Epidemiological surveillance of measles in Morocco, 2024: Knowledge, attitudes and practices of health professionals in the province of Essaouira

Background & Aim: To effectively and appropriately monitor significant public health risks, measles surveillance systems need to be reviewed on a regular basis. The goal of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of health professionals in the province of Essaouira regarding the epidemiological surveillance of the measles.

Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study of health professionals was conducted in March 2024.with a sample size of 41 health professionals that oversaw epidemiological monitoring, including nurses (85.4%), doctors (9.8%), and midwives (4.9%). The study adopted a convenience sample strategy and utilized a self-administered questionnaire.

Results: Clinical knowledge of measles is unknown by 34.1% of participants. Only 51.2% are aware that the disease is not itchy and 58.5% recognize that the lesions are descending. Of the professionals surveyed, 34.1% think that cases that are suspected of having the measles should be reported, while 56.1% think that only confirmed cases should be reported. 92.7% of participants have never had extra training in epidemiological surveillance, and 43.9% of participants have never used the measles monitoring system. From a support perspective, 70.7% are familiar with the use of the notification sheet, while 24.4% are unsure about the use of this support.

Conclusion: Significant gaps in the professional skills that healthcare practitioners have learned in measles surveillance are highlighted by the study.  It is advised to enhance ongoing education and health professionals understanding of epidemiological surveillance techniques.