Surveillance of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) in the O'higgins Region, epidemiological weeks 1 to 52 of 2022

Abstract

Summary: The surveillance of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) is essential for detecting cases of poliomyelitis, an infectious disease that primarily affects children under 5 years of age. In Chile, confirmation is conducted by the Public Health Institute, which requires stool samples to be collected within the first two weeks following the onset of paralysis. The O'Higgins Region has a population with a high percentage of rural areas and inadequate access to drinking water. This study focused on evaluating the epidemiological surveillance of AFP in the region during 2022, analyzing various variables such as municipality, sex, and age of the cases, as well as the notification rate and other quality indicators. Results And Analysis: During the study period, it was observed that the cases of AFP in the O'Higgins Region had a notification rate in individuals under 15 years of age that was higher than the national level and 2.5 times more than the level recommended by PAHO/WHO. Regarding the quality of surveillance, the O'Higgins Region shows the same national trend concerning compliance with indicators, revealing critical nodes.