Factors influencing the achievement of core acute flaccid paralysis indicators in the Western North Region, Ghana, 2022
Background: In response to polio outbreaks, Ghana enhanced its Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) surveillance system, revising the target for the Non-polio AFP (NP-AFP) rate for children under 15 years from at least 2 to 3 cases per 100,000 population. However, some districts in the Western North Region...
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African Field Epidemiology Network
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://afenet-journal.org/factors-influencing-the-achievement-of-core-acute-flaccid-paralysis-indicators-in-the-western-north-region-ghana-2022/ |
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| author | Obed Bangdome Ofori Joseph Asamoah Frimpong Isaac Baffoe-Nyarko Azumah Abdul-Tawab Horlali Yao Gudjinu Eunice Baiden Laryea Marion Okoh-Owusu Ernest Kenu Dennis Odai Laryea Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe |
| author_facet | Obed Bangdome Ofori Joseph Asamoah Frimpong Isaac Baffoe-Nyarko Azumah Abdul-Tawab Horlali Yao Gudjinu Eunice Baiden Laryea Marion Okoh-Owusu Ernest Kenu Dennis Odai Laryea Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe |
| author_sort | Obed Bangdome Ofori |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: In response to polio outbreaks, Ghana enhanced its Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) surveillance system, revising the target for the Non-polio AFP (NP-AFP) rate for children under 15 years from at least 2 to 3 cases per 100,000 population. However, some districts in the Western North Region (WNR) continue to fall short of achieving both the NP-AFP rate and stool adequacy targets. This study examined factors influencing the achievement of core AFP indicators in the WNR.
Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted from 4th to 31st October 2022 using a multistage sampling technique. Data were collected on demographic characteristics, achievement of NP-AFP rate and stool adequacy targets from January 2019 to June 2022, AFP surveillance knowledge and practices, and availability of resources. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed using Stata to identify factors associated with achievement of the core indicators.
Results: A total of 62 health workers with median age of 34 years (IQR: 29 – 39.75) completed the survey. Only 43.6% (27/62) had worked in facilities that met both core AFP indicators during their period of service. Adequate knowledge of AFP surveillance was demonstrated by just 21.0% (13/62), and 37.1% (23/62) had both good surveillance practices and adequate resources. Notably, access to adequate resources was significantly associated with higher odds of achieving both indicators (aOR = 4.5, 95% CI: 1.1–19.8, p = 0.045), while working in a health centre was associated with significantly lower odds (aOR = 0.05 95% CI: 0.0–0.44, p = 0.007)
Conclusions: Achievement of core AFP surveillance indicators in the WNR remains suboptimal. Inadequate knowledge, poor surveillance practices, insufficient resources and lower level health facilities were major contributors. To strengthen early detection and improve performance, the WNR Health Directorate should prioritize health centers, training and ensure consistent provision of logistics such as vehicles, fuel, stool containers, and specimen carriers. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f2d4ddcfa24d47419e1d613f63edd1a4 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2664-2824 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | African Field Epidemiology Network |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-f2d4ddcfa24d47419e1d613f63edd1a42025-08-20T03:31:11ZengAfrican Field Epidemiology NetworkJournal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health2664-28242025-07-0183https://doi.org/10.37432/jieph.2025.8.3.170Factors influencing the achievement of core acute flaccid paralysis indicators in the Western North Region, Ghana, 2022Obed Bangdome Ofori0Joseph Asamoah Frimpong1Isaac Baffoe-Nyarko2Azumah Abdul-Tawab3Horlali Yao Gudjinu4Eunice Baiden Laryea5Marion Okoh-Owusu6Ernest Kenu7Dennis Odai Laryea8Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe9Disease Surveillance Department, Ghana Health Service, Accra, GhanaGhana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program, University of Ghana, Accra, GhanaDisease Surveillance Department, Ghana Health Service, Accra, GhanaDisease Surveillance Department, Ghana Health Service, Accra, GhanaDisease Surveillance Department, Ghana Health Service, Accra, GhanaGhana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program, University of Ghana, Accra, GhanaWestern North Regional Health Directorate, Ghana Health Service, Bodi, GhanaGhana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana; Department of Epidemiology and Disease Control, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra, GhanaDisease Surveillance Department, Ghana Health Service, Accra, GhanaPublic Health Division, Ghana Health Service, Accra, GhanaBackground: In response to polio outbreaks, Ghana enhanced its Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) surveillance system, revising the target for the Non-polio AFP (NP-AFP) rate for children under 15 years from at least 2 to 3 cases per 100,000 population. However, some districts in the Western North Region (WNR) continue to fall short of achieving both the NP-AFP rate and stool adequacy targets. This study examined factors influencing the achievement of core AFP indicators in the WNR. Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted from 4th to 31st October 2022 using a multistage sampling technique. Data were collected on demographic characteristics, achievement of NP-AFP rate and stool adequacy targets from January 2019 to June 2022, AFP surveillance knowledge and practices, and availability of resources. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed using Stata to identify factors associated with achievement of the core indicators. Results: A total of 62 health workers with median age of 34 years (IQR: 29 – 39.75) completed the survey. Only 43.6% (27/62) had worked in facilities that met both core AFP indicators during their period of service. Adequate knowledge of AFP surveillance was demonstrated by just 21.0% (13/62), and 37.1% (23/62) had both good surveillance practices and adequate resources. Notably, access to adequate resources was significantly associated with higher odds of achieving both indicators (aOR = 4.5, 95% CI: 1.1–19.8, p = 0.045), while working in a health centre was associated with significantly lower odds (aOR = 0.05 95% CI: 0.0–0.44, p = 0.007) Conclusions: Achievement of core AFP surveillance indicators in the WNR remains suboptimal. Inadequate knowledge, poor surveillance practices, insufficient resources and lower level health facilities were major contributors. To strengthen early detection and improve performance, the WNR Health Directorate should prioritize health centers, training and ensure consistent provision of logistics such as vehicles, fuel, stool containers, and specimen carriers.https://afenet-journal.org/factors-influencing-the-achievement-of-core-acute-flaccid-paralysis-indicators-in-the-western-north-region-ghana-2022/acute flaccid paralysispoliomyelitisghana |
| spellingShingle | Obed Bangdome Ofori Joseph Asamoah Frimpong Isaac Baffoe-Nyarko Azumah Abdul-Tawab Horlali Yao Gudjinu Eunice Baiden Laryea Marion Okoh-Owusu Ernest Kenu Dennis Odai Laryea Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe Factors influencing the achievement of core acute flaccid paralysis indicators in the Western North Region, Ghana, 2022 Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health acute flaccid paralysis poliomyelitis ghana |
| title | Factors influencing the achievement of core acute flaccid paralysis indicators in the Western North Region, Ghana, 2022 |
| title_full | Factors influencing the achievement of core acute flaccid paralysis indicators in the Western North Region, Ghana, 2022 |
| title_fullStr | Factors influencing the achievement of core acute flaccid paralysis indicators in the Western North Region, Ghana, 2022 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Factors influencing the achievement of core acute flaccid paralysis indicators in the Western North Region, Ghana, 2022 |
| title_short | Factors influencing the achievement of core acute flaccid paralysis indicators in the Western North Region, Ghana, 2022 |
| title_sort | factors influencing the achievement of core acute flaccid paralysis indicators in the western north region ghana 2022 |
| topic | acute flaccid paralysis poliomyelitis ghana |
| url | https://afenet-journal.org/factors-influencing-the-achievement-of-core-acute-flaccid-paralysis-indicators-in-the-western-north-region-ghana-2022/ |
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