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. 2023 Feb 10;3(2):e0001402.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0001402. eCollection 2023.

Uganda's experience in establishing an electronic compendium for public health emergencies

Alex Riolexus Ario  1   2 , Dativa M Aliddeki  1 , Daniel Kadobera  1   2 , Lilian Bulage  1   2 , Joshua Kayiwa  2   3 , Milton M Wetaka  2   3 , Simon Kyazze  2   3 , Felix Ocom  2   3 , Issa Makumbi  2   3 , Paul Mbaka  2   4 , Prosper Behumbiize  5 , Immaculate Ayebazibwe  5 , Stephen K Balinandi  6 , Julius J Lutwama  6 , Adam Crawley  7 , Nomita Divi  7 , John R Lule  8 , Joseph C Ojwang  8 , Julie R Harris  8 , Amy L Boore  8 , Lisa J Nelson  8 , Jeff Borchert  9 , Dennis Jarvis  10
Affiliations

Uganda's experience in establishing an electronic compendium for public health emergencies

Alex Riolexus Ario et al. PLOS Glob Public Health. .

Abstract

Uganda has implemented several interventions that have contributed to prevention, early detection, and effective response to Public Health Emergencies (PHEs). However, there are gaps in collecting and documenting data on the overall response to these PHEs. We set out to establish a comprehensive electronic database of PHEs that occurred in Uganda since 2000. We constituted a core development team, developed a data dictionary, and worked with Health Information Systems Program (HISP)-Uganda to develop and customize a compendium of PHEs using the electronic Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (eIDSR) module on the District Health Information Software version 2 (DHIS2) platform. We reviewed literature for retrospective data on PHEs for the compendium. Working with the Uganda Public Health Emergency Operations Center (PHEOC), we prospectively updated the compendium with real-time data on reported PHEs. We developed a user's guide to support future data entry teams. An operational compendium was developed within the eIDSR module of the DHIS2 platform. The variables for PHEs data collection include those that identify the type, location, nature and time to response of each PHE. The compendium has been updated with retrospective PHE data and real-time prospective data collection is ongoing. Data within this compendium is being used to generate information that can guide future outbreak response and management. The compendium development highlights the importance of documenting outbreak detection and response data in a central location for future reference. This data provides an opportunity to evaluate and inform improvements in PHEs response.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Process of prospective data collection and entry into the compendium.
Fig 2
Fig 2. The number of outbreaks reported in Uganda, 2000–2020.
Fig 3
Fig 3. Frequency of reported outbreaks in Uganda, 2000–2020.
Fig 4
Fig 4. Number of measles outbreaks reported annually in Uganda, 2015–2020.
Fig 5
Fig 5. Number of rubella outbreaks reported annually in Uganda, 2015–2020.
Fig 6
Fig 6. Number of days between the start, detection and confirmation of Ebola and Marburg outbreaks in Uganda, 2000–2020.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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