title: Assessment of Leishmaniasis notification system in Santiago del Estero, Argentina, 1990-1993.
abstract: Using a capture-recapture method, this study evaluates the completeness of the cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) surveillance system in four districts of Santiago del Estero province, Argentina, for the period 1990-1993. Four reporting sources were evaluated: medical records kept by health facilities, interviews conducted during a case-control study, and the national and provincial levels of the leishmaniasis surveillance system (LSS). Using the capture-recapture method it was estimated that 210 cases (95% confidence interval [CI]: 202-218) of CL occurred in the four districts during the study period. Completeness of reporting to the leishmaniasis surveillance system at the national level was estimated to be 44.8% (95% CI: 43.2-46.4). The study results indicate that there is substantial underreporting within the LSS, although it did show the appropriate secular trends. The reasons for under-reporting and methods for addressing this problem are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán, Buenos Aires, Argentina. yadonzai@paho.org
authors.forename: Z E
authors.initials: ZE
authors.lastname: Yadón
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Quigley
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Segura
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D018563:Disease Notification / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007891:Leishmania / Q000254:growth & development*; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000453:epidemiology*