Browsing by Author "Aboagye, E."

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Assessment of impacts of fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on maize production in Ghana
(Oxford University Press, 2021) Koff, D.; Kyerematen, R.; Eziah, V.Y.; Osei-Mensah, Y.O.; Afreh-Nuamah, K.; Aboagye, E.; Osae, M.; Meagher, R.L.
Spodoptera frugiperda was considered an insect pest only in the Americas until its first report in African countries in 2016. In this study, farmers and agricultural officials in Ghana were interviewed on their perceptions and knowledge of the pest, on infestation and maize yield variations across years, and on management practices. Farms were inspected to determine the infestation level of 100 plants per hectare. Interviews revealed that farmers were familiar with the larval stages of this pest and noticed that the pest occurred throughout the year, but populations of S. frugiperda increased only during cropping seasons. Infestation levels reported by farmers in surveys were much lower in 2018 (30.38%) than in 2017 (80.92%). Farm inspections confirmed that infestation levels were much lower in 2018 (20.90%) than 2017 (73.70%). The belt formed by Guinea Savannah, Transitional Zone, and Semi Deciduous Forest Agro-Ecological Zones (AEZs) recorded the highest infestations while the lowest were observed from the Sudan Savannah and Tropical Rain Forest AEZs. Insecticides were the most commonly used tactic to manage populations of this new pest. Maize yields increased across Ghana between 2013 and 2015 from 1.52 to 1.73 t/ha, decreased between 2015 and 2017 to 1.55 t/ha, and increased to 1.69 t/ha in 2018. The impact of fall armyworm injury to maize production is discussed.
Catheter‑Related Bloodstream Infections among patients on maintenance haemodialysis: a cross‑sectional study at a tertiary hospital in Ghana
(BMC Infectious Diseases, 2023) Opoku‑Asare, B.; Boima, V.; Aboagye, E.; et al.
Background Catheter-Related Bloodstream Infections (CRBSIs) are notable complications among patients receiving maintenance haemodialysis. However, data on the prevalence of CRBSIs is lacking. This study was conducted to deter‑ mine the prevalence and factors associated with CRBSIs among patients receiving haemodialysis in the renal unit of the largest tertiary hospital in Ghana. Methods A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted on patients receiving maintenance haemodialy‑ sis via central venous catheters (CVC) between September 2021 and April 2022. Multivariate analysis using logistic regression was used to determine the risk factors that were predictive of CRBSI. Analysis was performed using SPSS version 23 and a p-value<0.05 was statistically signifcant. Results The prevalence of CRBSI was 34.2% (52/152). Of these, more than half of them (53.9%(28/52)) had Possible CRBSI while 11.5% (6/52) had Defnite CRBSI. Among the positive cultures, 62% (21/34) were from catheter sites whilst the rest were from peripheral blood. Gram-negative cultures made up 53% (18/34) of positive cultures with the rest being Gram positive cultures. Acinetobacter baumannii (33.3% (6/18)) was the commonest organism isolated among Gram-negative cultures whilst Coagulase negative Staphylococci (43.7% (7/16)) was the commonest organism isolated among Gram-positve cultures. Gram-negative bacilli were more predominant in this study making up 52.9% of the total bacteria cultured. Sex, duration of maintenance dialysis, underlying cause of End-stage kidney disease, mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), neutrophil count and lymphocyte count were signifcantly predictive of CRBSI status (p<0.05). Conclusion There was a high prevalence of CRBSI among patients undergoing haemodialysis. The commonest causative agent was Coagulase negative Staphylococci, however there was a predominance of Gram-negative bacilli as compared to Gram positive cocci. There is a need to set up infection surveillance unit in the renal unit to track CRBSI and put in place measures to reduce these CRBSI.
Microbial Quality of Fish along the Tilapia, African Catfish and Sardinella Artisanal Value Chains in Kpong and James Town, Ghana
(2016-07) Aboagye, E.; Tano-Debrah, K.; University of Ghana, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Department of Nutrition and Food Science
Fish from artisanal sources constitute the most important animal protein in the Ghanaian diet. The availability and safety of fish on the Ghanaian market is however now unpredictable owing to potential rapid microbial growth which results from high ambient temperatures and poor handling along the artisanal value chains. Little is known about the artisanal fish value chains as well as the food safety knowledge and handling practices of key stakeholders involved. This study aimed at mapping out the artisanal fish value chains of Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) and sardinellas (Sardinella aurita), and assessing the food safety knowledge and handling practices of key stakeholders along the selected value chains. A survey using semi-structured questionnaires and involving 93 fishermen, 40 retailers, 40 processors and 120 consumers was carried out to investigate stakeholders’ knowledge and practices of food safety along the value chain. Samples of the selected fish species were taken along their respective value chains to test for the presence of safety indicators (Salmonella, Vibrio and Listeria species), hygiene indicators (Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli), and spoilage organisms (Pseudomonas spp. and Proteus spp.). The mean scores for food safety of retailers, processors and consumers were found to be generally insufficient at 55%, 43% and 67.3% respectively. The stakeholders also scored poorly in their handling practices with mean scores of 41.2%, 63.0% and 58.6% for fishermen, processors and consumers respectively. Estimated fish losses were highest at the retailer and consumer stages of the value chain with reported losses as high as 35 to 100%. Pathogens such as Clostridium perfringens, enteropathogenic Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria spp. and Aeromonas sobria were isolated from fresh and on processed ready-to-eat fish samples. Salmonella spp and Vibrio spp were not detected on any of the samples tested. Mesophilic counts in the range of 7.96 ± 0.68 to 2.95 ± 0.23 log cfu/g were reported from fresh fish samples, with similarly high faecal coliform counts averaging 3.11 log cfu/g. Processed fish samples had average total counts, faecal coliform counts, and yeasts and mould counts of 3.11, 2.27 and 2.45 log cfu/g respectively. Proteus vulgaris and Proteus mirabilis were the predominant spoilage organisms present on almost all the fresh fish samples. This study provided much needed insight into the unsatisfactory safety and quality of artisanal fish on the Ghanaian market and the specific microorganisms associated with them along the value chain. It also established the link between the food safety knowledge and handling practices of stakeholders within the value chain, and the actual quality and safety of fish on the market.
Patterns of Pesticide Use and Residue Levels in Exportable Pineapple (Ananas Comosus L. Merr.)
(University of Ghana, 2002-09) Aboagye, E.; Gbewonyo, W.S.K.; Obeng-Ofori, D.; Yeboah, O.P.; University of Ghana, College of Basic and Applied Sciences , School of Agriculture , Department of Crop Science
Pesticide use pattern on exportable pineapple (Ananas comosus L. Merr.) (Smooth Cayenne) was studied in the Akwapim South District of Ghana through administration of questionnaires. Among the several pesticides listed as being used, only nine, representing 43%, had been provisionally approved for use on exportable pineapples. Farmers handled pesticides carelessly without necessary caution though they had general awareness of hazards of pesticides. Residue levels of chlorpyrifos and carbendazim in exportable pineapple (Smooth Cayenne) grown in the district were also determined using a Gas Chromatograph equipped with electron capture detector and Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) by bioassay of Aspergillus niger Tiegh inhibition technique, respectively. The detection limit of carbendazim in the pineapple peel using TLC is 0.02|j.g/g. The carbendazim residue detected in the peel was in the range of 0.04±2xl0'2 to 0.05±lxl0‘2|ig/g. Chlorpyrifos was detected both in the peel and the pulp. The chlorpyrifos residue detected was within the range of 0.005±4.8xl0'3 to 0.02 ± lxl0'2(ig/g. These levels of residue were below pesticide permissible levels established by the European Union. Regular monitoring of pesticide use and determination of residue levels are recommended to optimize the value of fresh pineapples and sustain the export potentials of the fruits.
Socioeconomic-related inequalities in child malnutrition: evidence from the Ghana multiple indicator cluster survey
(Health Econ Rev., 2015-11) Novignon, J.; Aboagye, E.; Agyemang, O.S.; Aryeetey, G.
Background Malnutrition is a prevalent public health concern in Ghana. While studies have identified factors that influence child malnutrition and related inequalities in Ghana, very little efforts have been made to decompose these inequalities across various household characteristics. This study examined the influence of socioeconomic factors on inequality in child malnutrition using a decomposition approach. Go to: Methods The study employed cross section data from the 2011 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS). Analysis was done at three levels: First, concentration curves were constructed to explore the nature of inequality in child malnutrition. Secondly, concentration indices were computed to quantify the magnitude of inequality. Thirdly, decomposition analysis was conducted to determine the role of mother’s education and health insurance coverage in inequality of child malnutrition. Go to: Results The concentration curves showed that there exists a pro-poor inequality in child malnutrition measured by stunting and wasting. The concentration indices of these measures indicated that the magnitude of inequality was higher and significant at 1 % for weight-for-age (WAZ) (−0.1641), relative to height-for-age (HAZ) (−0.1613). The decomposition analyses show that whilst mother’s education contributed about 13 and 11 % to inequality in HAZ, it contributed about 18.9 and 11.8 % to inequality in WAZ for primary and secondary or above education attainments, respectively. Finally, health insurance contributed about 1.91 and 1.03 % to inequality in HAZ and WAZ, respectively. Go to: Conclusion The results suggest that there is the need to encourage critical policies directed towards improving female literacy in the country. The existence of a functional health insurance system and increasing universal coverage are recommended to mitigate child malnutrition.
Trapping Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Moths in Different Crop Habitats in Togo and Ghana
(Oxford, 2021) Koff, D.; Agboka, K.; Adjevi, A.K.M.; Assogba, K.; Fening, K.O.; Osae, M.; Aboagye, E.; Meagher, R.L.; Nagoshi, R.N.
The economic impact of the invasion of Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith, Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) into Africa has so far been limited to maize agriculture but could potentially impact many other crops. Trapping based on pheromone lures provides a cost-effective method for detecting this important pest (commonly known as fall armyworm) and will be essential for large-scale monitoring of populations to determine its geographical distribution and migration behavior as the species equilibrates to its new environment. However, the effective use of pheromone trapping requires optimization for a given location. An earlier report demonstrated that two commercial lures (one 3-component and the other 4-component) that were effective for trapping S. frugiperda in maize fields in Togo, Africa. The current study extends these findings to agricultural areas that differ in plant host composition (maize, pasture grasses, rice, and sorghum) in multiple locations in Ghana and Togo. In two seasons, significantly higher numbers of moths were found in maize, and in one season, higher numbers were found in rice than in sorghum and pasture grass systems. The results confirm the effectiveness of pheromone trapping and identify pheromone lures and trapping methods best suited for the different agroecosystems common to West Africa and that are at risk of infestation by S. frugiperda.