ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of Medication Errors at Tema General Hospital

With a lot of drugs to choose from, the most educated professional health care providers make medication errors, and somewhat less experienced providers may compound the problem. A medication error may be defined as any preventable event that may cause or lead to inappropriate medication use or patient harm. Medication errors may be caused by factors such as: sleep deprivation, mental lapses and fatigue, inadequate knpwledge of drugs and of a patient's existing medical conditions, faulty drug identification, patient's allergies not documented, and handwriting and dosage errors. The study setting was at Tema General Hospital. It is a district referral hospital in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. The study aimed to identify the prevalence of medication errors at the hospital. The number of errors from a sample of two hundred (200) inpatients' folders on admission was recorded over an eight-week period. The errors were categorized as errors of prescription writing, dispensing and administration. Methods used for detecting these errors were: An interviewer-administered questionnaire, analyses of sampled folders to identify causal factors,incidence reports and direct observation. Overall, 501 of the errors, representing 48.8%, were detected as prescribing errors. A total of 187 dispensing errors representing 18.3% were detected, while 338 of the errors representing 32.9% were drug administration. The study confirmed the view held earlier that medication errors do occur at the hospital. Moreover, the errors cut across the whole spectrum of service provided, and that medication errors seldom occur because of one person.

Source: KNUST
Prevalence of malaria parasitaemia in school children from two districts of Ghana earmarked for indoor residual spraying: a cross-sectional study

Background: Indoor residual spraying (IRS) is considered a valuable transmission control measure against malaria but exact efficacy data are not available for many epidemiological settings. This study was conducted to determine indicators for malaria epidemiology and transmission among school children as baseline assessment before IRS imple‑ mentation in Ghana. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Adansi South District of the Ashanti Region and Wa West District of the Upper West Region of Ghana. Malarial parasitaemia and anaemia were determined in pupils between the ages of 2 and 14 years from Early Childhood Development Centres and primary schools. Plasmodium falciparum parasitae‑ mia was detected by light microscopy. Results: Out of 1,649 pupils who were enrolled at participating schools, 684 were positive for plasmodia resulting in a baseline parasitaemia prevalence of 41.5%. Parasite rate was similar in the two districts (42.0% in Adansi South and 40.7% in Wa West), but differed across the nine sentinel schools ranging from 21 to 63% (p < 0.001). The mean haemoglobin concentration was 11.3 g/dl [standard deviation (SD) ±2.1]. Pupils who had moderate to mild anaemia (7.0–10.9 g/dl) constituted 41.7% of the study sample. Conclusion: The burden of parasitaemia, malaria and anaemia is a major public health problem among school chil‑ dren in rural Ghana with extensive heterogeneity between schools and warrants further investment in intervention measures.

Source: KNUST
Prevalence of Pesticide Residue Levels in Ghana Cocoa Beans

Fermented cocoa beans with pesticide residues higher than the acceptable levels stipulated by importers face the possibility of being rejected. The use of these pesticides is inevitable owing to the havoc caused by pests. Organochlorine pesticide: imidacloprid and pyrethroid pesticides: fenvalerate, cypermethrin and permethrin were determined using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography (GC). Eight hundred and seventy-three (873) samples for the 2013/14 cocoa season and 925 samples for the 2014/15 season were analyzed. The overall failure rate for all the smaples in the first season was 8.9% (78/873) and for all the bags/tonnage supplied, 9.1% (35275/387317). For the second season, the overall rate for the 925 samples analyzed was 15.6% (144/925) and for all the bags/tonnage supplied, 15.2% (68985/454357). For the first crop season, the Ashanti region recorded the highest sample failure rate of 10.9% (16/147). In the second season the failure rate pertaining to the number of bags/tonnage from the Volta region was the highest (100%). Pesticide residues in the samples or bags/tonnage were mainly due to cypermethrin followed by fenvalerate, imidachloprid and lastly, permethrin. A higher proportion of samples or bags/tonnage of cocoa beans contained cypermethrin and permethrin residues in the first cocoa season than the second season. The reverse was the case for fenvalerate and imidacloprid. Cypermethrin and fenvalerate residues were found in samples from all the regions. Residues of permethrin were found only in the samples from Goaso in the Brong Ahafo region and in samples from Nsokote in the Ashanti region. Imidacloprid residues were absent only in samples from the Ashanti region and the Volta region. On the whole, the highest proportions of residues were found in samples supplied from the Western South Region, Central Region and Eastern Region for cypermethrin, fenvalerate for the 2013/14 cocoa season. In the 2014/15 season, the highest supply of the beans with cypermethrin and fenvalerate residues were also supplied from the Western South Region and imidacloprid from the Western North Region (Tables 4.8a-4.8d). It is recommeded that training and effective communication with all stakeholders should be carried out with regards to the proper use of pesticides. Continuous monitoring needs to be done to ensure that pesticides are not abused by those who use them.

Source: KNUST
Prevalence of Pathogenic Organisms and Hygienic Practices at Public Toilets in Selected Low-Income Areas In Kumasi

Public toilets in three low income communities within the Kumasi metropolis were sampled to determine the prevalence of pathogenic organisms and the varying hygienic practices by users and caretakers of the facilities. A total of 288 human excreta samples and 72 toilet cubicle wall swab samples were collected and analyzed for Salmonella, E. coli and Enterococci using standard methods. Observational studies and key informant interviews were also carried out. Mean Enterococci numbers (log10 per 100 ml) in human excreta samples were 4.15, 4.18 and 4.14 in Manhyia, Aboabo and Ayigya, respectively. Relative frequency of occurrence of pathogenic microorganisms in the excreta samples were 25, 29 and 22 for E. coli and 6.3, 10.4 and 9.4 for Salmonella at Manhyia, Aboabo and Ayigya, respectively. Microbial numbers (log10 per 100 ml) in the toilet cubicle swab samples were 3.19, 3.29 and 3.24 for Enterococci. Swab samples also 16.7%, 25% and 25% for E. coli at Manhyia, Aboabo and Ayigya. Salmonella isolates showed high resistance to tetracycline (68%) and ampicillin (64%). Standard of hygiene at all public toilets were very low with faecal matter and waste papers on toilet floors. Waste baskets had no cover and were hardly emptied causing overflow of waste papers. Resulting from poor management, most of the toilets had an obnoxious smell causing users to remove their clothes before accessing them. Hand washing materials were not available in Aboabo and Ayigya. KMA must implement proper planning and effective management of public toilets in order to protect public health in Kumasi.

Source: KNUST
Prevalence of Prediabetes and Diabetes Mellitus among Children and Young Adults in the Kassena Nankana District of Ghana

Due to the increasing trend of prediabetes and diabetes, this study investigated the prevalence of these dysglycaemic conditions in children and young people of ages 5 to 20 years old. Furthermore, to assess the presence of some risk factors,the lipid profile of the participants was determined, likewise using a questionnaire to assess information on demographic and lifestyle factors. This study was cross-sectional, and was conducted over a period of five months from January to May of 2012. It was carried out at the Kassena Nankana District in the Upper East Region of Ghana, involving 305 healthy volunteers, randomly sampled from the Navrongo Demographic Surveillance System of the Navrongo Health Research Centre. The socio-demographic characteristics of the participants were investigated, using a structured questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements were also taken, and blood samples from subjects were analysed for fasting blood glucose and lipid profile.The sex distribution of the study participants was 48.2% males and 51.8% females with a mean age of 12.04±4.15 years (± standard deviation). About 49.2% of the respondents were from rural settlements and 50.8% of them were from the urban communities. The mean body mass index (BMI) of the respondents was 18.13±3.6 kg/m2, whilst 9.8% were overweight and obese, with a BMI ≥85th percentile specific for age and gender.The mean waist circumference value was 63.3±8.0 cm and 0.63% of the study population had central obesity. The mean fasting blood glucose level was 4.96±0.51 mmol/l, 3.3% and 11.5% of the participants had impaired fasting blood glucose using the WHO/IDF and ADA criteria respectively, while none of the participants had high (diabetic) fasting blood glucose. The mean levels of the lipid profile were as follows; total cholesterol, 3.76±1.14 mmol/l; triglyceride, 0.81±0.51 mmol/l; HDL cholesterol, 1.11±0.36 mmol/l and LDL cholesterol, 2.29±0.94 mmol/l. iv Hypertriglyceridaemia was present in 3.0% of the subjects,11.8%of the subjects had high total cholesterol levels, 44.3% of the respondents were with low HDL cholesterol levels whilst high LDL cholesterol was found in 12.8% of the respondents. Through the responses to the questionnaire, 40.3% of the participants and their guardians claimed to have some knowledge of diabetes mellitus. A positive family history of diabetes and hypertension was reported in 7.5% and 23.9% of the participants respectively. There is a positive association between prediabetes and obesity, family history of diabetes and hypertension, total cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol and high LDL cholesterol levels but not with hypertriglyceridaemia. From the prevalence of 3.3% and 11.5% prediabetes obtained in this work, this supports observations from other studies elsewhere that diabetes is a common problem in sub Saharan Africa.Therefore, there is the need for education of the general populace to adopt lifestyles which would not predispose them to hyperglycaemic tendencies, characteristic of prediabetes and diabetes.

Source: KNUST
The prevalence of malaria among HIV seropositive individuals and the impact of the co- infection on their hemoglobin levels

Background: Malaria and HIV/AIDS are the two most common infections in sub-Sahara Africa. There are hypotheses and study reports on the possible association between these two infections, hence the prevalence and outcome of their co-infection in an endemic population will be important in defining healthcare strategies. A cross sectional study was carried out at the Holy Family Hospital in Techiman, Ghana, between November 2011 and January 2012, to determine the prevalence of malaria among HIV sero-positive patients and its impact on hemoglobin levels. Method: A total of 400 HIV sero-positive participants (292 females and 108 males) aged between 1 and 73 years were randomly sampled for the study. A questionnaire was administered and 2 ml of venous blood samples were drawn for malaria parasites detection, CD4 count and haemoglobin level estimations. Results: Malaria parasites were detected in 47 (11.75%) of the participants. There was no statistically significant difference between the malaria prevalence rate of females (12.1%) and males (10.2%) P = 0.6047. An overall anaemia prevalence of 67% was observed. Among participants with malaria the anaemia prevalence was 93.6%. The CD4 cell count of all the participants ranged between 3 and 1604 cells/μl with a mean of 386.2 (±274.3) cells/μl. Participants with malaria had CD4 cell count ranged 3 and 512 Cells/μl with the mean being 186.33 (±133.49) Cells/μl. Out of 377 participants (all above 15 years) interviewed on knowledge of malaria transmission and prevention, 87.0% had knowledge on transmission but only 8.5% use in bed nets. Conclusion: It was revealed that almost all the patients with malaria infection were anemic.

Source: KNUST
Prevalence of Salmonella and other gram negative bacterial infections among Fever and Diarrheal patients visiting Half-Assini Government Hospital

Infections with Salmonella and other Gram negative bacteria are becoming more difficult to treat due to their resistance to commonly available antibiotics. Also, some district laboratories are not fully equipped to perform diagnostic tests to isolate and identify these pathogens. There have been reports of antimicrobial resistance as a result of production of Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamase (ESBL) in Accra and Kumasi but no such study has been done in Half-Assini. This study was therefore undertaken to determine the prevalence of Salmonella and other Gram negative organisms, their antimicrobial susceptibility pattern together with whether they were ESBL producers or not. Stool, blood and urine samples were collected non repetitively from patients with fever and diarrhoea and were cultured on their respective appropriate media. Growths that occurred were transferred onto Nutrient agar for biochemical and serological identification using the standard methods. Antimicrobial susceptibility of the isolates was done using disc diffusion Kirby Bauer method. The isolates were tested for ESBL production using double disc diffusion method. Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) was done on Salmonella isolates. Prevalence of all the isolates was 10.9 %( 42/384) consisting of 5 Salmonella Choleraesuis (from stool samples), 4 Salmonella Typhi (3 from stool samples and 1 from blood sample) and 27 Escherichia coli (23 from urine samples and 4 from blood samples) and 6 Klebsiella pneumoniae (2 from blood samples and 4 from urine samples). All the bacterial isolates were susceptible to ceftriaxone, cefuroxime and cefotaxime. All the Salmonella isolates were also susceptible to ciprofloxacin and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid. There was high level of susceptibility of the other isolates to gentamycin (81.0%), ciprofloxacin (88.1%) and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (73.8%). None of the 42 isolates was susceptible to ampicillin and tetracycline. None of the isolates produced ESBL. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis showed that the 5 Salmonella Choleraesuis were similar in terms of DNA band size and separation while the 4 Salmonella Typhi also had the same genetic fingerprint.

Source: KNUST
Prevalence of sexually transmitted infections in antenatal clinic attenders at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH)

The prevalence and microbial aetiology of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in pregnant women (PW) attending antenatal clinic (ANC) at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) was studied. A randomly selected sample of PW was invited to participate at their first ANC visit. They were interviewed using a structured questionnaire (Appendix F) and underwent genital examination. Genital swabs were obtained for microscopy and/or culture for the isolation of Candida albicans, Trichomonas vaginalis and Neisseria gonorrhoea. Blood was obtained for serological testing for syphilis and for antibodies to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Hepatitis B surface antigen (HbsAg). A total of 220 PW aged 15 to 38 years were seen. Majority of the respondents 71, (32.3%) belonged to the age group 25 - 29 years... Twenty (9.1%) of the pregnant women (PW) were in the age group 15-19 years. The median age was 27 years. Parity of the study group ranged from 0 to 8 children. Eighty-two (37.3%) of the respondents were primigravidae and 122 (55.4%) were multigravidae. Fifty-five (25.0%) were housewives/unemployed. Majority were traders (30.5%). One hundred and ten (50%) of the respondents started attending ANC during their second trimester. Only 36.8% (81) started attending ANC during their first trimester. A substantial majority of the respondents 49.1% (108) have had 7 — 9 years of education i.e. up to Junior Secondary School or Middle School level. With respect to marital status, most of the subjects 158 (71.8%) were monogamously married. Prevalence of syphilis, trichomoniasis, gonorrhoea, HIV infection and hepatitis B were 2.7%, 20.9%, 10.5%, 5% and 13.6% respectively. One hundred and fifteen (52.3%) of the PW had at least one STI. Twenty nine (13.18%) of the PW had one or more STI. Multiple STIs were more frequent in the 20 - 24 and 25 - 29 year groups. None of the PW in the 15-19 years was HIV infected. Only one person had genital or vulval warts (clinical human papilloma virus (HPV)). There was a low prevalence of STIs in PW who were married monogamously (p < 0.05). Of the 151 PW who had genital infections, 116 (76.85%) were symptomatic. Apart from the 15-19 year age group, (p < 0.01) none of the socio-demographic variables, i.e. marital status, educational level and occupational status was significantly associated with STI (p> 0.05). This study has shown that the prevalence of STIs is high in PW, especially in those married polygamously. It is recommended that all PW in Ghana are given the needed treatment when attending ANC to protect them and their foetuses from the effects of STI.

Source: KNUST
Prevalence of salmonella Infections in Patients Attending St. Dominic Hospital, (Akwatia)-Eastern Region

The St. Dominic hospital in Akwatia reports high Salmonella infection with the source of these infections unknown. The prevailing Salmonellae species and their antimicrobial susceptibility pattern are not known. It is also not known if the Salmonellae there produce Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamase (ESBL). This study therefore investigated the prevalence of Salmonella serotypes isolated from both clinical and water samples in Akwatia. Four hundred and sixty four (464) samples comprising 270 Stool and 194 Blood samples were collected from patients attending the St. Dominic Hospital in Akwatia. One hundred and eighty eight (188) water samples were also cultured for Salmonella. Prevalence of Salmonella was 11.6% (54/464) for the clinical samples tested and 2.7% (5/188) for the water samples. Out of the 54 clinical isolates, 31.4% (16/54) were typhoidal Salmonellae while 68.6% (38/54) were non-typhoidal Salmonellae. Salmonella Typhi recording 20.4% (11/54) was the most frequently encountered typhoidal isolate while S. Enterica, 29.6% (16/54) followed by Salmonella Typhimurium 24.1% (13/54) were predominant among the non typhoidal isolates. Abdominal pain and fever were the most common patient complaints. The water samples tested had bacterial count of 2.56 x103-1.2 x 1013 per millilitre. Salmonella were isolated from 9.4% (5/188) of the water samples collected. The Salmonella isolates had high proportions resistant to ampicillin 69.5% (41/59), piperacillin 69.5% (41/59) and Trimethoprim- Sulfamethoxaxole 76.3% (45/59). All the Salmonella isolates were, however, susceptible to cefoxitin (100%), cefotaxime (100%), cefepime (100%), Imipenem (100%), meropenem (100%) and amikacin (100%). No isolate was found to be resistant to norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin. Varying resistance patterns were observed with the other antibiotics. No strain was found to produce ESBL. Salmonella infection can be acquired from the well water. The use of cephalosporins, quinolones, carbapenems and amikacin are recommended as the drug of choice for both typhoidal and non-typhoidal Salmonellosis.

Source: KNUST
Prevalence of Soil-Transmitted Helminthes among Pupils in Gia and Kajelo Primary Schools in the Kassena-Nankana East and West Districts in the Upper East Region of Ghana.

Soil-Transmitted helminthes is prevalent in many communities in the Kassena-Nankana district of the Upper East Region of Ghana. Gia is one community where the prevalence of soil-transmitted helminthes has been reported in 2007 to be 10% prevalent by the direct wet mount method. This study determined the current prevalence of soil-transmitted helminthes among primary school pupils in Gia and Kajelo communities in the Kassena-Nankana district using direct wet mount and the formol-ether concentration techniques. Three hundred and ninety-four stool samples were collected from subjects (pupils) between October 2010 and March 2011 for this study. Each stool sample was processed within two hours after collection using the direct wet mount and the formol-ether concentration techniques in accordance with standard protocols. Formol-ether concentration technique, gave the highest overall prevalence of 9.40% of helminthes parasites made up of Strongyloides stercoralis (5.08%), Hookworm (3.30%), Ascaris lumbricoides (1.02%) and Trichuris trichuira (0.00%) in both Gia and Kajelo pupils. The direct wet mount was found to be 33.3% sensitive. The Gia primary school had a population of 198 pupils, 6 positives were detected out of the total number sampled representing 3.54% of the stool samples that were detected by the direct wet mount method. The formol-ether concentration detected 21 positives of the total number sampled representing 10.61%. The Kajelo primary school had a population of 196, 5 positives were detected out of the total number sampled giving a prevalence of 2.55% with the direct wet mount method. The formol-ether concentration detected 16 positives out of the total number sampled giving a prevalence of 8.16%. This study supports the finding that stool samples that are negative for parasites by the direct wet mount method should be re-examined using the formol-ether concentration technique as the confirmatory test. This approach will improve the detection of helminthes from stool specimens for accurate diagnosis of soil-transmitted helminthes infections and ultimately improve the quality of life of individuals in these communities.

Source: KNUST