Assessment of reporting and recording system of communicable diseases in Jeddah Region

To determine the rate of reporting communicable diseases in Jeddah region, and to compare the recording system between the governmental and private sector.

This is a review of records study, in which the reports of communicable diseases from all hospitals and health centers (with or without cases) were studied, during the period of study; 1st to 25th international weeks 1999, and the reporting rate was calculated. A simple random sample was collected from these international weeks to evaluate the quality of recorded information.

The reporting rate was 74%. Private hospitals have the highest rate in reporting (87%) and polyclinics have the least (67%). The recording rate was above 90% for administrative data. Personal data was complete except for patient name (76.5%), address (20%), and occupation (73%). The most prominent defect in the disease data was found to be in recording the mode of infection (13%), followed by previous vaccination (29%), date of symptoms (89%), and date of diagnosis (98%). Mode of infection was recorded in (40.5%) of cases by primary health care centers, but in polyclinics in only 1% of cases. Previous vaccination was recorded better by governmental sectors; (29%) by governmental hospital and (49%) by primary health care centers while in the private sectors the rate was (21%) by polyclinic and (25%) by private hospital. Date of symptoms was recorded in 90% of cases in all sectors except in governmental hospitals where it was only (50%). Date of diagnosis was recorded in more than (95%) in all sectors. The results show a statistical significant difference between different health sectors in recording data where government hospitals were least in recording doctor's name and in putting an official stamp in the form (p< 0.001); primary health care centers were the best in recording patient name and occupation (p< 0.001); polyclinics were least in recording mode of infection and previous vaccination (p< 0.001); for recording date of symptoms private hospitals were the best (p< 0.001).

The reporting rate in Jeddah region was 74%, but its usefulness was diminished because of the incomplete, absent or incorrect personal and disease data.