ESTIMATION OF INCIDENCE OF POLIOMYELITIS BY 3 SURVEY METHODS IN DIFFERENT REGIONS OF THE UNITED-REPUBLIC-OF-CAMEROON

  • 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 61  (3) , 501-507
Abstract
Surveys were conducted in 1 urban and 2 rural regions of the United Republic of Cameroon to estimate the annual incidence of paralytic poliomyelitis. Three different survey methods were used: a review of hospital and clinic registers, a school survey and a house-to-house survey. The house-to-house survey identified the highest number of lame children and gave estimates of incidence of 18.8-32.6/100,000 population in the 3 regions. The estimates of incidence obtained by the 2 other survey methods in the urban region did not differ significantly from that obtained by house-to-house survey but, in the rural regions, were significantly lower. Thus, house-to-house surveys are a sensitive method of identifying lame children in urban and rural regions. School surveys and review of hospital and clinic registers, while equally sensitive in urban regions, are less sensitive in rural regions and may significantly underestimate the annual incidence of paralytic poliomyelitis. These limitations should be borne in mind when using the survey methods.