[Tuberculosis surveillance and health information system in Brazil, 2001-2003]

To assess the quality of tuberculosis surveillance in Brazil.

Local data from 2001 to 2003 were assessed according to the quality of detection and follow-up of the cases in the region, the quality of the information produced by the notification system, and the load of morbidity of tuberculosis. Cities were classified into four groups, according to tuberculosis epidemiologic stage and the quality of tuberculosis surveillance.

In the study period, about 8% of the Brazilian cities presented over 10% of the cases of tuberculosis notified by the health care services of another city. In about 950 cities, the frequency of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis undergoing sputum examination was lower than 90%. In the North region, Amazonas, Pará and Amapá presented more cities classified in the groups of poor tuberculosis surveillance. In the Northeast, Pernambuco, Ceará and Bahia presented the poorest surveillance. The South and Midwest regions presented greater number of cities with better tuberculosis surveillance.

One third of the Brazilian cities present poor tuberculosis surveillance. This picture is not homogeneous in Brazil, and the regions with highest tuberculosis incidence have a great number of cities with apparently insufficient control measures.