Syed Saif-ur Rehman, Abuzar Wajidi.
Analysis of Acute Flaccid Paralysis Surveillance System in Karachi, 200-2015.
Int J Rehab Sci Jan ;05(01):17-20.

Background: Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) is a clinical syndrome characterized by a sudden onset of weakness of a limb, described as flaccid (reduced tone) in a child below 15 years of age. AFP Surveillance is one the key strategy for eradication of Polio, timely detection of any confirmed Polio case is only possible through sensitive surveillance system. Objective: the study aimed to estimate the performance of the AFP surveillance system in different towns of Karachi from 2005 – 2015 by using the parameters as recommended by the WHO. Methods: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted using the secondary AFP surveillance data routinely collected between January 2005 and December 2015 from Karachi, Pakistan. All AFP cases identified during this period from the biggest metropolitan city of Pakistan were included in the study. . the surveillance indicators evaluated were Non Polio AFP rate, percentage adequacy, percentage follow-up, percentage detected within 7 days and percentage investigated within 2 days (timelineness of case investigation). Result: the results of the present study indicated that the non Polio AFP rate was highest in 2011 (4.73) and least in 2014 (2.80). the percentage adequacy, percentage follow-up, and percent cases were investigated within two days were more than ninety percent indicating quality of surveillance. Importantly, from year 2005 till 2009, there was increased trend of percentage of AFP cases detected within 7 days, but since 2013 the percent detection within seven days decreased with not achieving minimum standards of eighty percents. Conclusion: the AFP surveillance is the gold standard for the detection of poliomyelitis. in Karachi, most of the surveillance indicators were achieved, since 2013 the percent detection within seven days decreased with not achieving minimum standards of eighty percents which should be looked into.

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