Browsing by Author "Addo, B."
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Item Acceptability of COVID-19 Vaccination among Health Care Workers in Ghana(Hindawi, 2021) Agyekum, M.W.; Afrifa-Anane, G.F.; Kyei-Arthur, F.; Addo, B.Because health care workers are a reliable source of health information, their acceptance or rejection of COVID-19 vaccines can influence the general population’s uptake of COVID-19 vaccines. In this study, we sought to determine the acceptability of COVID-19 vaccines among health care workers in Ghana. Using a cross-sectional design, we collected data from 234 health care workers through a self-administered online survey from 16 January to 15 February 2021. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate analyses were performed using STATA version 15. ,The findings revealed that 39.3% (n = 92) of health care workers intended to receive the COVID-19 vaccines. Factors such as sex (AOR = 0.451; CI 95% 0.240–0.845; p = 0.013), category of health care workers (AOR = 2.851; 95 CI%: 1.097–7.405; p =0.031), relative being diagnosed with COVID-19 (AOR = 0.369; CI 95% 0.145–0.941; p =0.037), and trust in the accuracy of the measures taken by the government in the fight against COVID-19 (AOR = 2.768; CI 95%: 1.365–5.616; p = 0.005) proved to be significant predictors of the acceptability of the COVID-19 vaccine. Concerns about the safety of vaccines (n =93, 65.5%) and the adverse side effects of the vaccines (n = 23, 14.8%) were identified as the main reasons why health care workers would decline uptake of COVID-19 vaccines in Ghana. ,e self-reported low intention of health care workers in Ghana to accept COVID-19 vaccines necessitates an urgent call from the Government of Ghana and other stakeholders to address health care workers’ concerns about the safety and adverse side effects of COVID-19 vaccines, as this would increase vaccine uptake. Interventions must also take into consideration sex and the category of health care workers to achieve the desired results.Item Facilitators and barriers to COVID-19 vaccine uptake among women in two regions of Ghana: A qualitative study(PLOS ONE, 2022) Afrifa-Anane, G.F.; Larbi, R.T.; Addo, B.; Agyekum, M.W.; Kyei-Arthur, F.; Appiah, M.; et al.Abstract Although COVID-19 vaccines are available, evidence suggests that several factors hinder or facilitate their use. Several studies have found gender differences in COVID-19 vaccine uptake, with women less likely to vaccinate than men in many countries, including Ghana. These studies, however, have primarily been quantitative. This study used a qualitative approach to examine the facilitators and barriers to vaccine uptake among women in Ghana. Using a cross-sectional descriptive qualitative research design, 30 women in the Greater Accra and Ashanti regions of Ghana were conveniently sampled and interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide. Fifteen (15) interviews were conducted in each region. The data were transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically using QSR NVivo version 10 software. Among the key factors that facilitate COVID-19 vaccination are the desire to protect oneself and family against COVID-19, education about COVID-19 vaccines, seeing others receive the COVID-19 vaccine, and vaccine being cost-free. On the other hand, long queues at the vaccination centres, fear of side effects, misconceptions about the vaccines, and shortage of vaccines were the main barriers against COVID-19 vaccination. The study results show that individual, institutional, and vaccine-related factors facilitate or hinder COVID-19 vaccination among women. Addressing these factors need continuous comprehensive health education, and ensuring vaccine availability at vaccination sites will improve women’s uptake of the COVID-19 vaccines.Item An outbreak of gastroenteritis on board an oil drilling rig in Ghana(International Maritime Health, 2018) Babayara, M.N.K.; Addo, B.The article describes an outbreak of gastroenteritis which occurred on an oil drilling rig which operated in the Jubilee fields of Ghana (offshore Takoradi) between May 2011 and December 2013. An outbreak occurred on board approximately 10 h following a Christmas day buffet. Various Ghanaian and continental dishes were served during the occasion. Over a 3 day period, a total of 33 cases were recorded at the rig's sick bay. In order to describe the outbreak and determine its possible association with the meals served at the buffet, this case control study was conducted. A short questionnaire was used for data collection and a line list prepared for summarising data of cases. Samples of food could not be taken but water samples from multiple points of the rig's pipe water system were collected and cultured for coliforms. Data was analysed using Epi info version 7. Six foods appeared to be associated with the outbreak with odds ratios ranging from 1.2 to 2.7. The epidemic curve showed a propagated fashion of transmission and the outbreak was brought under control with public education on hand washing and disinfection of surfaces and door handles. The conclusion was that food items served at the buffet were not associated with the outbreak. Instead, a possible contamination of surfaces and door handles probably caused it. To prevent future occurrences, routine and regular hand washing and disinfection of surfaces and door handles is recommended.Item Risk Factors for Child Mortality in the Kassena-Nankana District of Northern Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Study Using Population-Based Data(Scientifica, 2018-08) Babayara, M.N.K.; Addo, B.Child mortality continues to be a major public health problem in Ghana, especially in northern Ghana where child survival rates are among the lowest. Though strategies are in place to address it, progress made is unsatisfactory and the Sustainable Development Goal 3 risks being missed. This makes the reexamination of the risk factors for child mortality crucial as results will aid in the modification of existing strategies aimed at addressing the problem. This study was a population-based case control study utilizing data (2007–2011) from the Demographic Surveillance System database of the Navrongo Health Research Center. Cases and controls were selected from the database and analysed unmatched. Cases were children who died before age five and controls were live children within the same year group. Univariate and bivariate analyses were performed using STATA (v13). The results revealed the main causes of death in the area to include malaria, diarrhoeal diseases, respiratory infections, and malnutrition. Mother’s age at birth, mother’s educational level, and mother’s household socioeconomic status were significantly related to child mortality. On the basis of these results, we conclude that the known risk factors for child mortality in the Kassena-Nankana district have not changed much over the years. Current child survival strategies therefore need to be evaluated and modified where necessary to yield desired results.