What does this research mean for the field?

Skin conditions, malaria, and respiratory illnesses constitute the vast majority of the disease burden among school-aged children in a primary care setting in Ghana, with this pattern remaining consistent across age and sex subgroups. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To describe the 5-year morbidity profile and assess associated demographic factors among school-aged children presenting to a primary care facility.

August 16, 2026Public Health ChallengesOpen Access

A 5‐Year Retrospective Morbidity Profile of School‐Aged Children at Ho Polyclinic, Volta Region, Ghana: Skin Conditions, Malaria, and Respiratory Illnesses as Leading Causes (2018–2022)

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Authors

AEAnthoinette Adesope Ekuban FBFrank Baiden

Discussion

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Overview

Retrospective study identifies skin diseases, malaria, and respiratory infections as leading causes of illness in school-aged children, highlighting the need for targeted school health programs.

Key Points

To describe the 5-year morbidity profile and assess associated demographic factors among school-aged children presenting to a primary care facility.
Conducted a retrospective review of outpatient consultation records from January 2018 to December 2022 at Ho Polyclinic in Ghana (N=10,428 consultations, ages 5–17 years).
Calculated diagnostic frequencies and performed chi-square tests to evaluate associations between demographic variables (age group, sex) and the three leading diagnostic categories.
Skin conditions (38.3%), malaria (23.0%), and respiratory conditions (16.1%) accounted for 77.4% of all outpatient diagnoses across the 5-year study period.
No statistically significant demographic associations were observed for skin conditions (age p=0.598; sex p=0.611), malaria (age p=0.176; sex p=0.452), or respiratory conditions (age p=0.839; sex p=0.555).

Cite This Study

Ekuban et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a8179eff2fb91fc834ad60b https://doi.org/10.1002/puh2.70347

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August 16, 2026Public Health ChallengesOpen Access

A 5‐Year Retrospective Morbidity Profile of School‐Aged Children at Ho Polyclinic, Volta Region, Ghana: Skin Conditions, Malaria, and Respiratory Illnesses as Leading Causes (2018–2022)

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Authors

AEAnthoinette Adesope Ekuban FBFrank Baiden

Discussion

Member takes

Overview

Retrospective study identifies skin diseases, malaria, and respiratory infections as leading causes of illness in school-aged children, highlighting the need for targeted school health programs.

Key Points

To describe the 5-year morbidity profile and assess associated demographic factors among school-aged children presenting to a primary care facility.
Conducted a retrospective review of outpatient consultation records from January 2018 to December 2022 at Ho Polyclinic in Ghana (N=10,428 consultations, ages 5–17 years).
Calculated diagnostic frequencies and performed chi-square tests to evaluate associations between demographic variables (age group, sex) and the three leading diagnostic categories.
Skin conditions (38.3%), malaria (23.0%), and respiratory conditions (16.1%) accounted for 77.4% of all outpatient diagnoses across the 5-year study period.
No statistically significant demographic associations were observed for skin conditions (age p=0.598; sex p=0.611), malaria (age p=0.176; sex p=0.452), or respiratory conditions (age p=0.839; sex p=0.555).

Cite This Study

Ekuban et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a8179eff2fb91fc834ad60b https://doi.org/10.1002/puh2.70347

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark