Evaluation of the early infant diagnosis of HIV surveillance systemin Kpando municipality, Ghana

Abstract Background Early Infant Diagnosis (EID) of HIV is a critical public health intervention aimed at identifying HIV-infected infants early to initiate life-saving antiretroviral therapy (ART). In Ghana, the effectiveness of the EID surveillance system remains under-evaluated. This study therefore evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of the EID surveillance system in Kpando Municipality. Methods A cross-sectional study design with a quantitative approach was adopted. Data were collected from 120 healthcare workers who were purposively selected. Analysis were conducted using Stata version 17, with results presented using descriptive statistics such as frequencies, graphs and percentages. Results The study revealed that more than half of the respondents (53.3%) reported that HIV-exposed infants were not routinely tested, while 61.7% indicated inadequate resources to support EID services. Laboratory facilities were found to be insufficient by 69.2% of respondents, and 76.7% reported a lack of regular maintenance and technical support for EID equipment. Delays were also identified, with 20% of facilities receiving PCR results after five weeks or more. Furthermore, 36.7% of respondents stated that test results were inconsistently communicated to caregivers, and 15% reported delays in ART initiation beyond one week after diagnosis. The main barriers to EID services were lack of equipment and delayed results (48.3%) and poor sample transport with long waiting times (42.5%). Inadequate training and workload were also noted (9.2%). Conclusion The EID surveillance system in Kpando Municipality faces challenges such as poor infrastructure, delayed results, weak communication, and inconsistent follow-up, leading to late diagnosis and treatment of HIV in infants. The study recommends that the Ghana Health Service strengthen infrastructure, train staff, improve sample transportation, and address stigma through community education to enhance system performance.