Data suppression strategies used during surveillance data release by sexually transmitted disease prevention programs.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigates the data suppression or statistical disclosure limitation (DL) practices used during surveillance data Release by sexually transmitted disease (STD) prevention programs.


METHODS
We classified DL strategies from a Web-based data query system that collected data from state health departments. We tested mean STD incidence Rates in states that used data suppression versus those that did not.


RESULTS
Five types of DL were identified: no suppression (n = 15), numerator-only (n = 10), denominator-only (n = 6), demographic-only (n = 7), and mixed strategies (n = 12). Twenty-two states (62%) used data suppression strategies differently through time. Chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis Rates were higher in the nonsuppression states than those of the suppression states (P = .03, P = .008, P = .009, Respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Cell suppression is the preferred method of DL used by STD prevention programs. More Research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of this strategy as a means of balancing the public health utility of the data tables and the protection of confidentiality.
Delcher
Philip Christopher
PC
Office of Epidemiology, Division of Disease Prevention, Virginia Department of Health, 109 Governor's St, Suite 321, Richmond, VA 23219, USA. chris@vhi.org
Edwards
Kristine T
KT
Stover
Jeffrey Allen
JA
Newman
Lori Marie
LM
Groseclose
Samuel L
SL
Rajnik
Diane M
DM
D003219:Confidentiality; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D016208:Databases, Factual; D030881:Disclosure; D015340:Epidemiologic Research Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011634:Public Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012042:Registries; D015231:Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Bacterial / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology