Publications by authors named "Jkl Opare"
Article Synopsis
- Circulating Vaccine-Derived Poliovirus Type 2 (cVDPV2) was found in sewage and stool samples from children with acute flaccid paralysis in northern Ghana, prompting an investigation into the outbreak.
- A total of 18 cases of cVDPV2 were confirmed across three regions, linked to a strain from Nigeria, highlighting issues in water quality, sanitation, and community health practices.
- The outbreak marked the first incidence of cVDPV2 in Ghana since 1996 but was controlled through enhanced surveillance and vaccination campaigns, including the Monovalent Oral Polio Vaccine 2 (mOPV2) and a nationwide IPV catch-up campaign.
Timeliness of Childhood Vaccinations Following Strengthening of the Second Year of Life (2YL) Immunization Platform and Introduction of Catch-Up Vaccination Policy in Ghana.
Vaccines (Basel)
June 2024
Strengthening routine immunization systems to successfully deliver childhood vaccines during the second year of life (2YL) is critical for vaccine-preventable disease control. In Ghana, the 18-month visit provides opportunities to deliver the second dose of the measles-rubella vaccine (MR2) and for healthcare workers to assess for and provide children with any missed vaccine doses. In 2016, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) revised its national immunization policies to include guidelines for catch-up vaccinations.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Coverage rates for second year of life (2YL) vaccination still lag behind infant vaccination in most settings. We conducted a qualitative baseline study of community barriers and enablers to acceptance of 2YL vaccines in Ghana 4 years after introducing the second dose of the measles-containing vaccine.
Methods: We conducted 26 focus group discussions in 2016 with men and women caregivers from mixed urban, peri-urban, and rural areas, as well as pastoralists, using semistructured topic guides based on the Health Belief Model theory.
Article Synopsis
- - A circulating-vaccine-derived poliovirus type-2 (cVDPV2) was confirmed in the Greater Accra Region, prompting a field investigation to assess the situation and control measures.
- - The study involved interviews with caregivers about vaccination, sanitation, and health-seeking behaviors, revealing low vaccination rates (22% for OPV and IPV) and poor sanitation practices among residents.
- - Although cVDPV2 was detected in sewage samples and linked to the site, no acute flaccid paralysis cases were found in children, highlighting a need for improved sanitation and health worker education on polio.
: Ghana recorded the last case of poliomyelitis caused by wild poliovirus in 2008 and the country was declared polio-free in 2015. Polio-neutralizing-antibody levels in the population of three geographically representative regions of Ghana was determined, to identify possible immunity gaps. : Cross-sectional, hospital (1-70 years old) and school (primary, 1-15 years old)-based studies were undertaken in three regions in 2016.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: In October 2010 an outbreak of cholera began among a group of small-scale gold miners in the East-Akim Municipality (EAM), Eastern Region. We investigated to verify the diagnosis, identify risk factors and recommend control measures.
Methods: We conducted a descriptive investigation, active case-search and an unmatched case-control study.