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Data suppression strategies used during surveillance data release by sexually transmitted disease prevention programs
Philip Christopher Delcher1, Kristine T Edwards, Jeffrey Allen Stover
1Office of Epidemiology, Division of Disease Prevention, Virginia Department of Health, 109 Governor's St, Suite 321, Richmond, VA 23219, USA. chris@vhi.org
Journal of Public Health Management and Practice : JPHMP
|February 22, 2008
Summary
Sexually transmitted disease (STD) prevention programs use data suppression to protect confidentiality. Higher STD rates were observed in states not using suppression, indicating its impact on public health data.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Biostatistics
Background:
- Sexually transmitted disease (STD) surveillance data are crucial for public health.
- Statistical disclosure limitation (DL) practices are employed to protect individual confidentiality during data release.
- Understanding these practices is vital for maintaining data utility and public trust.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the data suppression or statistical disclosure limitation (DL) practices used by STD prevention programs.
- To analyze the impact of different DL strategies on reported STD incidence rates.
Main Methods:
- A Web-based data query system was used to collect DL strategies from state health departments.
- Five types of DL strategies were identified: no suppression, numerator-only, denominator-only, demographic-only, and mixed.
- Mean STD incidence rates were compared between states using data suppression and those not using it.
Main Results:
- Five DL strategies were identified, with mixed strategies being the most common (n=12).
- 62% of states (n=22) varied their DL strategies over time.
- States employing data suppression reported significantly lower rates of Chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis compared to non-suppression states.
Conclusions:
- Cell suppression is the predominant DL method used by STD prevention programs.
- Further research is necessary to assess the effectiveness of DL strategies in balancing data utility and confidentiality.
- The findings highlight the need for standardized DL practices in public health surveillance.
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