Browsing by Author "Addai, L."
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Item Clinical Stages Of Hiv Infection Among First Adult Attendants At Art Clinic In Eastern Regional Hospital-Koforidua(2013-07) Addai, L.; Akweongo, P.; University of Ghana, College of Health Sciences, School of Public HealthHIV/AIDS continue to affect millions of people especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. In the developed countries 10-30% of people infected present late for care whiles in developing countries 40-63% of people infected with the disease present late for clinical care. Late presentation classified as WHO stage 3 or 4 of infection is associated with increased morbidity and mortality and presents the opportunity of onward transmission of the infection. Antiretroviral therapy ART initiated at an appropriate time during HIV infection prolongs life, reduces the risk of onward transmission and greatly decreases the cost of healthcare. WHO clinical stages of infection remains the main tool used in resource poor setting in deciding when to initiate ART. Eastern region remains one of the regions in Ghana with a high prevalence (3.6% from 2011 HIV sentinel survey) of HIV/AIDS infection and with an ART clinic providing comprehensive care to people living with HIV/AIDS. The proportion of patients presenting late for clinical care is unknown and factors associated with late presentation has not been described over the years since clinics caring only for individuals with the infection started in the year 2005. The aim of this study was to determine the stages of HIV infection among first adult attendants at antiretroviral therapy clinic in Eastern Regional Hospital, Koforidua from 2008 to 2012. Findings from this study show that from 2008 to 2012 there was a rise in first attendees diagnosed at WHO stage 1 of HIV infection whiles those diagnosed at WHO stage 4 of infection showed a downward trend. Between 2011 and 2012 36.5% presented late for care with WHO stage 3 or 4 of HIV infection, factors associated with late presentation were being male, people who make out of pocket healthcare expenses, alcohol use, lack of a partner, being far from the clinic and poor attention to one’s own health as shown by the lack of condom use HIV intervention programs should seek to address these factors in order to reduce the burden of late presentation.Item Outbreak of foodborne gastroenteritis in a senior high school in South-eastern Ghana: A retrospective cohort study(BioMed Central Ltd., 2016) Ameme, D.K.; Alomatu, H.; Antobre-Boateng, A.; Zakaria, A.; Addai, L.; Fianko, K.; Janneh, B.; Afari, E.A.; Nyarko, K.M.; Sackey, S.O.; Wurapa, F.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. We investigated to verify the outbreak, determine its magnitude, identify the source and implement control measures. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted. We reviewed medical records and interviewed patrons of the food vendor. We collected data on age, sex, signs and symptoms, date of illness onset, date of admission, date of discharge, treatments given and outcome. A case of foodborne disease was any person in the school with abdominal pain, vomiting and or diarrhoea from 4th to 11th February 2015 and had eaten from the food vendor. We conducted active case search to identify more cases. We conducted environmental assessment and collected clinical and food samples for laboratory testing. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were performed using Stata 12.0. Results: A total of 68 cases were recorded giving overall attack rate of 35.79 % (68/190) with no death. Of these, 51.47 % (35/68) were males. Mean age of case-patients was 17.8 (standard deviation +/-1.62). The index case, a 17-year-old female student ate from the food vendor on 4th February at 9:00 am and fell ill at 3:40 pm later that day. Compared to those who ate other food items, students who drank water from container at the canteen were more likely to develop foodborne disease at statistically significant levels [RR = 2.6, 95 % CI = (2.11-3.15)]. Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens) and Salmonella species (Salmonella spp) were isolated from water and stew respectively. Clinical features of case-patients were compatible with both organisms. Conclusion: A foodborne gastroenteritis outbreak occurred in a Senior High School in Fanteakwa District from 4th to 7th February 2015. The most probable aetiologic agent was C. perfringens with contaminated water at canteen as the vehicle of transmission. Concurrent Salmonella spp infection could not be ruled out. Rapid outbreak response helped in controlling the outbreak.