Short-term chemotherapy-related complications and undernutrition in children diagnosed with cancer at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana: A prospective cohort study.

Undernutrition in children with cancer is associated with complications during cancer therapy. The study objective was to determine the association between specific anthropometric parameters and short-term chemotherapy-related complications and mortality. This was a hospital-based, prospective cohort study of children, age ≤12 years, with a new cancer diagnosis at the Paediatric Oncology Unit, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Ghana.

Trends in Neonatal Mortality at Princess Marie Louise Children's Hospital, Accra, and the Newborn Strategic Plan: Implications for Reducing Mortality in Hospital and the Community.

Background: In low and middle-income countries, close to half of the mortality in children under the age of five years occurs in neonates.

Objectives: We examined the trend, medical conditions and factors associated with newborn deaths at the Princess Marie Louise Children's Hospital (PML), Accra, from 2014 to 2017 (4 years).

Methods: The study was a cross-sectional study.

Family Needs Assessment of Patients with Cerebral Palsy Attending Two Hospitals in Accra, Ghana.

Background: The family represents the most essential and supportive environment for children with cerebral palsy (CP). To improve children's outcomes, it is crucial to consider the needs of families in order to offer family-centered care, which tailors services to these needs.

Objective: We conducted a needs assessment to identify the family needs of patients with CP attending two hospitals in Accra.

Malaria, gastrointestinal parasite infection and nutritional status among febrile children In Accra, Ghana.

Introduction: Malaria and intestinal parasite infection are common in developing countries. These Parasites causes anaemia and malnutrition mostly in children. For this reason, it is important to study these infections and their effects in order to monitor interventions to control them.

Multicenter Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance among Gram-Negative Bacteria Isolated from Bloodstream Infections in Ghana.

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Gram-negative bacteria-causing bloodstream infections (BSIs), such as and non-typhoidal (NTS), is a major public health concern. Nonetheless, AMR surveillance remains scarce in sub-Saharan Africa, where BSI treatment is largely empirical. The aim of the study was to determine the distribution and AMR patterns of BSI-causing NTS, , and other Gram-negative bacteria in Ghana.

Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria in Hospital Wastewater of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra, Ghana.

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the top 10 public health threats. One approach to tackling the AMR menace could involve expanding the range of AMR surveillance domains to include hospital wastewater (HWW), a domain that has largely been overlooked by researchers.

Aim: To evaluate the occurrence of multidrug-resistant bacteria in hospital wastewater of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH).

Pregnancy as a Fundamental Determinant of Child Health: a Review.

Purpose Of Review: Maternal conditions and exposures during pregnancy including over- and undernutrition are associated with poor childbirth outcomes, growth, development and chronic childhood diseases. We examined contemporary pregnancy-related determinants of child health.

Recent Findings: While maternal undernutrition remains a major contributor to low birth weight, maternal obesity affects foetal growth, birth weight, survival and is associated with childhood obesity, asthma and autistic spectrum disorders.

Malnutrition in HIV infected children on antiretroviral drugs in a cohort of Ghanaian children.

Background: HIV infected children are at increased risk of malnutrition which worsens the depressed immune system, leading to poor disease prognosis.

Aim: To assess the nutritional status of children between 6-12 years on antiretroviral drugs (ARV) at two health facilities in Accra.

Methods: The study design was cross sectional among children between 6 and 12 years being administered with antiretroviral drugs at two hospitals in Accra.

Treatment outcomes among children treated for uncomplicated severe acute malnutrition: a retrospective study in Accra, Ghana.

Objectives: The objectives of the study were to describe outcomes of children with uncomplicated severe acute malnutrition (SAM) attending community-based management of acute malnutrition (CMAM) treatment centres in Accra Metropolitan Area (AMA) and explore factors associated with non-adherence to clinic visits and defaulting from the treatment programme.

Design: A retrospective cohort study analysing routinely collected data on children with uncomplicated SAM enrolled into CMAM in 2017 was conducted.

Setting: Study was conducted at seven sites comprising Princess Marie Louise Children's Hospital, three sub-metropolitan health facilities and three community centres, located in five sub-metropolitan areas in AMA.

Perspectives on Research Internships for Medical Students and Young Doctors in Ghana: An Opportunity to Replenish the Stock of Physician Investigators?

The corona virus pandemic undoubtedly demonstrates the growing need for research in medical science. However, with the decline in physician scientists world-wide, innovative ways are needed to engender interest in research among medical students and young doctors to replenish the stock of physician investigators. One way of doing this is to create compulsory and elective projects for them.

Comparative study of the nutritional composition of local brown rice, maize (obaatanpa), and millet-A baseline research for varietal complementary feeding.

Introduction: Childhood malnutrition remains a major public health issue of concern particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, and inadequate complementary feeding is a common cause. Promoting dietary diversity is one way of tackling this problem. High dependence on maize has its limitations; modifying other local staples into complementary foods can be a feasible alternative to promote optimum nutrition.

Nasal Colonization among Children with Sickle Cell Disease at the Children's Hospital, Accra: Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Antibiotic Resistance.

The aim of this study was to investigate carriage among children with sickle cell disease (SCD), including the prevalence, risk factors, and antibiotic resistance. The study was cross-sectional, and involved 120 children with SCD recruited at the Princess Marie Louise Children's Hospital (PML) in Accra and 100 apparently healthy children from environs of the hospital. Nasal swab samples were collected from the study participants and cultured for bacteria.

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.

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.

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.

Colonization of HIV-Infected Children with Methicillin-Resistant .

Background: Methicillin-resistant (MRSA) poses a public health threat owing to its extensive resistance to antibiotics, association with persistent outbreaks, and markedly increased healthcare costs. Moreover, HIV-infected individuals are at a greater risk for colonization with MRSA, and may act as reservoirs for subsequent transmission to other individuals. In Ghana, little is known about MRSA in relation to at-risk populations, such as HIV-infected children.

Methicillin-Resistant in Ghana: Past, Present, and Future.

Methicillin-resistant (MRSA) is of serious public health concern due to its extensive antibiotic resistance and association with frequent outbreaks. So far, MRSA has received very little attention in Ghana. In line with recent efforts by the Government of Ghana to improve surveillance of antibiotic resistance, this article reviews the existing literature on MRSA in Ghana with the aim of highlighting its public health significance, identifying relevant areas of research, and how to combat this pathogen.

Pneumonia in Ghana-a need to raise the profile.

Despite the high mortality, pneumonia retains a relatively low profile among researchers, funders and policymakers. Here we reflect on the problems and priorities of pneumonia in Ghana, briefly review the evidence base and reflect upon in-person discussions between Southampton-based authors MGH and JB and academic, clinical and policy colleagues in Ghana. The discussions took place in Accra in August 2017.

Observations from Mortality Trends at The Children's Hospital, Accra, 2003-2013.

Objective: Facility-based studies provide an unparalleled opportunity to assess interventions deployed in hospitals to reduce child mortality which is not easily captured in the national data. We examined mortality trends at the Princess Marie Louise Children's Hospital (PML) and related it to interventions deployed in the hospital and community to reduce child mortality and achieve the Millennium Development Goal 4 (MDG 4).

Methods: The study was a cross-sectional review of data on consecutive patients who died at the hospital over a period of 11 years, between 2003 and 2013.

Under-five mortality pattern and associated risk factors: a case-control study at the Princess Marie Louise Children's Hospital in Accra, Ghana.

Background: Millions of children under the age of 5 years die every year. Some of these deaths occur in hospitals and are related to both clinical characteristics and modifiable risk factors. This study investigates the association between malnutrition and mortality and profiles the presenting features in a case-control study of children under 5 years of age who attended Princess Marie Louise Children's Hospital (PML) in 2011.

Changing Patterns of Disease and Mortality at the Children's Hospital, Accra: Are Infections Rising?

Background: The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) have led to reductions in child mortality world-wide. This has, invariably, led to the changes in the epidemiology of diseases associated with child mortality. Although facility based data do not capture all deaths, they provide an opportunity to confirm diagnoses and insight into these changes which are relevant for further disease control.

Maternal profiles and social determinants of malnutrition and the MDGs: What have we learnt?

Background: Maternal socio-demographic and health profiles are important determinants of malnutrition in children. In the 1990s, malnutrition was associated with low-birth-weight, young mothers and low maternal socio-economic status at Princess Marie Louise Children's Hospital (PML). It is not known how this has changed by efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

Factors affecting malnutrition in children and the uptake of interventions to prevent the condition.

Background: Malnutrition is a major cause of child morbidity and mortality. There are several interventions to prevent the condition but it is unclear how well they are taken up by both malnourished and well nourished children and their mothers and the extent to which this is influenced by socio-economic factors. We examined socio-economic factors, health outcomes and the uptake of interventions to prevent malnutrition by mothers of malnourished and well-nourished in under-fives attending Princess Marie Louise Children's Hospital (PML).