Challenges and opportunities for improved contact tracing in Ghana: experiences from Coronavirus disease-2019-related contact tracing in the Bono region

Abstract

Background In Ghana, contact tracing received heightened attention in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic during its peak period. Despite the successes achieved, numerous challenges continue to limit the efforts of contact tracing in completely curtailing the effect of the pandemic. Despite these challenges, there are still opportunities that could be harnessed from the COVID-19 contact tracing experience for future eventualities. This study thus identified the challenges and opportunities associated with COVID-19 contact tracing in the Bono Region of Ghana. Methods Using a focus group discussion (FGD) approach, an exploratory qualitative design was conducted in six selected districts of the Bono region of Ghana in this study. The purposeful sampling technique was employed to recruit 39 contact tracers who were grouped into six focus groups. A thematic content analysis approach via ATLAS ti version 9.0 software was used to analyse the data and presented under two broad themes. Results The discussants reported twelve (12) challenges that hindered effective contact tracing in the Bono region. These include inadequate personal protective equipment, harassment by contacts, politicisation of the discourse around the disease, stigmatization, delays in processing test results, poor remuneration and lack of insurance package, inadequate staffing, difficulty in locating contacts, poor quarantine practices, poor education on COVID-19, language barrier and transportation challenges. Opportunities for improving contact tracing include cooperation, awareness creation, leveraging on knowledge gained in contact tracing, and effective emergency plans for future pandemics. Conclusion There is a need for health authorities, particularly in the region, and the state as a whole to address contact tracing-related challenges while simultaneously harnessing the recommended opportunities for improved contact tracing in the future for effective pandemic control.

COVID-19 contact tracing and quarantine policies in the Indo-Pacific Region: A mixed-methods study of experiences of public health professionals

“…Therefore, the high non-response rate that we encountered might introduce bias, potentially affecting representativeness and generalisability. Nevertheless, our findings align with prior research on contact tracing and quarantine procedures, suggesting minimal impact from the high non-response rate [10,14,30]. Third, exclusion of 42 respondents due to missing information or being outside the Indo-Pacific region might have biased our analyses; however, data collected through KIIs helped address this gap and provided critical information on the barriers.…”

“…Online (10) Face-to-face and/or simulation or online (9) No response (64) *People worked in multiple roles. Multiple answers were accepted and therefore, the total number and the % total more than 100.…”

“…These challenges were magnified during the COVID-19 pandemic, wherein many LMICs adopted or attempted to adopt global policies, guidance and norms, developed by global agencies, for example, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). However, our collective field experiences suggested that numerous LMICs encountered challenges contextualising this guidance into policies and practices relevant to their unique circumstances [10,12]. There was an expectation to align policies with those from resource-rich settings or past experiences with other infectious diseases.…”

“…Likewise, quarantine requires space for separation, food and medicine supplies, effective communication, and a trained workforce to manage them. Therefore, the implementation of contact tracing and quarantine can put significant pressure on health systems, especially in low-and middleincome countries (LMICs) or resource-constrained settings [10].…”

From knowledge to action: understanding Ghanaian physicians responses to COVID-19 pandemic threats

“…Despite facing significant challenges, including resource constraints, increased workload, and psychological stress, Ghanaian physicians employed innovative strategies to continue providing quality patient care while safeguarding their health and well-being. 12,13 Moving forward, policymakers, healthcare institutions, and communities must continue to support and prioritize the needs of healthcare workers to ensure a robust response to future public health crises.…”