Measles incidence and measles-containing vaccine coverage in Chereponi District, Ghana, 2019-2024: A retrospective analysis of routine surveillance and immunization data.

OBJECTIVES

To describe temporal patterns in measles occurrence and measles-containing vaccine (MCV) coverage in Chereponi District, Ghana, from 2019 to 2024.

METHODS

A retrospective descriptive study analysed routine SORMAS and DHIMS2 data from 2019 to 2024. Annual suspected and laboratory-confirmed measles incidence, MCV1 and MCV2 coverage, and MCV1-MCV2 dropout were summarized descriptively.

RESULTS

During 2019-2024, 167 suspected measles cases were reported through district surveillance, of which 31 (18.6%) were laboratory-confirmed. Children aged 0-4 years accounted for 66.9% of suspected cases with recorded age, while 5-9-year-olds accounted for 23.4%. Suspected notifications peaked in 2022, whereas laboratory-confirmed incidence was highest in 2023. MCV1 reached 95% only in 2020, while MCV2 remained below 90% in four of six years. MCV1-MCV2 dropout exceeded 10% in four years and declined to 8.6% in 2024.

CONCLUSION

Chereponi experienced substantial year-to-year variation in measles occurrence amid inconsistent two-dose MCV coverage and periods of high dropout. Strengthening routine immunization, defaulter tracing, outreach, denominator validation, and case-based surveillance remains essential for measles elimination.