gms | German Medical Science

Research question: Ghana confirmed its first cases of COVID-19 on March 12, 2020. As in other countries, a number of control measures were initiated, including contact tracing and enforcement of lockdowns. Despite the rollout of these measures, the country cumulatively had the 3^rd highest number of COVID-19 related deaths in West Africa by February 2022. Understanding the distribution of mortality from COVID-19 is therefore necessary in order to contextualize and explain the country’s COVID-19 burden and is necessary for informing the development and implementation of effective control measures. This study thus seeks to answer the following questions: What is the geographical distribution of COVID-19 deaths in Ghana? What is the age and sex distribution of these deaths? Are COVID-19 deaths associated with pre-existing medical conditions?

Methods: A cross sectional design was adopted for this study. Descriptive analyses of secondary data sourced from the National Disease Surveillance Department of the Ghana Health Service’s Public Health Division were carried out. Data on COVID-19 cases and related deaths recorded in Ghana between 12 March 2020 and end February 2022 was used in the study. Demographic and clinical variables of cases were extracted from the data set, including age, sex, residence, pre-existing medical condition and date of death. STATA 16, QGIS and Microsoft Excel statistical packages were used for quantitative and spatial analyses. Univariate analysis was carried out for continuous and categorical variables and results presented in tables, graphs and choropleth maps to characterize the epidemiological features of the COVID-19 deaths.

Results: As at the end of February 2022, a total of 1,398 deaths were recorded and included in the analyses. COVID-19 deaths were observed to rise between June – October 2020 and November – February 2021. The Greater-Accra and Ashanti regions recorded the highest case and death counts. The Bono region recorded the highest deaths per 100,000 cases. The mean age of death was 58 years with the proportion of deaths higher in males. Persons aged 60 years and above experienced the most deaths. Eighty three percent of deaths had underlying medical conditions. Cardiovascular diseases formed the predominant category of underlying medical condition associated with COVID-19 deaths.

Discussion: Similar to findings from other countries, this study demonstrated that COVID-19 deaths in Ghana were highest amongst the elderly (>60 years) and persons with underlying medical conditions. As part of future pandemic or epidemic response measures, there is a need to target these groups with strategic case management approaches to save lives. The findings as well highlight the need to conduct in-depth analyses by sex, age, and important socioeconomic and clinical variables in order to inform the design and implementation of targeted public health interventions.