Predictors of placental malaria in Upper West Regional Hospital-Ghana.

Background: Placental malaria (PM) poses life-threatening complications to pregnant women as they are at increased risk of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality associated with malaria. This study examined the factors associated with placental malaria in the Upper West Regional Hospital (UWR).

Methods: A cross-sectional hospital-based study was carried out among pregnant women delivering at Upper West Regional Hospital.

Sustainability of a field epidemiology and laboratory training programme: the Ghanaian story.

Introduction: Field Epidemiology Training Programmes (FETPs) are functional ways of strengthening epidemiology, surveillance and outbreak response capacity in countries. However, sustainability of FETPs is a major challenge facing most countries especially in Africa. The Ghana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program (GFELTP) started in 2007 in the University of Ghana School of Public Health as a solution to gaps in the public health workforce.

Outbreak of scabies among preschool children, Accra, Ghana, 2017.

Background: Scabies occurs worldwide with a prevalence between 0.3 and 46.0%.

Dog Bites and Rabies in the Eastern Region of Ghana in 2013-2015: A Call for a One-Health Approach.

Background: A One-Health approach is advocated to ensure effective rabies surveillance in sub-Saharan Africa. Information is needed to assess the current state of dog bites and rabies in Ghana. We analyzed data on reported events in the Eastern Region of Ghana from 2013 to 2015 to generate information that can be used for rabies elimination in Ghana through the One-Health approach.

Uncommon mixed outbreak of pneumococcal and meningococcal meningitis in Jirapa District, Upper West Region, Ghana, 2016.

Objective: The Jirapa District in Ghana falls within the African meningitis belt where over 500 million people are at risk of epidemic meningitis. The district suffered an outbreak of Neisseria meningitides, W (NMW) in 2012 and a mixed outbreak of Streptococcus pneumonia and NMW in early 2016. We investigated the outbreak to identify the source, causative agents, and magnitude and assess health facility preparedness and propose control measures.

Bacteriological profile and antibiotic susceptibility pattern of common isolates of neonatal sepsis, Ho Municipality, Ghana-2016.

Background: Globally, 4 million neonates die annually, with one-third of such deaths occurring as a result of infections. In 2011, there were 7.2million deaths in children below 5 years globally, and a proportion of 40% of these deaths occurred in neonates.

THE PREVALENCE OF TUBERCULOSIS IN CATTLE AND THEIR HANDLERS IN NORTH TONGU, VOLTA REGION, GHANA.

Background: The need to understand the contribution of bovine tuberculosis (BTB) to the general tuberculosis burden in a poor resource setting is paramount. The aim of this study is to determine the burden of BTB among herdsmen and cattle in the North Tongu district of Volta Region in Ghana.

Materials And Methods: A cross- sectional study was conducted in the North Tongu District of the Volta Region between the period of October 2011- March 2012.

THE PREVALENCE OF BRUCELLOSIS IN CATTLE AND THEIR HANDLERS IN NORTH TONGU DISTRICT OF VOLTA REGION, GHANA.

Background: Brucellosis is a zoonotic pathogen responsible for great economic losses in most sub-Saharan nations. Although Ghana has successfully implemented the "One Health" initiative for the control of some emerging infectious zoonotic diseases with pandemic potential like Avian Influenza, there is very limited data available on brucellosis especially human brucellosis prevalence. He objective of his study is to determine the seroprevalence of human and bovine brucellosis as well as the predisposing factors at the community level in the North Tongu District of Ghana.

Review of meningitis surveillance data, upper West Region, Ghana 2009-2013.

Introduction: The Upper West region of Ghana is within the meningitis belt. Analysis of long term surveillance data is necessary for understanding changes in the disease occurrence. We analyzed five years of surveillance data to describe by person, place and time and to determine trends in meningitis.

Exposure of Small-Scale Gold Miners in Prestea to Mercury, Ghana, 2012.

Introduction: Small-scale gold miners in Ghana have been using mercury to amalgamate gold for many years. Mercury is toxic even at low concentration. We assessed occupational exposure of small-scale gold miners to mercury in Prestea, a gold mining town in Ghana

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in which we collected morning urine samples from 343 small-scale gold miners and tested for elemental mercury.

Outcome of Streptomycin-Rifampicin treatment of Buruli Ulcer in two Ghanaian districts.

Introduction: Buruli ulcer (BU) is an infectious skin disease, caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans, endemic in more than 30 countries worldwide especially Africa. Brong-Ahafo Region implemented WHO recommended daily treatment with streptomycin and rifampicin for eight weeks (SR8). Yet limited assessment of therapy exists.

Bovine Tuberculosis Surveillance System Evaluation, Greater-Accra Region, Ghana, 2006-2011.

Introduction: Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a chronic, zoonotic, multi-species disease of cattle caused by Mycobacterium bovis. In developed countries, effective surveillance and enforcement of regulations on bTB control resulted in significant reduction of infections in cattle and hence, humans. However, in developing countries, weak surveillance systems affect accurate and timely reporting of bTB in humans and cattle.

Factors influencing utilization of intermittent preventive treatment for pregnancy in the Gushegu district, Ghana, 2013.

Introduction: The coverage of adequate (≥2 doses) IPTp-SP in Ghana is below the national target of 80% and that is a threat to reducing the incidence of malaria in pregnancy. The primary objective of the study was to determine the client and facility related factors associated with adequate uptake of IPTp-SP and suggest approaches for increased uptake.

Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among ANC clients and staff in Gushegu, questionnaires was administered to 330 conveniently sampled nursing mothers and all ANC staff present.

Training Ghanaian frontline healthcare workers in public health surveillance and disease outbreak investigation and response.

Introduction: Beyond initial formal academic education, the need for continuous professional development through in-service workforce capacity improvement programs that are aimed at enhancing knowledge and skills of public healthcare workers has assumed immense priority worldwide. This has been heightened by the on-going Ebola Virus Disease outbreak, which is exposing the weak public health systems in West Africa. In response to this need, the Ghana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Program organized a short-course for frontline health workers in the Greater Accra region of Ghana in order to augment their surveillance and outbreak response capacity.

Secondary analysis of snake bite data in the Western Region of Ghana: 2006-2010.

Background: A snake bite is an injury caused by a bite from a snake, often resulting in puncture wounds, amputations and sometimes envenomation. Envenoming resulting from snake bite is a particularly important public health problem in rural areas of tropical and sub-tropical countries in Africa. This paper reports the incidence of snake bites and its associated mortality in the Western Region of Ghana.

Outbreak of foodborne gastroenteritis in a senior high school in South-eastern Ghana: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: On 4th February 2015, a group of Senior High School students from Fanteakwa district presented to the emergency unit of the district hospital with complaints of abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhoea. All the students had eaten from a specific food vendor and had neither eaten any other common meal that day nor the previous day. A foodborne disease outbreak was suspected.

Foodborne disease outbreak in a resource-limited setting: a tale of missed opportunities and implications for response.

Introduction: Foodborne diseases (FBD) have emerged as a major public health problem worldwide. Though the global burden of FBD is currently unknown, foodborne diarrhoeal diseases kill 1.9 million children globally every year.

Direct observation of outpatient management of malaria in a rural Ghanaian district.

Introduction: In Ghana, malaria continues to top outpatient morbidities; accounting for about 40% of all attendances. Effective case-management is key to its control. We evaluated case-management practices of uncomplicated malaria in Kwahu South District (KSD) health facilities to determine their conformity to guidelines.

Improving medical records filing in a municipal hospital in Ghana.

Background: Medical records are kept in the interest of both the patient and clinician. Proper filing of patient's medical records ensures easy retrieval and contributes to decreased patient waiting time at the hospital and continuity of care. This paper reports on an intervention study to address the issue of misfiling and multiple patient folders in a health facility.

Outbreak of cholera in the East Akim Municipality of Ghana following unhygienic practices by small-scale gold miners, November 2010.

Background: 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.

Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programs in West Africa as a model for sustainable partnerships in animal and human health.

The concept of animal and human health experts working together toward a healthier world has been endorsed, but challenges remain in identifying concrete actions to move this one health concept from vision to action. In 2008, as a result of avian influenza outbreaks in West Africa, international donor support led to a unique opportunity to invest in Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programs (FELTPs) in the region that engaged the animal and human health sectors to strengthen the capacity for prevention and control of zoonotic diseases. The FELTPs mixed 25% to 35% classroom and 65% to 75% field-based training and service for cohorts of physicians, veterinarians, and laboratory scientists.

One Health concept for strengthening public health surveillance and response through Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training in Ghana.

The lack of highly trained field epidemiologists in the public health system in Ghana has been known since the 1970s when the Planning Unit was established in the Ghana Ministry of Health. When the Public Health School was started in 1994, the decision was taken to develop a 1 academic-year general MPH course. The persisting need for well-trained epidemiologists to support the public health surveillance, outbreak investigation and response system made the development of the Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme (FELTP) a national priority.

The genesis and evolution of the African Field Epidemiology Network.

In an effort to contain the frequently devastating epidemics in sub-Saharan Africa, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa launched the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) strategy in an effort to strengthen surveillance and response. However, 36 sub-Saharan African countries have been described as experiencing a human resource crisis by the WHO. Given this human resource situation, the challenge remains for these countries to achieve, among others, the health-related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Economic burden of motorcycle accidents in Northern Ghana.

Background: Motorcycles are the most popular means of transportation in northern Ghana, and their accidents are major causes of out-patient attendance and admissions in the Bolgatanga Municipality.

Objective: This paper estimates the economic burden of motorcycle accidents in the Bolgatanga Municipality in Northern Ghana.

Design: Retrospective cross-sectional cost study.

Implementing Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response: Four African countries' experience, 1998-2005.

The Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) strategy was developed by the Africa Regional Office (AFRO) of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and proposed for adoption by member states in 1998. The goal was to build WHO/AFRO countries' capacity to detect, report and effectively respond to priority infectious diseases. This evaluation focuses on the outcomes in four countries that implemented this strategy.