Document 2341
 DOCN  M94A2341
 TI    Inexpensive system for collection and analysis of STD cases in a
       specialized clinic. Porto Alegre, Brazil.
 DT    9412
 AU    Ramos MC; Barcellos NT; Poitevin N; Gorelik M; Ferrary MB; Dias HC;
       Willers DC; Ferreira J; Patricio MA; Guedes LA; et al
 SO    Int Conf AIDS. 1994 Aug 7-12;10(1):326 (abstract no. PC0236). Unique
       Identifier : AIDSLINE ICA10/94370234
 AB    OBJECTIVES: To demonstrate the usefulness of an inexpensive and user
       friendly system for internal surveillance of STD cases in a specialized
       clinic in a urban area. METHODS: Two code lists were created: (1) reason
       for consultation and/or syndromic diagnosis (RC/SD), always present in
       any kind of consultation and (2) professional interpretation or
       clinically oriented diagnosis (PI). A specific etiologic diagnosis is
       generally not available in the first consultation in Brazilian settings.
       A collection instrument was developed, up to two different sets of RC/SD
       and/or PI can be collected for a given patient. The physician has to
       record the date of consultation, age and gender of the patient, type of
       consultation (first or subsequent), codes of RC/SD and, when available,
       PI. A data base and analysis program in EPIINFO 5.01 (WHO-CDC) Software
       was developed, updated and analyzed monthly. RESULTS: From Jan to Dec
       1993, 13,020 visits were recorded by 07 physicians, ranging from 268 to
       1,799 per month. Out of these, 2,278 (17.5%) were female and 10,742
       (82.5%) were male; 4,911 were first visit, 1,489 were repeaters
       (patients previously registered with a new episode of STD), and 6,620
       were follow up visits. Among the 6,400 first visits for the problem, the
       more frequent RC/SD were: Urethral discharge (1638-25.6%), Vaginal
       discharge (788-12.3%), Balanitis (749-11,7). Genital warts (475-7.4%)
       and Genital ulcers (418-7.4%); 4994 (78.1%) had a PI available. The more
       frequent were: Non-gono urethritis (787-11.5%), Gono urethritis
       (735-12.3%), Balanitis (717-11.2%), HPV inf (544-8.5%). CONCLUSIONS:
       Data collection and analysis is rarely done in Brazil, the opportunity
       of evaluating and planning the needs of different services is lost,
       misusing the already scarce resources. The data collection systems
       previously used, based on personal description of the signs/diseases
       leads to impossibility of data management and entry by non medical
       personnel. We consider that this system is a contribution for local
       operational research efforts and can be easily used in developing
       countries, without the need of sophisticated equipment and expertise. We
       recognize, nonetheless, that the data have a poor epidemiologic value
       for STD surveillance purposes.
 DE    Brazil/EPIDEMIOLOGY  Cost-Benefit Analysis  Cross-Sectional Studies
       Data Collection/*ECONOMICS  Database Management Systems/ECONOMICS
       *Developing Countries  Human  HIV Infections/ECONOMICS/*EPIDEMIOLOGY
       Incidence  Medical Records Systems, Computerized/*ECONOMICS  *Population
       Surveillance  Sexually Transmitted Diseases/ECONOMICS/*EPIDEMIOLOGY
       Urban Population/*STATISTICS & NUMER DATA  MEETING ABSTRACT

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