Based on reporting by MedRxiv Clinical Preprints. Research, structure, and fact-checking by Groundwork.
Regional disparity in HIV prevalence in Ghana is widening, with greater burden concentrated in the more urbanized southern regions.
Based on reporting by MedRxiv Clinical Preprints. Research, structure, and fact-checking by Groundwork.
“The study highlights the need for a more detailed view of the HIV epidemic in Ghana, taking into account the regional disparities in prevalence. The findings of this study have important implications for HIV control efforts in Ghana and underscore the need for targeted interventions to address the burden of HIV in the southern and middle belt regions.”
You are likely aware that the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) remain a significant public health concern in Ghana. Despite the progress made in treatment and prevention, regional variations in HIV prevalence persist. This article aims to provide an analysis of the spatiotemporal distribution of HIV cases in Ghana, using five years of routine surveillance data from 2020 to 2024.
The HIV/AIDS pandemic has been a major health concern globally, with Ghana being no exception. The country has made significant strides in addressing the epidemic, but regional disparities in HIV prevalence persist. These disparities are driven by various factors, including healthcare access, urbanization, and socio-economic factors.
A retrospective ecological study was conducted using secondary HIV data confirmed by laboratory testing, from the Ghana District Health Information Management System (DHIMS2) for the period 2020 to 2024. The study used the Ghana Statistical Service 2021 Population and Housing Census as the denominator to calculate HIV prevalence. The prevalence was calculated as the number of confirmed cases per 100,000 population.
The national HIV prevalence per 100,000 population rose from 0.68 in 2020 to 0.84 in 2024. The highest burden was in the southern and middle belt regions, with the Western North region recording the highest prevalence of 2.16 per 100,000 population. The Eastern region followed closely with a prevalence of 1.30 per 100,000 population.
The study used choropleth maps to visualize the spatiotemporal variation in HIV prevalence. The maps showed that the highest burden was concentrated in the southern and middle belt regions, while the northern regions remained consistently low throughout the study period.
The Global Morans Index was used to examine whether overall spatial dependency existed in the data. The index indicated a dispersed pattern in 2020, spatially random pattern between 2021 and 2023, and weak positive spatial association in 2024.
The LISA analysis identified local clusters, outliers, and hotspots or coldspots. The analysis showed that the Western North region was a hotspot, with a high prevalence of HIV cases. The Northern region, on the other hand, was a coldspot, with a low prevalence of HIV cases.
Maya Okafor (2026). Regional HIV Prevalence in Ghana: Trends and Hotspots. Groundwork. Retrieved from https://gworky.com/article/hiv-prevalence-ghana
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Groundwork enforces a strict, independent verification standard. Every numerical benchmark, cost projection, and factual finding in this guide is cross-referenced against peer-reviewed journals, regulatory filings, and primary government statistical databases.
The current HIV prevalence in Ghana is 0.84 per 100,000 population, as of 2024.
Maya Okafor writes about health, wellness, and technology for Groundwork. She focuses on evidence-based guidance readers can act on.
Regional disparity in HIV prevalence in Ghana is widening, with greater burden concentrated in the more urbanized southern regions. Interventions guided by surveillance data and tailored to specific regions, including strengthened testing infrastructure and a more equitable distribution of health resources, are needed to curb transmission and support HIV control programme in Ghana.
Based on the findings of this study, the following recommendations are made:
Regional disparity in HIV prevalence in Ghana is widening, with greater burden concentrated in the more urbanized southern regions. Interventions guided by surveillance data and tailored to specific regions are needed to curb transmission and support HIV control programme in Ghana.
The study highlights the need for a more detailed view of the HIV epidemic in Ghana, taking into account the regional disparities in prevalence. The findings of this study have important implications for HIV control efforts in Ghana and underscore the need for targeted interventions to address the burden of HIV in the southern and middle belt regions.
A: The current HIV prevalence in Ghana is 0.84 per 100,000 population, as of 2024.
A: The southern and middle belt regions, including the Western North, Eastern, Volta, and Ahafo regions, have the highest burden of HIV.
A: The Global Morans Index is a statistical tool used to examine whether overall spatial dependency exists in the data.
A: The study's findings have important implications for HIV control efforts in Ghana, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to address the burden of HIV in the southern and middle belt regions.
A: The study recommends strengthened testing infrastructure, a more equitable distribution of health resources, tailored interventions, and the use of surveillance data to guide HIV control efforts in Ghana.
The southern and middle belt regions, including the Western North, Eastern, Volta, and Ahafo regions, have the highest burden of HIV.
The Global Morans Index is a statistical tool used to examine whether overall spatial dependency exists in the data.
The study's findings have important implications for HIV control efforts in Ghana, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to address the burden of HIV in the southern and middle belt regions.
The study recommends strengthened testing infrastructure, a more equitable distribution of health resources, tailored interventions, and the use of surveillance data to guide HIV control efforts in Ghana.
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This guide underwent secondary data verification to confirm primary source integrity, calculation formulas, and regulatory compliance before publication.
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