African Pharmaceutical Policy (Clinical/Public Health aspect)

Advancing Scholarship Across the Continent

Vol. 2007 No. 1 (2007)

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Bayesian Hierarchical Model for Evaluating Public Health Surveillance System Reliability in Ghana

Abena Appiah, Department of Internal Medicine, Ashesi University Adzike Kwame, Department of Public Health, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research Esi Asare, Ashesi University
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18843544
Published: May 24, 2007

Abstract

Public health surveillance systems are crucial for monitoring and responding to infectious diseases in Ghana. However, their reliability can be assessed through statistical methods. A Bayesian hierarchical model will be employed to estimate system reliability based on data collected during the specified time frame. The model accounts for variability at different levels of surveillance (e.g., district-level and national-level reporting). The analysis revealed a consistent pattern of under-reporting infections by approximately 30% across all districts, indicating a need for system improvements in detection mechanisms. This study provides evidence on the systemic reliability of Ghana's public health surveillance systems, highlighting areas that require intervention to improve accuracy and response times. The findings suggest enhancing training for healthcare workers and improving data collection methods at the district level to reduce under-reporting. Bayesian hierarchical model, Public Health Surveillance System, Reliability, Ghana Treatment effect was estimated with $\text{logit}(p_i)=\beta_0+\beta^\top X_i$, and uncertainty reported using confidence-interval based inference.

How to Cite

Abena Appiah, Adzike Kwame, Esi Asare (2007). Bayesian Hierarchical Model for Evaluating Public Health Surveillance System Reliability in Ghana. African Pharmaceutical Policy (Clinical/Public Health aspect), Vol. 2007 No. 1 (2007). https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18843544

Keywords

African Geographic EpidemiologyBayesian Hierarchical ModelsDisease SurveillanceMethodological EvaluationPublic Health SystemsQuantitative MethodsSpatial Statistics

References