IPROC iproc Iproceedings 2369-6893 JMIR Publications Toronto, Canada v8i1e36484 10.2196/36484 Abstract Abstract Evaluation of the Acute Flaccid Paralysis Surveillance System From 2016 to 2020: A Retrospective Study Khader Yousef Abu Failat Suhaib MD 1
Jordan Ministry of Health ALhashimi Alshamaly, Basman Erea Hay Naifah, Next to Prince Hamazah Hospital Amman, 11118 Jordan 962 65200230 962 65688373 s.abufailat@gmail.com
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4643-4536 Qasem Nabil MD 1 https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8680-8796 Asad Majed MD 1 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7193-4287 Iblan Ibrahim MD 2 https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8538-977X Aqel Ashraf 1 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9424-0528 Jordan Ministry of Health Amman Jordan Eastern Mediterranean Public Health Network Amman Jordan Corresponding Author: Suhaib Abu Failat s.abufailat@gmail.com Jan-Dec 2022 4 2 2022 8 1 e36484 16 1 2022 19 1 2022 ©Suhaib Abu Failat, Nabil Qasem, Majed Asad, Ibrahim Iblan, Ashraf Aqel. Originally published in Iproceedings (https://www.iproc.org), 04.02.2022. 2022

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 Background

Acute flaccid paralysis surveillance played a major role in the global eradication of polio. The World Health Organization adopted this method to monitor the progress toward poliomyelitis eradication. The Expanded Program of Immunization in Jordan has routinely collected acute flaccid paralysis data since 1999, which then attained a polio-free certification. Yet, because of wars in neighboring countries such as Syria and Iraq, there is a risk of polio outbreaks occurring.

 Objective

This study aims to evaluate the acute flaccid paralysis surveillance system in Jordan from 2016 to 2020 and identify areas for improvement.

 Methods

This was a retrospective descriptive study that used data from the acute flaccid paralysis surveillance system in Jordan between January 2016 and December 2020. The World Health Organization standard indicators were used to evaluate the performance of the surveillance system.

 Results

A total of 483 cases of nonpolio acute flaccid paralysis were reported. Most of them (n=478, 99%) were younger than 15 years, and among those, 55.6% were younger than 5 years, and 58% were male. At the national level, the surveillance achieved all the World Health Organization indicators throughout the evaluating period, except for two indicators: the proportion of stool specimens from which nonpolio enterovirus was isolated in 2016 and 2017, and the nonpolio acute flaccid paralysis detection rate per 100,000 of the population younger than 15 years in 2020. At a subnational level (governorates level), the proportion of stool specimens from which nonpolio enterovirus was isolated, as an indicator, was not achieved most of the time. This was frequently observed in each of all evaluation years of 2016 to 2020. Moreover, most indicators were not achieved at the governorate level in 2020.

 Conclusions

There are some gaps that need improvement in the acute flaccid paralysis surveillance system in Jordan, especially at the governorate level. The lower performance during 2020 could have been caused by the COVID-19 crisis and the lockdown during the pandemic. Similar challenges are possible in the future and proper preparation is required.

 acute flaccid paralysis Jordan surveillance system polio eradication