Methodological Evaluation of Public Health Surveillance Systems in Ghana: A Randomized Field Trial for System Reliability Assessment

Public health surveillance systems are crucial for monitoring infectious diseases in Ghana. However, their reliability can vary due to factors such as data collection methods and reporting processes. A randomized field trial was conducted among healthcare facilities across Ghana. Data on infectious disease cases were collected using standardised forms, and reliability analysis was performed to assess the consistency and accuracy of reported data. In one randomly selected facility, the proportion of accurately reported case notifications was found to be 85%, indicating room for improvement in data collection methods. The findings suggest that while Ghana's public health surveillance systems have a moderate level of reliability, there is potential for enhancement by refining reporting protocols and improving training for healthcare workers. Healthcare facilities should implement standardised reporting forms and conduct regular quality assurance checks to improve the accuracy and consistency of reported data. Public Health Surveillance, Reliability Assessment, Ghana, Randomized Field Trial Treatment effect was estimated with $\text{logit}(p_i)=\beta_0+\beta^\top X_i$, and uncertainty reported using confidence-interval based inference.