Assessment of Training on Acute Flaccid Paralysis Surveillance among Surveillance Officers in Ondo State, Nigeria

Aim: We assessed the immediate impact of Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) surveillance training on the knowledge of AFP surveillance among AFP surveillance personnel, and identify factors associated with changes in knowledge following the training.

Study Design: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was conducted.

Place and Duration of Study: A quasi-experimental, before-and-after study was conducted in Akure, Ondo State Nigeria in April, 2016.

Methodology: The training was conducted among 54 surveillance personnel which included the Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers (DSNOs) and assistants as well as the state surveillance officers. Agenda and training materials were supplied by the WHO country office (WCO), and adapted and modified in line with the present AFP surveillance challenges of the state. Data were obtained on the socio-demographic characteristics and knowledge of AFP surveillance; and analyzed using McNemar and Pearson Chi-square as well as paired and unpaired t-test, with the alpha level of significance set at .05.

Results: Majority (70.4%) of the participants were males with mean age of 42.9±9.2 years. Significantly, the mean score of post-test (40.0±5.0) was higher than that of pre-test (31.2±8.5), P= .001. The mean score of performance of the female participants was significantly higher at post-test (40.8±4.3) compared to the males (37.4 ±5.3) P= .017. Similarly, participants with more than 2 years’ experience on AFP surveillance had higher mean score (40.9±4.4) at post-test compared to those with less than 2 years’ experience (32.3±8.7) P= .046. Those that have received two or more trainings on AFP surveillance had higher mean score (40.9±4.4) at post-test compared to those that have never or have received a training on AFP (37.4±4.8) P = .011.

Conclusion: The training proved to be relevance at the time it was conducted as it impacted knowledge on the AFP surveillance personnel. However, there is the need to assess the correlation between knowledge and practice in subsequent surveillance performance.