Papers by Kwadwo Owusu Akuffo
BackgroundMalaria and typhoid fever coinfection presents major public health problems especially ... more BackgroundMalaria and typhoid fever coinfection presents major public health problems especially in the tropics and sub-tropics where malaria and typhoid fever are co-endemic. Clinicians often treat both infections concurrently without laboratory confirmation. However, concurrent treatment has public health implications as irrational use of antibiotics or anti-malarials may lead to the emergence of drug resistance, unnecessary cost and exposure of patients to unnecessary side effects. This study determined the proportion of febrile conditions attributable to either malaria and/or typhoid fever and the susceptibility patterns of Salmonella spp. isolates to commonly used antimicrobial agents in Ghana.MethodsOne hundred and fifty-seven (157) febrile patients attending the Ga West Municipal Hospital, Ghana, from February to May 2017 were sampled. Blood samples were collected for cultivation of pathogenic bacteria and the susceptibility of the Salmonella isolates to antimicrobial agents ...
Scientific Reports
Empirical antimicrobial therapy is linked to a surge in antimicrobial resistant infections. Howev... more Empirical antimicrobial therapy is linked to a surge in antimicrobial resistant infections. However, an insight on the bacteria etiology of ocular infections is essential in the appropriation of choice of antimicrobial among clinicians, yet there remains a dearth of data from Ghana. We investigated the bacteria etiology of external ocular and periocular infections and antimicrobial treatment patterns among a Ghanaian ophthalmic population. A multicenter study design with purposive sampling approach was employed. Patients demographics and clinical data were collated using a pretested structure questionnaire. Cornea specimens and conjunctival swabs were obtained for bacterial isolation following standard protocols. About 95% (98/103) of ocular samples were positive for bacteria culture. The proportion of Gram-negative bacteria was 58.2%, and the predominant bacteria species were Pseudomonas aeruginosa 38.8% and Staphylococcus aureus 27.6%. Conjunctivitis 40.0% and keratitis 75.0% were...
Background: Childhood cataract unlike adult-related cataract has received a little attention desp... more Background: Childhood cataract unlike adult-related cataract has received a little attention despite the devastating consequences on the early development of the visual system and the overall impact on the quality of life of children. The existence of accurate epidemiological data is a primary step towards management strategies, however, there remains a paucity of data in sub-Saharan Africa including Ghana. Therefore, the study sought to investigate the prevalence of childhood cataract and its associated factors among a pediatric population at a tertiary health facility in Ghana. Methods: The study employed a retrospective electronic medical-record review on 263 pediatric cataract cases examined (from January 2019 to December 2020) at the pediatric ophthalmology department of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana. Patient clinical data including sociodemographic, signs and symptoms, primary diagnosis and associated ocular complications were gathered and analyzed using St...
ABSTRACTMillions of praziquantel doses have been delivered in schistosomiasis endemic populations... more ABSTRACTMillions of praziquantel doses have been delivered in schistosomiasis endemic populations through preventive chemotherapy. However, no comprehensive assessment of short and long-term safety has been conducted. This systematic review assessed safety of praziquantel in persons with and without schistosome infections who received praziquantel treatment.MethodsWe identified relevant studies (published, unpublished, in press or preprint) that assessed safety of praziquantel without language restriction. We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and LILACS from 1978 to 31st October 2021, using well-formulated and piloted search strategy. We also searched the Cochrane Infectious Diseases Group Specialized Register, CENTRAL (The Cochrane Library 2021), mRCT, Google Scholar, Hinari and Africa Journals Online. References of relevant studies were checked and experts were contacted for additional studies. One author searched and managed the search output. Two authors selected studies, extrac...
BMC Psychology, 2021
Background Psychological distress in vision impairments and blindness is a complex issue and a ma... more Background Psychological distress in vision impairments and blindness is a complex issue and a major public health concern. Sudden adjustments in routine lifestyle and career aspirations in such persons culminate in and/or aggravate their level of stress. Yet, psychological distress in persons with visual difficulties and vision loss in South Africa is poorly understood. We investigated the association between psychological distress and self-reported vision difficulties as well as clinician-assessed vision loss using data from the South African National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (SANHANES-1). Methods Data was analysed on participants aged ≥ 15 years who participated in the SANHANES-1 clinical examinations and interviews. Data on demographic, socio-economic, and health status variables were gathered using a structured questionnaire. Psychological distress was assessed using the Kessler psychological distress scale (K10). Vision assessment was conducted by clinicians adh...
Additional file 1: Table S1. History of malaria-related signs/symptoms and caregivers' health... more Additional file 1: Table S1. History of malaria-related signs/symptoms and caregivers' health-seeking behaviour for their child's symptoms including what action they took, whether they visited the health facility and the reasons for not visiting a health facility. Figures represent number and percentage (in parentheses). Table S2. Odds ratio of factors that influence malaria infections in children under five in East Akim district, Ghana.
BMC Ophthalmology, 2021
Background Vision loss is a major public health concern that significantly affects developing cou... more Background Vision loss is a major public health concern that significantly affects developing countries, including South Africa. Although existing literature have reported on the prevalence, causes, and impact of vision loss on the quality of life of affected individuals (children and adults) in parts of South Africa, there is no evidence of the prevalence and associated factors of vision loss in the general population. Hence, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of vision loss and its associated factors in South Africa using a population-based survey. Methods Secondary analyses were conducted using data from the South African National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (SANHANES-1), a population-based national health survey conducted from 2011 to 2012. Vision loss was defined as presenting visual acuity (PVA) worse than Snellen 6/12 in the better eye. Visual acuity was assessed by clinicians and participants’ subjective response to vision-related questions. Univariate ...
Empirical antimicrobial therapy is linked to a surge in antimicrobial resistant infections. Howev... more Empirical antimicrobial therapy is linked to a surge in antimicrobial resistant infections. However, an insight on the bacteria etiology of ocular infections is essential in the appropriation of choice of antimicrobial among clinicians, yet there remains a dearth of data from Ghana. We investigated the bacteria etiology of external ocular and periocular infections and antimicrobial treatment patterns among a Ghanaian ophthalmic population. A multicenter study design with purposive sampling approach was employed. Patients demographics and clinical data were collated using a pretested structure questionnaire. Cornea specimens and conjunctival swabs were obtained for bacteriological investigations following standard protocols. About 95% (98/103) of ocular samples were positive for bacteria culture. The proportion of Gram-negative bacteria was 58.2%, and the predominant bacteria species were Pseudomonas aeruginosa 38.8% and Staphylococcus aureus 27.6%. Conjunctivitis 40.0% and keratitis...
Purpose: The Central Retinal Enrichment Supplementation Trials (CREST) aim to investigate the pot... more Purpose: The Central Retinal Enrichment Supplementation Trials (CREST) aim to investigate the potential impact of macular pigment (MP) enrichment, following supplementation with a formulation containing 10 mg lutein (L), 2 mg zeaxanthin (Z) and 10 mg meso-zeaxanthin (MZ), on visual function in normal subjects (Trial 1) and in subjects with early age-related macular degeneration (AMD; Trial 2). Methods: CREST is a single center, double-blind, randomized clinical trial. Trial 1 (12-month follow-up) subjects are randomly assigned to a formulation containing 10 mg L, 10 mg MZ and 2 mg Z (n = 60) or placebo (n = 60). Trial 2 (24-month follow-up) subjects are randomly assigned to a formulation containing 10 mg L, 10 mg MZ,
Background Seroprevalence of SARS Cov-2 provides a good indication of the extent of exposure and ... more Background Seroprevalence of SARS Cov-2 provides a good indication of the extent of exposure and spread in the population, as well as those likely to benefit from a vaccine candidate. To date, there is no published or ongoing systematic review on the seroprevalence of COVID-19 in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). This systematic review and meta-analysis will estimate SARS Cov-2 seroprevalence and the risk factors for SARS Cov-2 infection in LMICs.Methods We will search PubMed, EMBASE, WHO COVID-19 Global research database, Google Scholar, the African Journals Online, LILAC, HINARI, medRxiv, bioRxiv and Cochrane Library for potentially useful studies on seroprevalence of COVID-19 in LMICs from December 2019 to December 2020 without language restriction. Two authors will independently screen all the articles, select studies based on pre-specified eligibility criteria and extract data using a pre-tested data extraction form. Any disagreements will be resolved through discussion...
Parasites & Vectors, 2021
Background Artisanal mining creates enabling breeding ground for the vector of malaria parasites.... more Background Artisanal mining creates enabling breeding ground for the vector of malaria parasites. There is paucity of data on the effects of artisanal mining on malaria. This study assessed burden of malaria and caregivers’ health-seeking behaviour for children under five in artisanal mining communities in East Akim District in Ghana. Methods A cross-sectional study involving caregivers and their children under five was conducted in three artisanal mining communities in the East Akim District in Ghana. Caregivers were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Finger prick blood samples were collected and analysed for haemoglobin concentration using a rapid diagnostic test, and thick and thin blood smears were analysed to confirm the presence of malaria parasites. Results Of the 372 children under 5 years included in the study, 197 (53.1%) were male, with a mean age (± SD) of 23.0 ± 12.7 months. The proportion of children with malaria ( Plasmodium falciparum and P. malariae ) was...
Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice, 2021
Background Easy access to medicines provided by private medicine retailing facilities including t... more Background Easy access to medicines provided by private medicine retailing facilities including that of over-the-counter medicine retailers, have gained prominence in sub-Saharan Africa. Although over-the-counter medicine-sellers (OTCMS) facilities play an indispensable role in healthcare delivery, there is inadequate information about their regulatory environment and whether their operations conform to regulatory provisions. Hence, this study sought to investigate the characteristics and predictors of regulatory practices among over-the-counter medicine sellers in Ghana. Methods This was a cross-sectional study involving participants from 208 OTCMS facilities in eight (8) municipalities and districts (MDA’s) of the Upper East Region of Ghana. An initial census of facilities in the region was conducted between May and August 2016 and a follow-up conducted between December 2016 and March 2017. This ensured the identification and location of all OTCMS facilities within the selected MD...
Indian Journal of Ophthalmology, 2021
Of all the eye conditions in the contemporary Indian context, diabetic retinopathy (DR) attracts ... more Of all the eye conditions in the contemporary Indian context, diabetic retinopathy (DR) attracts the maximum attention not just of the eye care fraternity but the entire medical fraternity. Countries are at different stages of evolution in structured DR screening services. In most low and middle income countries, screening is opportunistic, while in most of the high income countries structured population-based DR screening is the established norm. To reduce inequities in access, it is important that all persons with diabetes are provided equal access to DR screening and management services. Such programs have been proven to reverse the magnitude of vision-threatening diabetic retinopathy in countries like England and Scotland. DR screening should not be considered an endpoint in itself but the starting point in a continuum of services for effective management of DR services so that the risk of vision loss can be mitigated. Till recently all DR screening programs in India were opportunistic models where persons with diabetes visiting an eye care facility were screened. Since 2016, with support from International funders, demonstration models integrating DR screening services in the public health system were initiated. These pilots showed that a systematic integrated structured DR screening program is possible in India and need to be scaled up across the country. Many DR screening and referral initiatives have been adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and advocacy with the government is critical to facilitate continuous sustainable services.
Background: Job satisfaction is an important determinant of workers' motivation, retention, a... more Background: Job satisfaction is an important determinant of workers' motivation, retention, and performance. Each individual working in different segments of the health sector has an impact on the quality and accessibility of the services the health care system provides to the community. Many studies assessed health care workers' job satisfaction. However, the majority of previous studies focused on specific health professionals and facilities. The present study assessed job satisfaction and its associated factors among governmental health workers in West Shoa Zone, Oromia, EthiopiaMethods: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted in West Shoa, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia, from March 23/2020 to April 15/2020. A total of 429 health workers were identified from type A, B, and C districts. Participants were proportionally allocated for each district and the individual participant was selected using simple random sampling methods. Data was collected using a...
BMC Research Notes, 2020
Objective: Diabetes is a chronic disease of uncontrolled blood sugar levels. People with diabetes... more Objective: Diabetes is a chronic disease of uncontrolled blood sugar levels. People with diabetes are at an increased risk of developing visual impairment and other diabetes-related visual complications. The study aims to determine the eyecare utilization pattern and its associated determinants among diabetics in the South African National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (SANHANES-1). Results: The mean age of participants was 56.2 years and 66.6% were females. The prevalence of eyecare utilization among participants was 49.0% and this differed significantly by age groups (p = 0.024) and the number of years since diabetes diagnosis (p < 0.001). After statistical adjustments, older age (55-64 years OR = 4.18, p = 0.003 and ≥ 65 years OR = 4.78, p = 0.002), having health insurance (OR = 6.32, p = 0.002), and having had diabetes for 6-10 years (OR = 4.23, p = 0.005) were significantly associated with eye care utilization. About half of people diagnosed with diabetes in South Africa have had an eye examination since diabetes diagnosis, which is disturbingly low given the impact of diabetes complications on eye health. Government policies must be directed at ensuring access to affordable health insurance and eye health education on diabetes.
PLOS ONE, 2020
Optometry students in clinical years are usually faced with the challenges of making a career cho... more Optometry students in clinical years are usually faced with the challenges of making a career choice in or outside optometry. This cross sectional study was conducted to investigate the career aspirations of optometry students in Ghana. All students in their fourth to sixth year who consented to participate in the study responded to a questionnaire which explored: demographic characteristics, career aspirations, and factors influencing their choices. Descriptive statistics was used to present data as frequencies, proportions and percentages. Chi-square test and logistic regression analysis were used to evaluate relationships between variables. Two hundred and nine students from the two optometry training institutions in Ghana; Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (49.8%) and University of Cape Coast (51.2%) responded to the questionnaire. The mean (SD) age of students was 23.6 (1.9) years (males = 65.6%). On seeking admission into the university, optometry (65.6%) and human biology/medicine (28.2%) were the leading first choice programmes among participants. Participants largely aspire to be in clinical practice (64.6%) or Academia/Research (28.2%). The major factors which influenced career choices were interest in career field (64.1%) and potential good income (38.3%). Females were twice more likely to practice optometry and pursue an interest in paediatric optometry than males. Institution of study (p = .028) and information on career opportunities (p = .018) were significant predictors of students' decision to pursue a career in academia/research. Optometry students in Ghana largely aspire to be in clinical practice, a finding which is useful for optometry training institutions and relevant stakeholders in developing the optometry programme and projecting its future in Ghana.
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Papers by Kwadwo Owusu Akuffo