EVALUATING PUBLIC HEALTH INTERVENTION OUTCOMES ON COMMUNICABLE DISEASES IN GHANA USING GENERALIZED LINEAR MIXED MODELS (GLMMS)

This study critically evaluates the outcomes of public health interventions targeting communicable diseases in Ghana from 2020 to 2024 using Generalized Linear Mixed Models (GLMMs). The justification for this research stems from the persistent regional disparities in disease incidence, despite the implementation of extensive vaccination campaigns, health education programs, and environmental sanitation initiatives. Given the limitations of traditional linear models in capturing multilevel and clustered health data, GLMMs were employed to assess intervention effectiveness across all 16 regions. The objectives focused on examining the impact of vaccination, education, and sanitation programs on malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS prevalence. Methodologically, the study utilized secondary data from the Ghana Health Service, WHO, and other credible sources, applying GLMMs to account for both fixed and random effects. The findings revealed statistically significant negative associations between interventions and disease incidence: vaccination (β = -0.73, p< 0.001), education (β = -0.59, p = 0.004), and sanitation (β = -0.81, p = 0.001). Moreover, a strong positive correlation was found between socio-economic index and intervention success (r = 0.88), with the overall regression model explaining 79% of the variation in outcomes (R² = 0.79). These results underscore the effectiveness of integrated, data-driven interventions and reveal that regions with higher socio-economic status achieved better health outcomes. The study concludes that public health strategies must be localized, evidence-based, and supported by broader socio-economic investments. It recommends expanding mHealth tools, increasing sanitation projects in underserved areas, and decentralizing intervention planning to enhance equity.