Conference Abstract | Volume 9 (ConfPro8): Abstract 70 | Published: 10 Oct 2026
1University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana
&Corresponding author: Athony Dongdem, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho.
Email: dongdem@uhas.edu.gh
Received: 11 Mar 2026, Accepted: 30 Aug 2026, Published: 10 Oct 2026
Domain: Non-Communicable Disease Epidemiology
Keywords: Diabetes mellitus, diabetes surveillance, public health surveillance, data quality, Ketu South Municipality
©Rejoice Afi Ocloo 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: Rejoice Afi Ocloo et al., Evaluation of the diabetes surveillance system in Ketu South Municipality, Ghana: Implications for strengthening diabetes monitoring and prevention. Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health. 2026;9(ConfPro8):70. https://doi.org/10.37432/JIEPH-CONFPRO8-0070
Diabetes mellitus is a growing public health challenge in Ghana, with an estimated national prevalence of 6.5%. Effective surveillance systems are essential for monitoring disease trends, informing prevention strategies, and guiding resource allocation. This study evaluated the performance, attributes, and usefulness of the diabetes surveillance system in Ketu South Municipality, Ghana.
A mixed-methods cross-sectional evaluation was conducted between January and September 2025 using the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Updated Guidelines for Evaluating Public Health Surveillance Systems. Surveillance data from 2020 to 2024 were retrospectively reviewed using DHIMS2 and health facility registers. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 surveillance stakeholders across 12 health facilities to assess key surveillance attributes. Quantitative data were analyzed using Stata version 17, while qualitative findings were analyzed thematically.
Between 2020 and 2024, the surveillance system recorded 4,353 suspected diabetes cases, of which 4,145 (95.2%) were confirmed. Reporting timeliness was 100% (48/48 monthly reports submitted on schedule through DHIMS2). The system was considered simple, acceptable, and sensitive by stakeholders and effectively monitored diabetes trends within the municipality. However, system stability was affected by recurrent reagent stock-outs, intermittent power outages, and electronic reporting downtime. Data quality was moderate, with approximately 10% of reporting fields containing incomplete or unknown information.
The diabetes surveillance system in Ketu South Municipality provides timely and reliable information for monitoring diabetes and supporting public health decision-making. However, improvements in data quality and operational stability are needed to maximize its effectiveness. Strengthening workforce capacity, standardizing case definitions, improving reporting tools, and ensuring uninterrupted logistics and infrastructure could enhance surveillance performance and support evidence-based diabetes prevention and control in Ghana and other resource-limited settings.
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