Conference Abstract | Volume 9 (ConfPro8): Abstract 56 | Published: 08 Oct 2026
Sussan Akorfa Dzorgbedor1,&, Anthony Zunuo Dongdem1, Joyce Berkumwin Der1
1F. N. Binka School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Hohoe, Ghana
&Corresponding author: Sussan Akorfa Dzorgbedor; F. N. Binka School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Hohoe, Email: sussanakorfa22@gmail.com, ORCID: https://orcid.org/h0009-0000-9467-859X
Received: 11 Mar 202, Accepted: 30 Aug 2026, Published: 08 Oct 2026
Domain: Infectious Disease Epidemiology
Keywords: Typhoid fever, surveillance, Guan, Oti, Ghana
©Sussan Akorfa Dzorgbedor et al Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health (ISSN: 2664-2824). This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution International 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Cite this article: Sussan Akorfa Dzorgbedor et al., Evaluation of the typhoid fever surveillance system in Guan District, Oti Region, Ghana, 2020–2024. Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health. 2026;9(ConfPro8):56. https://doi.org/10.37432/JIEPH-CONFPRO8-0056
Typhoid fever remains a major public health concern in low- and middle-income countries, including Ghana, where inadequate WASH infrastructure sustains transmission. Reported typhoid fever cases have increased in the Oti Region, raising concerns about surveillance system performance. However, evidence on the performance of the typhoid fever surveillance system in Guan District is limited. This evaluation assessed the performance of the typhoid fever surveillance system in Guan District, Oti Region.
A descriptive cross-sectional design using the updated CDC guideline was employed. Key stakeholders at various levels of the typhoid fever surveillance system were purposively selected for interviews using structured questionnaires. Secondary surveillance data for the period 2020–2024 were extracted from DHIMS2, and records were reviewed. Surveillance system attributes were assessed using predefined indicators and scored according to established criteria. Attribute performance was classified as Poor (<20%), Fair (20-40%), Good (41-60%), Very Good (61-80%), or Excellent (81-100%) based on the proportion of indicators meeting predefined criteria. Data were analysed using frequencies and proportions and presented in tables and graphs.
Twenty key stakeholders were interviewed. Between 2020 and 2024, 1,114 suspected typhoid fever cases were reported in Guan District through DHIMS2. However, none were laboratory-confirmed by the isolation of Salmonella spp. While the surveillance system demonstrated high acceptability (95%), flexibility (95%), and simplicity (70%), performance was comparatively weaker in timeliness (60%), stability (50%), usefulness (40%), achievement of system objectives (35%), and generally poor data quality.
The typhoid fever surveillance system in Guan district only partially met its objectives. Despite sustained reporting of suspected cases, the absence of culture-confirmed cases limits data validity and confidence in disease burden estimates. Low stability and poor data quality further weaken system performance. Strengthening laboratory culture capacity and investing in surveillance resources are essential to improve surveillance effectiveness and support evidence-based public health action.
Menu