The Role of Education in Community-Based Surveillance: Measuring Knowledge Improvement in Vaccine-Preventable Disease Detection and Reporting Amongst Community Stakeholders in the Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria

Background: Community-Based Surveillance (CBS) plays a critical role in the early detection and reporting of communicable and vaccine-preventable diseases, especially in resource-limited settings. However, limited community awareness and training often hinder effective participation. This study evaluates the impact of CBS training on disease detection knowledge and reporting practices among community members in Kwali and Abaji, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nigeria.

Methods: A quasi-experimental pre- and post-intervention design was employed involving 264 purposively selected community stakeholders (Kwali: n=144; Abaji: n=120). Participants included religious leaders, traditional rulers, health workers, and volunteers. A structured questionnaire assessing knowledge of CBS principles, disease symptoms, and outbreak reporting procedures was administered before and after the training. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and McNemar’s test to determine statistically significant changes in knowledge.

Results: Post-training scores significantly improved across both locations. In Kwali, correct response rates increased from an average of 42.3% pre-test to 72.8% post-test. Abaji showed similar improvement, with scores rising from 40.5% to 74.1%. McNemar’s test revealed statistically significant knowledge gains (p < 0.05) in 90% of the questions in Kwali and 100% in Abaji. Areas with the most improvement included vaccine-preventable diseases, surveillance components, and symptom recognition. A few knowledge areas, such as cholera and monkeypox symptoms, showed limited gains in Kwali.

Conclusion: CBS training significantly enhanced community members’ knowledge and preparedness for disease surveillance in both Kwali and Abaji. The findings underscore the effectiveness of structured community education in strengthening grassroots public health systems. Continued investment in regular training, supportive supervision and close mentorship is recommended to sustain and deepen these gains.