Vertical disease programs and their effect on integrated disease surveillance and response: perspectives of epidemiologists and surveillance officers in Nigeria

BACKGROUND: Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) is a cost-effective surveillance system designed to curb the inefficiency associated with vertical (disease-specific) programs. The study determined the existence and effect of vertical programs on disease surveillance and response in Nigeria. METHODS: A cross-sectional study involving 14 State epidemiologists and Disease Notification Surveillance Officers (DSNOs) in 12 states located within the 6 geopolitical zones in Nigeria. Data was collected using mailed electronic semi-structured self-administered questionnaires. Response rate was 33.3%. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 20. RESULTS: Half of the respondents were males (50.0%) and State epidemiologists (50.0%). Malaria, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and other diseases were ongoing vertical programs in the States surveyed. In over 90% of cases, vertical programs had different personnel, communication channels and supportive supervision processes different from the IDSR system. Although less than 50% acknowledged the existence of a forum for data harmonization, this forum was ineffectively utilized in 83.3% of cases. Specific disease funding was higher than that of IDSR (92.9%) and only 42.9% reported funding for IDSR activities from development partners in the State. Poor data management, low priority on IDSR priority diseases, and donor-driven programming were major negative effects of vertical programs. Improved funding, political ownership, and integration were major recommendations preferred by the respondents. CONCLUSION: We found that vertical programs in the surveyed States in the Nigerian health system led to duplication of efforts, inequitable funding, and inefficiencies in surveillance. We recommend integration of existing vertical programs into the IDSR system, increased resource allocation, and political support to improve IDSR.