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Marks F, Im J, Park SE, Pak GD, Jeon HJ, Wandji Nana LR, Phoba MF, Mbuyi-Kalonji L, Mogeni OD, Yeshitela B, Panzner U, Cruz Espinoza LM, Beyene T, Owusu-Ansah M, Twumasi-Ankrah S, Yeshambaw M, Alemu A, Adewusi OJ, Adekanmbi O, Higginson E, Adepoju A, Agbi S, Cakpo EG, Ogunleye VO, Tunda GN, Ikhimiukor OO, Mbuyamba J, Toy T, Agyapong FO, Osei I, Amuasi J, Razafindrabe TJL, Raminosoa TM, Nyirenda G, Randriamampionona N, Seo HW, Seo H, Siribie M, Carey ME, Owusu M, Meyer CG, Rakotozandrindrainy N, Sarpong N, Razafindrakalia M, Razafimanantsoa R, Ouedraogo M, Kim YJ, Lee J, Zellweger RM, Kang SSY, Park JY, Crump JA, Hardy L, Jacobs J, Garrett DO, Andrews JR, Poudyal N, Kim DR, Clemens JD, Baker SG, Kim JH, Dougan G, Sugimoto JD, Van Puyvelde S, Kehinde A, Popoola OA, Mogasale V, Breiman RF, MacWright WR, Aseffa A, Tadesse BT, Haselbeck A, Adu-Sarkodie Y, Teferi M, Bassiahi AS, Okeke IN, Lunguya-Metila O, Owusu-Dabo E, Rakotozandrindrainy R. Incidence of typhoid fever in Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Madagascar, and Nigeria (the Severe Typhoid in Africa programme): a population-based study. Lancet Glob Health 2024; 12:e599-e610. [PMID: 38485427 PMCID: PMC10951957 DOI: 10.1016/s2214-109x(24)00007-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Typhoid Fever remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in low-income settings. The Severe Typhoid in Africa programme was designed to address regional gaps in typhoid burden data and identify populations eligible for interventions using novel typhoid conjugate vaccines. METHODS A hybrid design, hospital-based prospective surveillance with population-based health-care utilisation surveys, was implemented in six countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Patients presenting with fever (≥37·5°C axillary or ≥38·0°C tympanic) or reporting fever for three consecutive days within the previous 7 days were invited to participate. Typhoid fever was ascertained by culture of blood collected upon enrolment. Disease incidence at the population level was estimated using a Bayesian mixture model. FINDINGS 27 866 (33·8%) of 82 491 participants who met inclusion criteria were recruited. Blood cultures were performed for 27 544 (98·8%) of enrolled participants. Clinically significant organisms were detected in 2136 (7·7%) of these cultures, and 346 (16·2%) Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi were isolated. The overall adjusted incidence per 100 000 person-years of observation was highest in Kavuaya and Nkandu 1, Democratic Republic of the Congo (315, 95% credible interval 254-390). Overall, 46 (16·4%) of 280 tested isolates showed ciprofloxacin non-susceptibility. INTERPRETATION High disease incidence (ie, >100 per 100 000 person-years of observation) recorded in four countries, the prevalence of typhoid hospitalisations and complicated disease, and the threat of resistant typhoid strains strengthen the need for rapid dispatch and implementation of effective typhoid conjugate vaccines along with measures designed to improve clean water, sanitation, and hygiene practices. FUNDING The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Marks
- International Vaccine Institute, Seoul, South Korea; Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK; Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany; Madagascar Institute for Vaccine Research, University of Antananarivo, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
| | - Justin Im
- International Vaccine Institute, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Se Eun Park
- International Vaccine Institute, Seoul, South Korea; Yonsei University Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul, South Korea; Yonsei University Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Gi Deok Pak
- International Vaccine Institute, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hyon Jin Jeon
- International Vaccine Institute, Seoul, South Korea; Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK; Madagascar Institute for Vaccine Research, University of Antananarivo, Antananarivo, Madagascar
| | | | - Marie-France Phoba
- Department of Microbiology, Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo; Department of Medical Biology, Microbiology Service, University Teaching Hospital of Kinshasa, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Lisette Mbuyi-Kalonji
- Department of Microbiology, Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo; Department of Medical Biology, Microbiology Service, University Teaching Hospital of Kinshasa, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | | | | | | | | | - Tigist Beyene
- Armauer Hansen Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Michael Owusu-Ansah
- School of Public Health, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Sampson Twumasi-Ankrah
- School of Public Health, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | | | - Ashenafi Alemu
- Department of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | | | - Olukemi Adekanmbi
- Department of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Department of Community Medicine, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Ellen Higginson
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Akinlolu Adepoju
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Department of Community Medicine, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Sarah Agbi
- Department of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Enoch G Cakpo
- Institut Supérieur des Sciences de la Population, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Veronica O Ogunleye
- Department of Community Medicine, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Gaëlle Nkoji Tunda
- Department of Microbiology, Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo; Faculty of Medicine, Congo Protestant University, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Odion O Ikhimiukor
- Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Jules Mbuyamba
- Department of Microbiology, Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo; Department of Medical Biology, Microbiology Service, University Teaching Hospital of Kinshasa, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Trevor Toy
- International Vaccine Institute, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Francis Opoku Agyapong
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Isaac Osei
- Medical Research Council Unit, The Gambia at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Banjul, The Gambia; Faculty of Infectious & Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - John Amuasi
- School of Public Health, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; Bernhard Nocht Institute of Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany; Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR), Kumasi, Ghana
| | | | - Tiana Mirana Raminosoa
- Madagascar Institute for Vaccine Research, University of Antananarivo, Antananarivo, Madagascar
| | | | | | | | - Hyejin Seo
- International Vaccine Institute, Seoul, South Korea
| | | | - Megan E Carey
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK; International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, London, UK
| | - Michael Owusu
- Department of Medical Diagnostics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; Centre for Health System Strengthening (CfHSS), Kumasi, Ghana; Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR), Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Christian G Meyer
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, Eberhard-Karls University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; Duy Tan University, Da Nang, Viet Nam
| | | | - Nimarko Sarpong
- School of Public Health, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | | | | | | | | | - Jooah Lee
- International Vaccine Institute, Seoul, South Korea; Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | | | | | - Ju Yeon Park
- International Vaccine Institute, Seoul, South Korea; Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - John A Crump
- Centre for International Health, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Liselotte Hardy
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Jan Jacobs
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium; Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, Leuven Belgium
| | | | - Jason R Andrews
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | | | - John D Clemens
- International Vaccine Institute, Seoul, South Korea; Jonathan and Karin Fielding School of Public Health, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Stephen G Baker
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jerome H Kim
- International Vaccine Institute, Seoul, South Korea; Department of Life Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Gordon Dougan
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jonathan D Sugimoto
- International Vaccine Institute, Seoul, South Korea; Epidemiologic Research and Information Center, Cooperative Studies Program, Office of Research and Development, United States Department of Veterans Affairs, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle WA USA
| | - Sandra Van Puyvelde
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK; Laboratory of Medical Microbiology, Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Aderemi Kehinde
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Oluwafemi A Popoola
- Department of Community Medicine, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria; Department of Community Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | | | - Robert F Breiman
- Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA; Infectious Diseases and Oncology Research Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | | | - Abraham Aseffa
- Armauer Hansen Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Birkneh Tilahun Tadesse
- International Vaccine Institute, Seoul, South Korea; Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden; Center for Innovative Drug Development and Therapeutic Trials for Africa, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | | | - Yaw Adu-Sarkodie
- School of Public Health, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; Department of Clinical Microbiology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | | | | | - Iruka N Okeke
- Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Octavie Lunguya-Metila
- Department of Microbiology, Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo; Department of Medical Biology, Microbiology Service, University Teaching Hospital of Kinshasa, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Ellis Owusu-Dabo
- School of Public Health, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
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Agyemang C, van der Linden EL, Antwi-Berko D, Nkansah Darko S, Twumasi-Ankrah S, Meeks K, van den Born BJH, Henneman P, Owusu-Dabo E, Beune E. Cohort profile: Research on Obesity and Diabetes among African Migrants in Europe and Africa Prospective (RODAM-Pros) cohort study. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e067906. [PMID: 36521887 PMCID: PMC9756160 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-067906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The Research on Obesity and Diabetes among African Migrants (RODAM) prospective (RODAM-Pros) cohort study was established to identify key changes in environmental exposures and epigenetic modifications driving the high burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk among sub-Saharan African migrants. PARTICIPANTS All the participants in the RODAM cross-sectional study that completed the baseline assessment (n=5114) were eligible for the follow-up of which 2165 participants (n=638 from rural-Ghana, n=608 from urban-Ghana, and n=919 Ghanaian migrants in Amsterdam, the Netherlands) were included in the RODAM-Pros cohort study. Additionally, we included a subsample of European-Dutch (n=2098) to enable a comparison to be made between Ghanaian migrants living in the Netherlands and the European-Dutch host population. FINDINGS TO DATE Follow-up data have been collected on demographics, socioeconomic status, medical history, psychosocial environment, lifestyle factors, nutrition, anthropometrics, blood pressure, fasting blood, urine and stool samples. Biochemical analyses included glucose metabolism, lipid profile, electrolytes and renal function, liver metabolism and inflammation. In a subsample, we assessed DNA methylation patterns using Infinium 850K DNA Methylation BeadChip. Baseline results indicated that migrants have higher prevalence of CVD risk factors than non-migrants. Epigenome-wide association studies suggest important differences in DNA methylation between migrants and non-migrants. The follow-up study will shed further light on key-specific environmental exposures and epigenetic modifications contributing to the high burden of CVD risk among sub-Saharan African migrants. FUTURE PLANS Follow-up is planned at 5-year intervals, baseline completed in 2015 and first follow-up completed in 2021.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles Agyemang
- Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Eva L van der Linden
- Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Vascular Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Daniel Antwi-Berko
- Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Samuel Nkansah Darko
- School of Public Health, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Sampson Twumasi-Ankrah
- School of Public Health, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana
- Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Karlijn Meeks
- Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Center for Research on Genomics and Global Health, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Bert-Jan H van den Born
- Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Vascular Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Peter Henneman
- Department of Human Genetics, Genome Diagnostics laboratory Amsterdam, Reproduction & Development, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ellis Owusu-Dabo
- School of Public Health, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Erik Beune
- Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Acquah-Gyan E, Acheampong PR, Mohammed A, Adjei TK, Agyapong E, Twumasi-Ankrah S, Sylverken A, Owusu M, Owusu-Dabo E. User experiences of a mobile phone-based health information and surveillance system (mHISS): A case of caregivers of children under-five in rural communities in Ghana. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0261806. [PMID: 35061727 PMCID: PMC8782293 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0261806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 12/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The rapid advancement of mobile technology has fueled the use of mobile devices for health interventions and for improving healthcare provision in underserved communities. Despite the potential of mHealth being used as a health information and surveillance tool, its scale-up has been challenging and, in most cases, unable to advance beyond the pilot stage of implementation. The purpose of this study was to explore user experiences of a mobile phone-based interactive voice response (IVR) system among caregivers of children under-five in rural communities in the Asante Akim North District of Ghana. Methods The study adopted an exploratory design. A convenience sampling technique was used to recruit 35 participants who had used an IVR system for at least six months for the study. About 11 in-depth interviews and three focus group discussions were conducted among participants using a semi-structured interview guide. Thematic content analysis was utilized for the analysis of data in this study. Result The system was found to be acceptable, and the attitude of caregivers towards the system was also positive. The study discovered that the mobile phone-based Health Information and Surveillance System (mHISS) was useful for improving access to healthcare, communicating with health professionals, served as a decision support system, and improved caregivers’ awareness about self-management of childhood illnesses. Poor network quality, unstable electricity power supply, and dropped/cut calls served as significant barriers to using the mHISS system. Conclusion The mHISS system was generally acceptable and could help improve access to healthcare and identify children with severe health conditions during outbreaks of diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Acquah-Gyan
- Department of Global and International Health, College of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Princess Ruhama Acheampong
- Department of Global and International Health, College of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Aliyu Mohammed
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
- * E-mail:
| | - Timothy Kwabena Adjei
- Department of Global and International Health, College of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Emmanuel Agyapong
- Department of Global and International Health, College of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Sampson Twumasi-Ankrah
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR), Kumasi, Ghana
- Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science, College of Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Augustina Sylverken
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR), Kumasi, Ghana
- Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology, College of Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Michael Owusu
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR), Kumasi, Ghana
- Department of Medical Diagnostics, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Ellis Owusu-Dabo
- Department of Global and International Health, College of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
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Acheampong PR, Mohammed A, Twumasi-Ankrah S, Sylverken AA, Owusu M, Acquah-Gyan E, Adjei TK, Otupiri E, Owusu-Dabo E. 'This disease is not meant for the hospital, it is Asram': Implications of a traditionally-defined illness on healthcare seeking for children under-5 in rural Ashanti, Ghana. PLOS Glob Public Health 2022; 2:e0000978. [PMID: 36962827 PMCID: PMC10021330 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0000978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Every child has the right to survive, grow and develop. However, in spite of the considerable global gains that have been made in child survival, Sub-Saharan Africa still has the highest child mortality rates and accounts for the greatest burden of mortality globally. The majority of these children die without ever reaching a health facility. The practice of appropriate healthcare-seeking behaviour has a great potential to reduce the occurrence of severe and life-threatening childhood illnesses. Several factors, however, influence healthcare-seeking behaviour, including perceptions of the cause of illness and socio-cultural perspectives. This study seeks to understand local concepts of a traditionally-defined illness complex, Asram, and its influence on healthcare seeking behavior of mothers/caregivers. This qualitative study was conducted from October 2019 to February 2020. Four Focus Group Discussions were conducted with mothers/caregivers of children under-5 and 22 Key Informant Interviews with mothers/caregivers of children who had Asram, health workers at district, facility, and community levels, and Asram healers. Participants were selected from two rural communities, Akutuase and Wioso of the Asante Akim North district in the Ashanti region of Ghana. Data analysis was carried out iteratively throughout data collection, using a thematic analysis approach. The study shows that Asram is a childhood illness complex that is perceived to have been acquired spiritually and/or inherited. Nine types of Asram were described. This childhood illness was said to be treatable by Asram healers who had sub-specialties in treatment approaches that were determined by the Asram type reported. Mothers/caregivers trusted Asram healers and preferred to call on them first. This was found to be the main reason for delays in seeking healthcare for children under-5 who showed symptoms of Asram. Asram is a childhood illness complex that is believed to be better managed outside the health facility setting. This study complements existing knowledge and creates opportunities for further research and the introduction of more effective interventions in the effort to improve child survival in rural communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Princess Ruhama Acheampong
- School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Aliyu Mohammed
- School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Sampson Twumasi-Ankrah
- Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science, College of Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Augustina Angelina Sylverken
- Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology, College of Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Michael Owusu
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, College of Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Emmanuel Acquah-Gyan
- School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Timothy Kwabena Adjei
- School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Easmon Otupiri
- School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Ellis Owusu-Dabo
- School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
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Sylverken AA, Kwarteng A, Twumasi-Ankrah S, Owusu M, Arthur RA, Dumevi RM, Adu-Amoah L, Addofoh N, Okyere PB, Dzata F, Bonsu F, Adusi-Poku Y, Kranzer K, Siroka A, van Gemert W, Dean A, Owusu-Dabo E. The burden of drug resistance tuberculosis in Ghana; results of the First National Survey. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0252819. [PMID: 34111159 PMCID: PMC8191906 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0252819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Resistance to Tuberculosis drugs has become a major threat to the control of tuberculosis (TB) globally. We conducted the first nation-wide drug resistance survey to investigate the level and pattern of resistance to first-line TB drugs among newly and previously treated sputum smear-positive TB cases. We also evaluated associations between potential risk factors and TB drug resistance. Using the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines on conducting national TB surveys, we selected study participants from 33 health facilities from across the country, grouped into 29 clusters, and included them into the survey. Between April 2016 and June 2017, a total of 927 patients (859 new and 68 previously treated) were enrolled in the survey. Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) isolates were successfully cultured from 598 (65.5%) patient samples and underwent DST, 550 from newly diagnosed and 48 from previously treated patients. The proportion of patients who showed resistance to any of the TB drugs tested was 25.2% (95% CI; 21.8–28.9). The most frequent resistance was to Streptomycin (STR) (12.3%), followed by Isoniazid (INH) (10.4%), with Rifampicin (RIF), showing the least resistance of 2.4%. Resistance to Isoniazid and Rifampicin (multi-drug resistance) was found in 19 (3.2%; 95% CI: 1.9–4.9) isolates. Prevalence of multidrug resistance was 7 (1.3%; 95% CI: 0.5–2.6) among newly diagnosed and 12 (25.0%; 95% CI: 13.6–39.6) among previously treated patients. At both univariate and multivariate analysis, MDR-TB was positively associated with previous history of TB treatment (OR = 5.09, 95% CI: 1.75–14.75, p = 0.003); (OR = 5.41, 95% CI: 1.69–17.30, p = 0.004). The higher levels of MDR-TB and overall resistance to any TB drug among previously treated patients raises concerns about adherence to treatment. This calls for strengthening existing TB programme measures to ensure a system for adequately testing and monitoring TB drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Augustina Angelina Sylverken
- Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
- * E-mail:
| | - Alexander Kwarteng
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Sampson Twumasi-Ankrah
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
- Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Michael Owusu
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Rejoice Agyeiwaa Arthur
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Rexford Mawunyo Dumevi
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Louis Adu-Amoah
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Nicholas Addofoh
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Portia Boakye Okyere
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Francisca Dzata
- National Tuberculosis Control Programme, Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana
| | - Frank Bonsu
- National Tuberculosis Control Programme, Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana
| | - Yaw Adusi-Poku
- National Tuberculosis Control Programme, Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana
| | | | - Andrew Siroka
- Global Tuberculosis Programme, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Wayne van Gemert
- Global Tuberculosis Programme, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Anna Dean
- Global Tuberculosis Programme, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Ellis Owusu-Dabo
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
- Department of Global and International Health, School of Public Health, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
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