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- Title
Assessing the sensitivity of STD surveillance in the Netherlands: an application of the capture--recapture method.
- Authors
Reintjes, R; Termorshuizen, F; van de Laar, M J
- Abstract
The capture-recapture method was used to estimate the sensitivity of case finding in two national STD surveillance systems: (1) STD registration at municipal health services (STD-MHS); (2) statutory notification by clinicians (NNS). To identify those cases common to both surveillance systems, cases from 1995 were compared using individual identifiers. Estimated sensitivities for syphilis were: STD-MHS 31% (95% CI: 27-35%), NNS 64% (56-71%); and for gonorrhoea: STD-MHS 15% (14-18%), NNS 22% (19-25%). The combined sensitivity of both systems was 76% for syphilis and 34% for gonorrhoea. Differences in the sensitivity of the systems were significant. The NNS was more sensitive than the STD-MHS, and the identification of cases was significantly more sensitive for syphilis than for gonorrhoea. A stratified analysis showed comparable results for the two sexes. Knowledge on the sensitivity of surveillance systems is useful for public health decisions and essential for international comparisons.
- Publication
Epidemiology & Infection, 1999, Vol 122, Issue 1, p97
- ISSN
0950-2688
- Publication type
journal article
- DOI
10.1017/S095026889800171X