Conference Abstract | Volume 9 (ConfPro8): Abstract 49 | Published: 08 Oct 2026
1Ghana Health Service, Jirapa Municipal Health Directorate, Jirapa, Upper West Region, Ghana, 2Ghana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme, Accra, Ghana
&Corresponding author: Adu Isaac Kwasi, Ghana Health Service, Jirapa Municipal Health Directorate, Jirapa, Upper West Region, Ghana, Email: isaaca1adu@gmail.com
Received: 11 Mar 2026, Accepted: 30 Aug 2026, Published: 08 Oct 2026
Domain: Infectious Disease Epidemiology
Keywords: Surveillance; Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response; Non-focal healthcare staff; Problem analysis; Jirapa Municipality
©Adu Isaac Kwasi 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: Adu Isaac Kwasi et al et al,. Inadequate knowledge and interest in surveillance activities among non-focal healthcare staff in the Jirapa Municipality, Upper West Region, Ghana, 2026. Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health. 2026;9(ConfPro8):49. https://doi.org/10.37432/JIEPH-CONFPRO8-0049
Surveillance is an essential early-warning mechanism for detecting and responding to outbreaks. The Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) approach depends on active participation of frontline healthcare workers. However, excessive reliance on designated surveillance focal persons may limit the knowledge and engagement of other healthcare staff.
A descriptive cross-sectional problem analysis was conducted from May to June 2026 among non-focal healthcare staff at sub-district health facilities in the Jirapa Municipality. Brainstorming and key informant interviews were used to explore factors contributing to inadequate knowledge and interest in surveillance activities. Data were analysed using the 5-Why iterative analysis process and fishbone analysis. Identified root causes were classified according to locus of control as Total Control (T), Partial Control (P), or Not Under Control (N).
Among 64 respondents, Community Health Nurses (40.6%) and Enrolled Nurses (28.1%) constituted the largest professional groups, while 53.1% worked at CHPS compounds. Forty-four (68.7%) respondents had not received surveillance training within the previous two years. Fishbone analysis identified contributing factors across six dimensions, including reliance on a single surveillance focal person, a perception among some clinical staff that surveillance was “not my responsibility,” inadequate availability of simple paper-based reporting tools, complexity of electronic reporting systems, and inadequate feedback from the district level. The critical root cause identified was inadequate capacity-building and supportive supervision of non-focal healthcare staff.
Inadequate knowledge and interest in surveillance among non-focal healthcare staff appear to reflect health-system and operational weaknesses rather than individual negligence. Strengthening capacity-building and supportive supervision, reducing reliance on focal persons, integrating surveillance into routine clinical performance monitoring, and implementing brief, regular “micro-trainings” may improve participation in surveillance activities.
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