Conference Abstract | Volume 9 (ConfPro8): Abstract 89 | Published: 11 Oct 2026
Ambrose Bodi Yonye1,& Samuel Dapaa2, Magdalene Akos Odikro2, Genevieve Yiripare1, Samuel Oko Sackey2
1Daffiama Bussie Issa District of Ghana Health Service, Ghana; 2Ghana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme, Accra, Ghana
&Corresponding author: Ambrose Bodi Yonye, Daffiama Bussie Issa District of Ghana Health Service, Ghana, Email: ayonyeb2@gmail.com
Received: 11 Mar 2026, Accepted: 30 Aug 2026, Published: 11 Oct 2026
Domain: Infectious Disease Epidemiology
Keywords: SORMAS, electronic disease surveillance, timeliness, completeness, Upper West – Ghana
©Ambrose Bodi Yonye 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: Ambrose Bodi Yonye et al., SORMAS in practice: Assessing utilization and implementation gaps in electronic disease surveillance in the Daffiama-Bussie-Issa District of the Upper West Region of Ghana, 2026. Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health. 2026;9(ConfPro8):89. https://doi.org/10.37432/JIEPH-CONFPRO8-0089
The Surveillance Outbreak Response Management and Analysis System (SORMAS) is Ghana’s primary electronic platform for real-time disease surveillance and outbreak management. Since its implementation, data quality challenges continue to undermine its capacity to support early warning and rapid public health response. This study assessed SORMAS data utilization and quality in practice in the Daffiama-Bussie-Issa District.
A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the Daffiama-Bussie-Issa District from March to June 2026. Surveillance focal persons and public health staff were interviewed using structured questionnaires and checklists deployed electronically in KoboCollect. SORMAS data were extracted using a standardized form. Surveillance records and SORMAS case data were reviewed to assess utilization, timeliness, completeness, and laboratory results documentation. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and the qualitative data were explored using a SWOT framework.
Of 15 respondents, Disease Control staff constituted 66.7% (10/15), with a mean work experience of 9 years. All (100%) cases of epidemic-prone diseases detected were entered in SORMAS. Timeliness of case notification and entry was 86.0%, while completeness of required data fields averaged 76.0%. Laboratory result documentation had 61.0% of records missing. Missing, delayed, or incomplete data entry was identified. Additional weaknesses included inadequate data verification and delayed updating of case records. Key strengths included dedicated surveillance personnel, supportive supervision, and routine feedback mechanisms.
Although SORMAS has achieved complete reporting of epidemic-prone diseases in the district, gaps in timeliness, data completeness, and laboratory result documentation limit its effectiveness for real-time public health action. Strengthening data quality assurance systems, improving capacity for case updates with SORMAS system functionality, and enhancing accountability for laboratory result entry will improve surveillance intelligence, outbreak preparedness, and evidence-based decision-making.
Menu