Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales in human health: Experience from the tricycle project, Ghana.

Background: Vulnerable groups, such as pregnant women, are at increased risk of potentially life-threatening infections with extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-E) for both mother and newborn. However, data regarding ESBL-E carriage and associated risk factors in Ghanaian pregnant women remain scarce.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of ESBL-E carriage and its associated risk factors among pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.

Antibiotic consumption trends in Ghana: analysis of six-years pharmacy issue data from a secondary healthcare facility.

Background: Surveillance of hospital antibiotic consumption provides data to inform corrective action and for monitoring antimicrobial stewardship activities. This study described antibiotic consumption patterns from 2016 through 2021 at a secondary healthcare facility in Ghana.

Methods: Using the WHO methodology for surveillance of antimicrobial consumption in hospitals, we analysed a 6-year pharmacy issue data at the Eastern Regional Hospital.

Genetic diversity of SARS-CoV-2 infections in Ghana from 2020-2021.

The COVID-19 pandemic is one of the fastest evolving pandemics in recent history. As such, the SARS-CoV-2 viral evolution needs to be continuously tracked. This study sequenced 1123 SARS-CoV-2 genomes from patient isolates (121 from arriving travellers and 1002 from communities) to track the molecular evolution and spatio-temporal dynamics of the SARS-CoV-2 variants in Ghana.

Effects of a locally available dietary interventions counselling on the community-based management of anaemia in children under five years in Ghana: Kumbungu cluster randomized controlled trial protocol.

Anaemia in children under five years remains a significant cause of mortality and morbidity in low-middle income countries. Globally, 27% of the world's population is anaemic, of which developing countries account for more than 89%. The global prevalence is worse in Africa and Asia.

Decline in Uptake of Childhood Vaccinations in a Tertiary Hospital in Northern Ghana during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, early modelling studies estimated a reduction in childhood vaccinations in low- and middle-income countries. Regular provision of both curative and preventive services such as antenatal care and childhood immunizations has been negatively affected since the onset of the pandemic. Our study was aimed at examining the impact that the pandemic had on childhood vaccination services at the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH).

Field evaluation of specificity and sensitivity of a standard SARS-CoV-2 antigen rapid diagnostic test: A prospective study at a teaching hospital in Northern Ghana.

The testing capacity for SARS-CoV-2 in Africa is rather limited. Antigen detection rapid diagnostic tests (Ag-RDTs) are a cheap and rapid alternative to reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests, but there is little data about their performance under real life conditions in tropical countries. The objective of this study is to evaluate the performance of a standard Ag-RDT in a population of a major hospital in northern Ghana.

Performance of COVID-19 associated symptoms and temperature checking as a screening tool for SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Introduction: Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19), which started in late December, 2019, has spread to affect 216 countries and territories around the world. Globally, the number of cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection has been growing exponentially. There is pressure on countries to flatten the curves and break transmission.

Individual awareness and treatment effectiveness of hypertension among older adults in Ghana: evidence from the World Health Organization study of global ageing and adult health wave 2.

Introduction: the aim of this study was to report the prevalence of hypertension, its awareness and treatment effectiveness among older adults (aged 50 years and above) in Ghana.

Methods: the Ghana World Health Organization´s (WHO) Study on Global Aging and Adult Health (SAGE) wave 2 dataset was used in this study. The study adopted a cross-sectional study design.

Teenage pregnancy and experience of physical violence among women aged 15-19 years in five African countries: Analysis of complex survey data.

Background: Pregnant teenage women are prime targets of violence against women perpetrated by intimate partners, family members, and miscreants in their neighborhoods. This study estimated the prevalence of Teenage pregnancy (TP) and Physical Violence (PV) and further assessed the relationship between TP and PV in five Low-and-Middle-Income Countries (LMICs).

Methods: The study was conducted among five LIMCs (Burkina Faso, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, and Tanzania) using data from the most recent Demographic and Health Surveys conducted in these countries.

Pattern of Animal Bites and Delays in Initiating Rabies Postexposure Prophylaxis among Clients Receiving Care in Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.

Introduction: Each year, an estimated 25000 rabies death occurs in Africa. Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) remains the only proven approach in preventing rabies deaths. Most of rabies deaths occur among those who delayed, did not receive, or complete rabies PEP.

The Transport and Outcome of Sick Outborn Neonates Admitted to a Regional and District Hospital in the Upper West Region of Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Optimum care of sick neonates often involves transporting them across different levels of care. Since their condition may deteriorate over time, attention needs to be paid to travel distances and how they are transferred. We examined the mode of transport, distances travelled, condition on arrival and outcome of outborn neonates admitted to a district and a regional hospital in Ghana using a cross-sectional study involving caregivers of neonates admitted to these hospitals.

Hand hygiene practices and perceptions among healthcare workers in Ghana: A WASH intervention study.

Introduction: We aimed to investigate whether the provision of water, sanitation, and hand hygiene (WASH) interventions were associated with changes in hand hygiene compliance and perceptions of healthcare workers towards infection control.

Methodology: The study was conducted from June 2017 through February 2018 among healthcare workers in two Northern districts of Ghana. Using a pretest-posttest design, we performed hand hygiene observations and perception surveys at baseline (before the start of WASH interventions) and post-intervention (midline and endline).

The Profile, Health Seeking Behavior, Referral Patterns, and Outcome of Outborn Neonates Admitted to a District and Regional Hospital in the Upper West Region of Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Neonatal mortality is the major contributor to under-five mortality rates in many low and middle income countries. We examined the health practices, care-seeking behavior, and referral of sick outborn neonates to a district and regional hospital in the Upper West Region of Ghana. The study was a cross-sectional study conducted over an eight (8) month period in 2018.

Prevalence, Causes, and Factors Associated with Visual Impairment and Blindness among Registered Pensioners in Ghana.

Purpose: To determine the prevalence, causes, and factors associated with presenting visual impairment and blindness among pensioners.

Design: A nationwide cross-sectional study. This study was part of the analysis on data obtained in the pensioners' medical survey conducted among members of the National Pensioners Association in Ghana.

Maternal perceptions about caesarean section deliveries and their role in reducing perinatal and neonatal mortality in the Upper West Region of Ghana; a cross-sectional study.

Background: Maternal perceptions about caesarean section contribute to delayed presentation of women for emergency obstetric care. This increases the risks of perinatal and neonatal mortality and slows down the reductions needed to achieve the sustainable development goal (SDG) target of reducing neonatal mortality and ending new-born deaths. The aim of the study is to determine maternal perceptions about caesarean section deliveries and their role in reducing neonatal mortality at a regional and a district hospital in the Upper West Region of Ghana.

Prevalence of obesity and overweight and its associated factors among registered pensioners in Ghana; a cross sectional studies.

Background: The elderly are faced with health problems such as cardiovascular diseases, type II diabetes mellitus, kidney disease, arthritis and other musculoskeletal problems, which can be linked to obesity and overweight. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of obesity and overweight and its associated factors amongst registered pensioners in Ghana.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among members of the national pensioners association of Ghana.