title: Communicable diseases surveillance system in East azerbaijan earthquake: strengths and weaknesses.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A Surveillance System was established for 19 diseases/syndromes in order to prevent and control communicable diseases after 2012 East Azerbaijan earthquakes. This study was conducted to investigate the strengths and weaknesses of the established SS.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was carried out on an interview-based qualitative study using content analysis in 2012. Data was collected by semi-structured deep interviews and surveillance data. Fifteen interviews were conducted with experts and health system managers who were engaged in implementing the communicable disease surveillance system in the affected areas. The selection of participants was purposeful. Data saturation supported the sample size. The collected data was analyzed using the principles suggested by Strauss and Corbin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Establishment of the disease surveillance system was rapid and inexpensive. It collected the required data fast. It also increased confidence in health authorities that the diseases would be under control in earthquake-stricken regions. Non estimated denominator for calculating the rates (incidence & prevalence), non-participation of the private sector and hospitals, rapid turnover of health staff and unfamiliarity with the definitions of the diseases were the weak points of the established disease SS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  During the time when surveillance system was active, no significant outbreak of communicable diseases was reported. However, the surveillance system had some weaknesses. Thus, considering Iran's susceptibility to various natural hazards, repeated exercises should be conducted in the preparedness phase to decrease the weaknesses. In addition, other types of surveillance system such as web-based or mobile-based systems should be piloted in disaster situations for future.
authors: Department of Disaster Public Health, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Disaster and Emergency Health, National Institute of Health Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Javad
authors: J
authors: Babaie
authors: Department of Disaster Public Health, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Farin
authors: F
authors: Fatemi
authors: Department of Disaster & Emergency Health, Iran's National Institute of Health Research; Department of Disaster Public Health, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
authors: Ali
authors: A
authors: Ardalan
authors: Department of Disaster Public Health, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Hamed
authors: H
authors: Mohammadi
authors: Communicable Diseases Surveillance Department,Ministry of Health, Treatment and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Mahmood
authors: M
authors: Soroush
keywords: communicable diseases; disaster; surveillance system