ArticlePloS one2024
Reduction in diarrhea cases following implementation of COVID-19 hand hygiene interventions in Ghana: A causal impact analysis.
Article in PloS one, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.
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Who cites it
7 citing papers in PubMed.
- Burden of diarrhoeal diseases among hospitalised patients in Thailand: a retrospective national database analysis (2014-2022).The Lancet regional health. Southeast Asia · 2026Article
- Critical Evaluation of the Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Child Health and Wellbeing and Suggested Preparedness for Future Pandemics-A Narrative Review.Health science reports · 2026Article
- Viral diarrhea in Ghana: a scoping review of disease burden, epidemiology, and control strategies.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and typhoid conjugate vaccine introduction on typhoid fever in Nepal.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2026Article
- Acute gastroenteritis in Trinidad and Tobago: identifying trend by season, geography, and demographics from 2006 to 2023.IJID regions · 2025Review
- Global trends, age-period-cohort analysis, and future projections of diarrhea burden: Findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021.Biosafety and health · 2025Article
- The GBD 2021 perspective: COVID-19's impact on diarrheal mortality and etiological trends, 1990-2021.Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology · 2025Article
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10 authors.
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No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe human hand has constant contact with the environment, hence requires regular hand hygiene. Hand hygiene has gained recognition because of the COVID-19 pandemic and is a largely effective, affordable preventive measure against infectious diseases. This study used both national and sub-national analyses to evaluate the effect of COVID-19 handwashing guidelines on instances of diarrhea in Ghana.
methodsData on diarrhea cases spanning February 2018 and March 2022 were retrieved from the District Health Information Management System (DHIMS 2) using a data extraction guide. The data were summarized using descriptive statistics. The difference in diarrhea cases between the pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19 periods was measured using a two-sample t-test across Ghana's 16 administrative areas. Causal Impact package in R statistical software was employed to determine the impact of the introduction of COVID-19 hand hygiene protocols on diarrheal disease.
resultsA total of 5,645,533 diarrheal cases reported between February 2018 and March 2022 through the routine MIS (DHIMS2) were examined. Fifty-three percent of the cases occurred before the introduction of the hand hygiene protocol. Descriptive statistics indicated a statistically significant decrease in average diarrheal cases during the hand hygiene implementation era (13,463 cases reduction, p<0.001). Sub-national analyses revealed significant reductions in various regions: Greater Accra, Ashanti, Ahafo, Central, Eastern, Northern, Upper East, Upper West, and Volta (p<0.05). Causal impact analysis confirmed 11.0% nationwide reduction in diarrheal cases attributed to the COVID-19 hand hygiene protocols (p<0.001).
conclusionThis study underscores the effectiveness of COVID-19 hand hygiene protocols in reducing diarrheal morbidity in Ghana, with varying regional impacts. These findings advocate for the sustenance of investments and commitments made at the COVID hand hygiene protocols, particularly in this era where the pandemic appears controlled.
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