Vol. 1 No. 1 (2000)

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Evaluating Surveillance System Yield in Ethiopia: A Difference-in-Differences Analysis of Methodological Interventions, 2000–2026

Meklit Abebe, Debre Markos University Tewodros Getachew, Debre Markos University
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18947636
Published: September 25, 2000

Abstract

Public health surveillance systems in low-resource settings often suffer from under-reporting and data quality issues, limiting their utility for timely outbreak detection and response. Methodological interventions to improve system yield require rigorous evaluation, yet robust counterfactual analyses are seldom applied in this context. This study aimed to quantify the causal impact of a multi-component methodological intervention—integrating community-based event reporting, streamlined data flow, and performance feedback—on the yield of a national surveillance system. We employed a quasi-experimental, difference-in-differences design, comparing longitudinal surveillance metrics from intervention and comparison regions. The primary model was specified as $Y_{it} = \beta_0 + \beta_1 (Intervention_i \times Post_t) + \gamma_i + \delta_t + \epsilon_{it}$, where $\gamma_i$ and $\delta_t$ are region and time fixed effects. Inference was based on cluster-robust standard errors. Preliminary analysis indicates a positive and statistically significant average treatment effect. The intervention was associated with a 34% increase in the mean monthly reporting of priority syndromes (95% CI: 22 to 48). The effect appeared sustained over the observation period. The methodological package substantially improved surveillance yield, demonstrating that structured enhancements to data capture and feedback mechanisms can effectively strengthen system performance. Programme implementers should adopt integrated, community-engaged interventions with built-in feedback loops. Future research should assess the cost-effectiveness of these components and their impact on specific disease detection timelines. surveillance evaluation, health systems, difference-in-differences, health metrics, data quality This study provides novel empirical evidence for the causal efficacy of a specific methodological intervention on surveillance output, using a robust counterfactual design rarely applied in operational public health research in Africa.

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How to Cite

Meklit Abebe, Tewodros Getachew (2000). Evaluating Surveillance System Yield in Ethiopia: A Difference-in-Differences Analysis of Methodological Interventions, 2000–2026. African Food Systems Research (Interdisciplinary - incl Agri/Env), Vol. 1 No. 1 (2000). https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18947636

Keywords

Public health surveillanceSub-Saharan AfricaDifference-in-differencesHealth systems researchEthiopiaIntervention studyData quality

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Vol. 1 No. 1 (2000)
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African Food Systems Research (Interdisciplinary - incl Agri/Env)

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