Descriptive review of tuberculosis surveillance systems across the circumpolar regions

• Published in: International Journal of Circumpolar Health
• Main Authors: Annie-Claude Bourgeois, Tammy Zulz, Bolette Soborg, Anders Koch
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2016
• Subjects: surveillance; tuberculosis; circumpolar; International Surveillance Circumpolar – Tuberculosis Working Group; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic; Nunavut; Yukon; Northwest Territories; Sakha; Nunavik; Canada; Greenland; Norway; Arkhangelsk; Circumpolar Health; International Journal of Circumpolar Health; khanty; Sakha Republic; Yakutia; Alaska
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.3402/ijch.v75.30322; https://doaj.org/article/36cb17f055184e67882fc945527c73dd

Background: Tuberculosis is highly prevalent in many Arctic areas. Members of the International Circumpolar Surveillance Tuberculosis (ICS-TB) Working Group collaborate to increase knowledge about tuberculosis in Arctic regions. Objective: To establish baseline knowledge of tuberculosis surveillance systems used by ICS-TB member jurisdictions. Design: Three questionnaires were developed to reflect the different surveillance levels (local, regional and national); all 3 were forwarded to the official representative of each of the 15 ICS-TB member jurisdictions in 2013. Respondents self-identified the level of surveillance conducted in their region and completed the applicable questionnaire. Information collected included surveillance system objectives, case definitions, data collection methodology, storage and dissemination. Results: Thirteen ICS-TB jurisdictions [Canada (Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nunavik, Nunavut, Yukon), Finland, Greenland, Norway, Sweden, Russian Federation (Arkhangelsk, Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug, Yakutia (Sakha Republic), United States (Alaska)] voluntarily completed the survey – representing 2 local, 7 regional and 4 national levels. Tuberculosis reporting is mandatory in all jurisdictions, and case definitions are comparable across regions. The common objectives across systems are to detect outbreaks, and inform the evaluation/planning of public health programmes and policies. All jurisdictions collect data on confirmed active tuberculosis cases and treatment outcomes; 11 collect contact tracing results. Faxing of standardized case reporting forms is the most common reporting method. Similar core data elements are collected; 8 regions report genotyping results. Data are stored using customized programmes (n=7) and commercial software (n=6). Nine jurisdictions provide monthly, bi-annual or annual reports to principally government and/or scientific/medical audiences. Conclusion: This review successfully establishes baseline knowledge on similarities and differences among ...