Conference Abstract | Volume 9, Abstract 036 (ConfProc7) | Published: 04 May 2026
Clement Asi Baffour1,2,&, George Akowuah2, Paulina Clara Appiah1, Kingsley Osei-Kwakye1, Owusu Gyan1, Samuel Sackey2, Ernest Kenu2
1Ghana Health Service, Western North Region, Ghana, 2Ghana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme, University of Ghana School of Public Health, Accra, Ghana
&Corresponding author: Clement Asi Baffour, Ghana Health Service, Western North Region, Ghana Email: baffourclement80@gmail.com ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-4353-3315
Received: 19 Jul 2025, Accepted: 28 Oct 2025, Published: 04 May 2026
Domain: Infectious Disease Epidemiology
Keywords: Measles, Surveillance, System evaluation, Western North Region
©Clement Asi Baffour 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: Clement Asi Baffour et al. Evaluation of Measles Surveillance System, Western North Region, 2025. Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health. 2026;9(ConfProc7):036. https://doi.org/10.37432/JIEPH-CONFPRO7-0036
Global reported measles cases is on the increase. Western North Region confirmed four cases in 2023 in the midst of decreasing measles vaccination coverage in the region. Evaluating the measles surveillance system in the region would ensure reduction in morbidity and mortality of measles. The evaluation was conducted to determine whether the system was meeting its objectives, assess its performance, its attributes, and determine its usefulness.
Descriptive cross-sectional study using CDC updated guideline for evaluating surveillance systems was used. Measles surveillance data from 2020 to 2024 was reviewed whilst stakeholders were interviewed using semi-structured questionnaire. Quantitative data was analyzed and presented as tables, graphs and charts while thematic analysis was done for qualitative data.
The system reported 394 measles cases from 2020 to 2024 with 14 laboratories confirmed. Knowledge on appropriate channel of reporting and flow of information was 97.1% (33/34). Ability to identify the appropriate reporting forms was 47.1% (16/34). Completion of measles case investigation forms was 100%. No reliable funds for measles surveillance activities in all nine health facilities visited. Measles case definition was flexible and helped to identify other disease. Investigation on all reported cases were initiated within 24 hours. Positive Predictive Value was 4.7% (14/394). Reporting rate for weekly IDSR reports was 99% (299/302). Suspected measles cases entered in SORMAS was 320 cases but 394 cases in source document. There was no decision made as a result of the surveillance data.
The measles surveillance system met its objectives of suspecting and confirming measles cases. The system was sensitive, acceptable, and flexible, but had poor data quality. The system was partially simple, stable and useful. Deputy Director of Public Health for the region should solicit for support to fund Measles Surveillance activities. The Regional Surveillance Officer should regularly validate Measles Surveillance data to avoid data inconsistencies.
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