FACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR UNDER REPORTING OF NOTIFIABLE INFECTIOUS DISEASES BY GENERAL PRACTITIONERS: A VEILED REALITY

Background: Effective surveillance is the key to effective disease control in the community. Any such surveillance through proper reporting system would not only help to control the spread of these infectious diseases but also ensures appropriate treatment. This study investigated the knowledge, attitude and practices regarding notifiable diseases among general practitioners in North Karachi. Methods: A total of 175 doctors working as General Practitioners in Karachi, Pakistan, were asked to participate in this study and pattern of reporting of diseases was investigated through a self administered questionnaire. The response rate was 97% (170/175). Results: It was found that among the total practitioners, 78% routinely diagnosed the notifiable diseases but only 50% deliberated to report one or more of those diseases. Knowledge of dengue reporting was evident in 52.9% of the participants followed by typhoid 48%, chicken pox 47%, hepatitis 46% and malaria 43%. Conclusion: Most of the practitioners were found to be incompliant towards reporting of notifiable diseases. Lack of time was found to be the major reason for not reporting a disease, followed by confidentiality and poor knowledge of the reporting procedures. To improve the reporting practices among general practitioners, it seems that a convenient and easy reporting system should be introduced and to provide knowledge and awareness among doctors about the different infectious diseases and their reporting means. This will certainly help our GPs to strengthen the notification system of such diseases.