Towards global elimination of Trachoma: An evaluation of Trachoma surveillance system, Wa East District, Ghana

Introduction: Trachoma is leading cause of preventable blindness globally with the highest prevalence in Africa (85% of global cases). In Ghana, Upper West and Northern Regions are endemic for trachoma. Ghana has made significant strides toward the global elimination of trachoma (GET) 2020 target an...

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Main Authors: Ernest Akyereko, Donne Kofi Ameme, Edwin Andrew Afari, Kofi Mensah Nyarko, Samuel Sackey, Delia Akosua Benewah Bandoh, Ernest Kenu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: African Field Epidemiology Network 2022-12-01
Series:Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health
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Online Access:https://www.afenet-journal.net/content/article/5/24/full/
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author Ernest Akyereko
Donne Kofi Ameme
Edwin Andrew Afari
Kofi Mensah Nyarko
Samuel Sackey
Delia Akosua Benewah Bandoh
Ernest Kenu
author_facet Ernest Akyereko
Donne Kofi Ameme
Edwin Andrew Afari
Kofi Mensah Nyarko
Samuel Sackey
Delia Akosua Benewah Bandoh
Ernest Kenu
author_sort Ernest Akyereko
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Trachoma is leading cause of preventable blindness globally with the highest prevalence in Africa (85% of global cases). In Ghana, Upper West and Northern Regions are endemic for trachoma. Ghana has made significant strides toward the global elimination of trachoma (GET) 2020 target and reported to have reached the initial elimination thresholds of 5.0% for trachomatous inflammation-follicular (TF) among children 1 to 9-years old. We evaluated the Trachoma surveillance system in the Wa East district in Upper West region to determine its performance, usefulness and assess the system attributes. Methods: We used Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Updated Guidelines for surveillance system evaluation. We identified and interviewed key stakeholders using semi-structured questionnaire. We abstracted, analyzed 2010-2014 trachoma surveillance data and presented the results in tables and graph. Results: A total of 2,911 cases were recorded in Ghana with 232(8.1%) from Upper West region. Wa East district also recorded 3 cases in 2011 and 1 case in 2013 in the IDSR. Surveillance forms were easy to fill and the case definitions were well understood by participants. The system was sensitive to the detection of cases and was found to be useful as it was still detecting cases at all levels. All 18 health facilities reported to the surveillance system. Some discrepancies in data between the different datasets (OPD, IDSR and community screening) were identified. Conclusion: The trachoma surveillance system is simple, useful, sensitive, and partially meeting its objectives. However, data quality needs improvement.
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publishDate 2022-12-01
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spelling doaj-art-5aee11b3a2104bf3869e82e04c4fae2d2025-08-20T03:08:53ZengAfrican Field Epidemiology NetworkJournal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health2664-28242022-12-0154https://doi.org/10.37432/jieph.2022.5.4.72Towards global elimination of Trachoma: An evaluation of Trachoma surveillance system, Wa East District, GhanaErnest Akyereko0Donne Kofi Ameme1Edwin Andrew Afari2Kofi Mensah Nyarko3Samuel Sackey4Delia Akosua Benewah Bandoh5Ernest Kenu6Ghana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program, Department of Epidemiology and Disease Control, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra; Disease Surveillance Department, Ghana Health Service, AccraGhana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program, Department of Epidemiology and Disease Control, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, AccraGhana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program, Department of Epidemiology and Disease Control, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, AccraGhana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program, Department of Epidemiology and Disease Control, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, AccraGhana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program, Department of Epidemiology and Disease Control, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, AccraGhana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program, Department of Epidemiology and Disease Control, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, AccraGhana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program, Department of Epidemiology and Disease Control, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, AccraIntroduction: Trachoma is leading cause of preventable blindness globally with the highest prevalence in Africa (85% of global cases). In Ghana, Upper West and Northern Regions are endemic for trachoma. Ghana has made significant strides toward the global elimination of trachoma (GET) 2020 target and reported to have reached the initial elimination thresholds of 5.0% for trachomatous inflammation-follicular (TF) among children 1 to 9-years old. We evaluated the Trachoma surveillance system in the Wa East district in Upper West region to determine its performance, usefulness and assess the system attributes. Methods: We used Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Updated Guidelines for surveillance system evaluation. We identified and interviewed key stakeholders using semi-structured questionnaire. We abstracted, analyzed 2010-2014 trachoma surveillance data and presented the results in tables and graph. Results: A total of 2,911 cases were recorded in Ghana with 232(8.1%) from Upper West region. Wa East district also recorded 3 cases in 2011 and 1 case in 2013 in the IDSR. Surveillance forms were easy to fill and the case definitions were well understood by participants. The system was sensitive to the detection of cases and was found to be useful as it was still detecting cases at all levels. All 18 health facilities reported to the surveillance system. Some discrepancies in data between the different datasets (OPD, IDSR and community screening) were identified. Conclusion: The trachoma surveillance system is simple, useful, sensitive, and partially meeting its objectives. However, data quality needs improvement.https://www.afenet-journal.net/content/article/5/24/full/trachoma eliminationsurveillance systemwa east districtupper west region
spellingShingle Ernest Akyereko
Donne Kofi Ameme
Edwin Andrew Afari
Kofi Mensah Nyarko
Samuel Sackey
Delia Akosua Benewah Bandoh
Ernest Kenu
Towards global elimination of Trachoma: An evaluation of Trachoma surveillance system, Wa East District, Ghana
Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health
trachoma elimination
surveillance system
wa east district
upper west region
title Towards global elimination of Trachoma: An evaluation of Trachoma surveillance system, Wa East District, Ghana
title_full Towards global elimination of Trachoma: An evaluation of Trachoma surveillance system, Wa East District, Ghana
title_fullStr Towards global elimination of Trachoma: An evaluation of Trachoma surveillance system, Wa East District, Ghana
title_full_unstemmed Towards global elimination of Trachoma: An evaluation of Trachoma surveillance system, Wa East District, Ghana
title_short Towards global elimination of Trachoma: An evaluation of Trachoma surveillance system, Wa East District, Ghana
title_sort towards global elimination of trachoma an evaluation of trachoma surveillance system wa east district ghana
topic trachoma elimination
surveillance system
wa east district
upper west region
url https://www.afenet-journal.net/content/article/5/24/full/
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