance, prevention and control the influenza for the organizational and volunteer personnel in the area was provided according to 84.0% of the staff. The training for the refreshment of the knowledge on diagnosis and treatment of influenza for medical and public health staff was confirmed by almost 66.0% of the staff. This study concludes that the measures to surveillance, prevention and control the spread of influenza in Thailand needs continuing improvement.