Description and evaluation of data quality and opportunity of the Tuberculosis surveillance system in Baja Verapaz, Guatemala, 2023.

Abstract

Introduction. In Guatemala, Tuberculosis remains an endemic condition. To date, there is no specific epidemiological surveillance protocol for this disease. The main objective was to describe and evaluate, the quality and compliance in the reporting times of TB cases in the epidemiological surveillance of Baja Verapaz. Population and Methods. We described the surveillance system and TB cases. We evaluated the completeness and validity of the data, and four types of timeliness. We calculated averages, distribution of cases by variables of interest, incidence, and frequencies with CI95%. We used Microsoft Excel and EpiInfo version 7.2.6.0 for data analysis. Results. The correct use of the information flow allowed, in 2023, the detection of 30 active cases, with an incidence of 8.7 per 100,000 inhabitants, mainly women (66.7% CI95 47.2-82.7), 27 cases (90% CI95 73.5-97.9) of pulmonary TB, mostly affecting the age group of 25-34 years (30% CI95 14.7-49.4). When evaluating completeness, we found out that the symptom onset was reported in 77% of cases and the type of treatment in 70%. In validity, 100% of the data is consistent with the expected format, type, and range. Lastly, the time interval of the notification and diagnosis are timely, while the start of treatment is not. Discussion. The flow of information from the TB surveillance system is clear, which has allowed cases to be reported in a timely manner, however, the days between laboratory confirmation and initiation of treatment, are not timely.