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. 2018 Dec 13;18(Suppl 4):1305.
doi: 10.1186/s12889-018-6187-x.

AVADAR (Auto-Visual AFP Detection and Reporting): demonstration of a novel SMS-based smartphone application to improve acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) surveillance in Nigeria

Faisal M B Shuaib  1 , Philip F Musa  2 , Sisay Tegegne Gashu  3 , Chima Onoka  4 , Salihu Abdullahi Ahmed  3 , Murtala Bagana  4 , Michael Galway  5 , Fiona Braka  3 , Ticha Johnson Muluh  3 , Richard Banda  3 , Godwin Akpan  3 , Ajiboye Tunji  3 , Umar Kabo Idris  6 , Adedolapo Olusoga  6 , Patrick Briand  7 , Nwanyibuife Obiako  6 , Tonia Nebechukwu  5 , Pascal Mkanda  3
Affiliations

AVADAR (Auto-Visual AFP Detection and Reporting): demonstration of a novel SMS-based smartphone application to improve acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) surveillance in Nigeria

Faisal M B Shuaib et al. BMC Public Health. .

Abstract

Background: Eradication of polio requires that the acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) surveillance system is sensitive enough to detect all cases of AFP, and that such cases are promptly reported and investigated by disease surveillance personnel. When individuals, particularly community informants, are unaware of how to properly detect AFP cases or of the appropriate reporting process, they are unable to provide important feedback to the surveillance network within a country.

Methods: We tested a new SMS-based smartphone application (App) that enhances the detection and reporting of AFP cases to improve the quality of AFP surveillance. Nicknamed Auto-Visual AFP Detection and Reporting (AVADAR), the App creates a scenario where the AFP surveillance network is not dependent on a limited number of priority reporting sites. Being installed on the smartphones of multiple health workers (HWs) and community health informants (CHIs) makes the App an integral part of the detection and reporting system.

Results: Results from two phases of tests conducted in Nigeria point to the effectiveness of the App in the surveillance of AFP.

Conclusion: We posit that appropriate use of the App can soon bring about a worldwide eradication of poliomyelitis.

Keywords: AVADAR; Acute flaccid paralysis; Polio; Smartphone; Surveillance; Technology.

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Conflict of interest statement

Ethics approval and consent to participate

The Federal Ministry of Health gave ethical approval for this study. We used primary data collected by the research team. Verbal consent was obtained from study participants. The verbal consent was obtained to ensure that all respondents have a common understanding of the consent requirements. Some of the respondents are not literate; therefore we had to ensure uniformity in the process of obtaining consent for the study.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
AVADAR dialog box for health workers
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
AVADAR notification and feedback loop systems. AFP acute flaccid paralysis, cluster consultants (CC), CHI community health informant, DSNO Disease Surveillance Notification Officer, health facility (HF), HW health worker, LGA Local Government Area, SMS short message service
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
AFP cases reported through AVADAR versus the traditional system across eight LGAs in Borno state (week 48 in 2016 to week 35 in 2017). AFP acute flaccid paralysis
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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