Table 2.
Participants’ consensus status on the importance of recommendation statements (N = 50)
| Domains | Sub-domains | Statements | Consensus | Non-consensus | Neutral |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n (%) | n (%) | n (%) | |||
| Core Functions | Case detection, registration and confirmation | Need to update surveillance guidelines currently in use at the sub-national level | 49 (98) | - | 1 (2) |
| Need to update the available PC-NTDs case definitions currently in use at the sub-national level | 41 (82) | 3 (6) | 6 (12) | ||
| Training is required on practical application of the available PC-NTDs case definitions | 50 (100) | - | - | ||
| Availing case registers specific for registering PC-NTD cases is necessary | 35 (70)* | 4 (8) | 11 (22) | ||
| All PC-NTDs need confirmation at the lower surveillance levels | 33 (66)* | 4 (8) | 13 (26) | ||
| Increased number of laboratories at lower surveillance levels is required to improve PC-NTDs case confirmation capacity | 45 (90) | 2 (4) | 3 (6) | ||
| Need to properly equip laboratories at the health facility level to improve PC-NTDs case confirmation | 49 (98) | - | 1 (2) | ||
| Need to provide an adequate number of skilled laboratory health personnel for effective confirmation of PC-NTDs | 50 (100) | - | - | ||
| Reporting | Need to ensure reporting forms are always readily available in all surveillance levels | 50 (100) | - | - | |
| Need to avail updated reporting guidelines at the sub-national level | 49 (98) | - | 1 (2) | ||
| Need to list all PC-NTDs in the existing reporting forms to improve surveillance data capture | 45 (90) | - | 5 (10) | ||
| Immediate reporting of PC-NTD cases is required to improve planned response actions | 44 (88) | 2 (4) | 4 (8) | ||
| Need to adopt electronic reporting tools to improve transmission of PC-NTDs surveillance data to the next level | 50 (100) | - | - | ||
| Frequent training on reporting PC-NTDs using existing reporting forms is required | 50 (100) | - | - | ||
| Need to allocate adequate time for surveillance reports preparation and submission to the next levels | 49 (98) | - | 1 (2) | ||
| Data Analysis | Need to enhance PC-NTDs surveillance data analysis at the sub-national level | 49 (98) | - | 1 (2) | |
| Analysis of PC-NTDs surveillance data should be conducted on a routine-basis | 42 (84) | 4 (8) | 4 (8) | ||
| Trend analysis of PC-NTDs reported cases should be undertaken periodically | 45 (90) | - | 5 (10) | ||
| Enhanced training on PC-NTDs surveillance data analysis is required | 50 (100) | - | - | ||
| Clearly formulated PC-NTDs action thresholds are required | 50 (100) | - | - | ||
| Need to provide adequate data analysis tools and equipment | 50 (100) | - | - | ||
| Feedback | Need to improve feedback on PC-NTDs surveillance data at the sub-national level | 50 (100) | - | - | |
| Need for timely feedback on PC-NTDs surveillance data reported to the next level | 50 (100) | - | - | ||
| Regular feedback on reported PC-NTDs surveillance data is required | 47 (94) | - | 3 (6) | ||
| Need to adapt improved electronic feedback mechanisms | 49 (98) | - | 1 (2) | ||
| Increased feedback on PC-NTDs to lower surveillance levels is required | 46 (92) | - | 4 (8) | ||
| Epidemic preparedness and response | Updated PC-NTDs outbreak preparedness and response protocols are required | 50 (100) | - | - | |
| Need for outbreak response teams to be well-constituted to respond to probable PC-NTDs outbreaks | 47 (94) | 1 (2) | 2 (4) | ||
| Need for emergency supplies to adequately respond to probable PC-NTDs outbreaks | 50 (100) | - | - | ||
| Regular training on PC-NTDs outbreak preparedness and response is required | 50 (100) | - | - | ||
| Support Functions | Supervision | Need to enhance supervision of PC-NTDs surveillance activities at the sub-national level | 50 (100) | - | - |
| Regular supervision of PC-NTDs surveillance activities undertaken at the lower levels is required | 46 (92) | - | 4 (8) | ||
| Formulation of supervisory schedules for PC-NTDs surveillance activities is necessary | 45 (90) | - | 5 (10) | ||
| Increased frequency of supervisory visits at the lower surveillance levels is required | 42 (84) | 1 (2) | 7 (14) | ||
| Training and sensitisation of all health workers regarding supervisory activities is required | 46 (92) | 2 (4) | 2 (4) | ||
| Need for properly constituted supervisory teams to adequately supervise PC-NTDs surveillance activities | 50 (100) | - | - | ||
| Need for adequate resource provision to support supervision of PC-NTDs surveillance activities | 49 (98) | - | 1 (2) | ||
| Need for increased participation of the community levels to support supervision of PC-NTDs surveillance activities | 49 (98) | - | 1 (2) | ||
| Training | Need for training on disease surveillance conducted at sub-national level to focus on PC-NTDs | 49 (98) | - | 1 (2) | |
| Regular training specifically on PC-NTDs surveillance activities is necessary | 50 (100) | - | - | ||
| All health workers need to be involved in training on PC-NTDs surveillance activities | 35 (70)* | 3 (6) | 12 (24) | ||
| Availing adequate training materials and equipment is necessary across all surveillance levels | 50 (100) | - | - | ||
| Need to retain trained surveillance staff across all surveillance levels | 50 (100) | - | - | ||
| Resources | Increased funding is required to support PC-NTDs surveillance activities | 50 (100) | - | - | |
| Availing electronic communication equipment for transmission of PC-NTDs surveillance data is required | 50 (100) | - | - | ||
| Improved transport and logistical support is necessary to facilitate PC-NTDs surveillance activities | 50 (100) | - | - | ||
| Increasing the number of health workers involved in PC-NTDs surveillance activities is necessary | 41 (82) | 5 (10) | 4 (8) | ||
| Increasing the number of designated surveillance focal persons is required | 33 (66)* | 6 (12) | 11 (22) | ||
| Need for improved telecommunication channels to support transmission of surveillance data | 49 (98) | 1 (2) | - | ||
| Need for improved means of transportation to facilitate surveillance activities | 50 (100) | - | - | ||
| Attribute Functions | Simplicity | Simplification of existing guidelines for completing reporting forms is required | 46 (92) | - | 4 (8) |
| Need to simplify available forms to ease reporting of PC-NTDs | 36 (72) | - | 14 (28) | ||
| Need to simplify PC-NTDs case definitions to ease application | 42 (84) | - | 8 (16) | ||
| Need to simplify methods for PC-NTDs surveillance data collection and analysis | 44 (88) | - | 6 (12) | ||
| Acceptability | Need for the health managers to support PC-NTDs surveillance activities in the region | 50 (100) | - | - | |
| PC-NTDs need to be considered of public health importance in the region | 50 (100) | - | - | ||
| Stability | Need for challenges facing PC-NTDs surveillance activities to be addressed with minimal delays | 50 (100) | - | - | |
| Sufficient resources to support PC-NTDs surveillance activities are required | 50 (100) | - | - | ||
| Flexibility | Need for existing surveillance systems to be well adapted to reporting all PC-NTDs in the region | 50 (100) | - | - | |
| Existing surveillance systems need to adapt easily to changes in PC-NTDs information needs | 50 (100) | - | - |
* - statements not achieving the > 70 % consensus threshold