Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2020 Jun;54(2 Suppl):18-25.
doi: 10.4314/gmj.v54i2s.4.

Evaluation of viral haemorrhagic fever surveillance system with focus on Ebola virus disease, Bawku municipality- Upper East Region, Ghana, 2011-2015

Francis Broni  1 , Joseph O Larbi  1 , Edwin A Afari  1 , Kofi M Nyarko  1 , Donne K Ameme  1 , Ernest Kenu  1
Affiliations

Evaluation of viral haemorrhagic fever surveillance system with focus on Ebola virus disease, Bawku municipality- Upper East Region, Ghana, 2011-2015

Francis Broni et al. Ghana Med J. 2020 Jun.

Abstract

Background: We evaluated the Viral haemorrhagic fever (VHF) surveillance system from 2011 to 2015 in the Bawku Municipality, Upper East region, Ghana to determine whether the goals of the surveillance system are being met and to assess the performance of the system attributes.

Design: Descriptive secondary data analysis.

Setting: Bawku Municipality.

Data source: Review VHF surveillance records, interviewed community-based surveillance volunteers (CBSVs) and reviewed vital events registers. We also assessed the system attributes by reviewing records and interviewing key stakeholders involved in VHF surveillance system with focus on Ebola using checklist and semi structured questionnaire developed based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines.

Main outcome measure: System attributes of the VHF surveillance system.

Results: Population under surveillance was 105,849. The system required detail information about suspected cases. However, it had a simple and clear standard case definitions, and was well integrated with the IDSR. There is a regular and timely flow of information. The system captured 155 suspected cases nationwide from 2011 to 2015 and all tested negative. Of these, Upper East Region reported 10 suspected cases including 4 suspected cases from Bawku Municipality.

Conclusion: The VHF surveillance system achieved its objectives. However, poor data quality, inadequately trained surveillance officers, and inadequate financial support are threats to the effectiveness of the system.

Funding: This work was supported by Ghana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program (GFELTP), University of Ghana.

Keywords: Bawku Municipality; Ghana; Viral haemorrhagic fever; attributes; surveillance system evaluation.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: None declared

Figures

Figure 2
Figure 2
VHF surveillance system information flowchart, Bawku municipality, 2015
Figure 1
Figure 1
Map of Bawku Municipality
Figure 2
Figure 2
Completeness of selected variables for VHF Case based form, Bawku municipal
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. Feldmann H, Geisbert TW. Ebola haemorrhagic fever. The Lancet. 2011;377(9768):849–862. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(10)60667-8. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, author. Ebola (Ebola Virus Disease) Transmission. Atlanta: US CDC; 2018. Retrieved: https://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/transmission/index.html. On: 15 June 2018.
    1. WHO, author. Ebola virus disease fact sheets detail. Geneva: WHO; 2018. Retrieved: http://www.who.int/newsroom/fact-sheets/detail/ebola-virus-disease on: 20 September, 2018.
    1. World Health Organization, author. Ebola and Marburg virus disease epidemics preparedness, alert, control, and evaluation - Ebola-and-Marburg-virus-disease-epidemics-preparedness, -alert, -control,-and-evaluation. (No. WHO/HS E/PED/CED/2014.05) Geneva: WHO; 2014. Accessed: http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/268753/Ebola-and-Mar... on 12 April, 2015.
    1. Boisen ML, Hartnett JN, Goba A, Vandi MA, Grant DS, Schieffelin JS, Branco LM. Epidemiology and Management of the 2013 – 16 West African Ebola Outbreak. Annual Review of Virology. 2016;3:147–171. doi: 10.1146/annurev-virology-110615-040056. - DOI - PMC - PubMed