Modeling the economic burden of postpartum hemorrhage due to substandard uterotonics in Ghana.

Uterotonics are essential in preventing postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), the leading direct cause of maternal death worldwide. However, uterotonics are often substandard in low- and middle-income countries, contributing to poor maternal health outcomes. This study examines the health and economic impact of substandard uterotonics in Ghana.

Impact of COVID-19 on the Use of Emergency Contraceptives in Ghana: An Interrupted Time Series Analysis.

The Coronavirus disease pandemic has disrupted reproductive health services including decline in the use of pre-coital contraceptives. However, evidence of its impact on the use of emergency contraceptives, often, post-coital methods, is limited in the emerging literature, hence this study. Data on total number of emergency contraceptive users from January 2018 to February 2020 (pre-pandemic) and March to December 2020 (during the pandemic) were extracted from the Ghana Health Service District Health Information Management System.

Analysis of meningitis outbreak data, Jaman North District, Brong Ahafo Region, Ghana.

Background: Descriptive analysis of meningitis outbreak in Jaman North districts of Brong Ahafo Region.

Design: Descriptive secondary data analysis.

Data Source: records of meningitis cases were extracted from case-based forms and line list.

Geospatial clustering of meningitis: an early warning system (hotspot) for potential meningitis outbreak in upper east region of Ghana.

Objective: We mapped and generated hot spots for potential meningitis outbreak from existing data in Upper East region, Ghana.

Design: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in 2017.

Data Source: Meningitis data in the Upper East Region from January 2007, to December 2016.

Pneumococcal meningitis outbreak and associated factors in six districts of Brong Ahafo region, Ghana, 2016.

Background: Meningitis, a disease of the Central Nervous System is described as inflammation of the covering of the brain and spinal cord (meninges). It is characterised by fever, severe headache, nausea, vomiting, stiff neck, photophobia, altered consciousness, convulsion/seizures and coma. In December, 2015, twelve suspected cases of meningitis were reported in Tain district in Brong Ahafo region (BAR).

Factors influencing uptake of intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy using sulphadoxine pyrimethamine in Sunyani Municipality, Ghana.

Introduction: Malaria continues to pose a public health challenge in Ghana particularly in pregnant women. Ghana adopted intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy policy using sulphadoxine pyrimethamine. Despite its implementation, its coverage still remains low.

Large cholera outbreak in Brong Ahafo Region, Ghana.

Background: A nationwide outbreak of Vibrio cholerae occurred in Ghana in 2014 with Accra, the nation's capital as the epi-center. The outbreak spread to the Brong Ahafo Region (BAR) which is geographically located in the middle of the country. In this region a review of data collected during the outbreak was carried out and analyzed descriptively to determine the hot spots and make recommendations for effective response to future outbreaks.

Meningitis Outbreak Caused by Vaccine-Preventable Bacterial Pathogens - Northern Ghana, 2016.

Bacterial meningitis is a severe, acute infection of the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord that can rapidly lead to death. Even with recommended antibiotic treatment, up to 25% of infected persons in Africa might experience neurologic sequelae (1). Three regions in northern Ghana (Upper East, Northern, and Upper West), located in the sub-Saharan "meningitis belt" that extends from Senegal to Ethiopia, experienced periodic outbreaks of meningitis before introduction of serogroup A meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MenAfriVac) in 2012 (2,3).

Assessment of the usefulness of integrated disease surveillance and response on suspected ebola cases in the Brong Ahafo Region, Ghana.

Background: This study assessed the quality, core and support functions of the integrated disease surveillance and response (IDSR) system relating to 18 suspected cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in the Brong Ahafo Region, Ghana.

Methods: Data was collected on selected indicators of the surveillance system relating to 18 suspected cases of EVD, from epidemiological week 19 to 45 of 2014. We conducted in-depth interviews with seven medical directors and two district directors of health services, and also reviewed documentation on the implementation of the core, support and quality functions of the IDSR system.

Maternal and neonatal survival and mortality in the Upper West Region of Ghana.

Objective: To describe the health facility-based factors affecting maternal/neonatal health and the outcomes of maternal death notifications and audits in the Upper West Region of Ghana.

Methods: Maternal death notifications and audits were conducted at 6 hospitals and in communities in the Upper West Region of Ghana in 2009. Furthermore, a kangaroo mother care strategy was implemented at 5 health facilities in the region to improve neonatal survival.