Community leader–based event surveillance using a mobile reporting tool in Brazil and Cabo Verde

a pilot study

Resumen

Objective: to describe the training experience of community leaders recruited to participate in Event-Based Surveillance (EBS) in Brazil and Cabo Verde, to characterize their profile, and to describe the use of a mobile application for recording EBS signs. Methods: this descriptive study details the training of community leaders to use a mobile data collection tool for EBS. Leaders were recruited through participatory mapping and snowball sampling in both
countries. Training workshops included theoretical and practical sessions, focusing on health surveillance concepts, leadership roles, and the use of a digital application to report potential hazards to health known as “signals”. Data were collected via questionnaires and monitored through a digital dashboard. Results: training activities began in July 2024, and 89 leaders were trained, 39 in Brazil and 50 in Cabo Verde. Most participants had lived in their communities for over five years and had completed at least upper secondary education. Approximately 73% reported familiarity with health surveillance, and 63% with event-based surveillance. Following the training, 77% of Brazilian and 72% of Cabo Verdean leaders actively reported signals weekly. Reports began to occur in epidemiological week 34 of 2024. From epidemiological weeks 34 to 52 of 2024, 626 reports were submitted, with 71 classified as signals and 16 as potential public health risks. Conclusion: the pilot demonstrates that community leaders can be effectively trained to participate in Event-based surveillance, thereby contributing to the early detection of health threats. Participatory approaches and tailored training materials were fundamental to overcoming recruitment and technological challenges by involving community leaders in the evaluation of training content, using locally adapted language and examples, and providing hands-on training and continuous technical support. Continuous engagement and integration into local health systems are essential for long-term success through regular feedback mechanisms, supervision, and alignment with routine surveillance workflows.