Browsing by Author "Alomatu, H."
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Item Hiv, Hbv, Hcv and Syphilis Infections among Blood Donors in Koforidua, Ghana(University of Ghana, 2016-07) Alomatu, H.; Sarfo, B.; University of Ghana, College of Health Sciences School of Public HealthBackground: HIV, HBV, HCV and syphilis infections can be transmitted from person-to-person through parenteral administration of blood or blood products. These infections among blood donors are of public health concern because of their prolonged viraemia and carrier of latent state. This study determined the prevalence of HIV, HBV, HCV, and Syphilis infections, and associated factors among blood donors in Koforidua. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted at St Joseph hospital and the Regional Hospital in Koforidua. Blood donors were recruited and interviewed. Socio-demographic and behavioral factors of the blood donors were obtained after which 5ml of blood was drawn from each of them. The blood was tested for HIV, HBV, HCV and syphilis infections using rapid test kits. Data was entered and cleaned in epi info version 3.5.3 and exported to Stata 13.0 for analysis. Categorical variables were analyzed and presented as percentages. Univariate analysis was done to determine associations and logistic regressions to identify significant variables. Results: The study recruited 426 blood donors. Majority, 85.7% (365/426) were males and 59.1% of the total blood donors had secondary education. The study found 4.5% (19/426) prevalence of HIV, 13.2% (56/426) prevalence of HBV, 8.0% (34/426) prevalence of HCV and 15.3% (65/426) prevalence of syphilis among blood donors in Koforidua. Co-infections among blood donors was HIV - HCV 0.4% (2/426), HIV - Syphilis 0.2% (1/426), HBV - Syphilis 1.2% (5/426) and HCV - Syphilis 0.4% (2/426). 36.2% (154/426) were positive for one (1) out of the four (4) infections screened. 2.4% (10/426) of the donors had co-infections of the pathogenic markers. The commonest co-infections was HBV-Syphilis co-infections. Conclusion: In this study, the prevalence of HIV among blood donors in Koforidua was 4.5%. Hepatitis B and C prevalence were found to be 13.2% and 8.0% respectively among blood donors while syphilis prevalence was 15.3%. Socio-demographic and behavioral factors found to be significantly associated with HIV, HBV, HCV and syphilis infections among blood donors in Koforidua were residence of the donor, religion, educational level, occupation, category of donor, biological sex and alcohol use. The commonest co-infections among blood donors in Koforidua was found to be HBV- syphilis which had a 1.2% prevalence. Prevalence of co-infections was found to be 2.4% among blood donors in Koforidua and 36.2% was recorded as the prevalence of either of the single infectionsItem 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.Item Utility of early diagnosis, contact tracing and stakeholder engagement in outbreak response in three COVID-19 outbreak settings in Ghana(Ghana Med J, 2021) Amoakoh-Coleman, M.; Bandoh, D.A.; Noora, C.L.; Alomatu, H.; Baidoo, A.; Quartey, S.; Kenu, E.; Koram, K.A.Objective: To describe how early case detection, testing and contact tracing measures were deployed by stakeholders in response to the COVID-19 outbreak in Ghana – using three outbreak scenarios. Design: A descriptive assessment of three case studies of COVID-19 outbreaks within three settings that occurred in Ghana from March 13 till the end of June 2020. Setting: A construction camp, a factory and a training institution in Ghana. Participants: Staff of a construction camp, a factory, workers and students of a training institution. Interventions: We described and compared the three COVID-19 outbreak scenarios in Ghana, highlighting identifi cation and diagnosis of cases, testing, contact tracing and stakeholder engagement for each scenario. We also outlined the challenges and lessons learnt in the management of these scenarios. Main outcome measures: Approach used for diagnosis, testing, contact tracing and stakeholder engagement. Results: Index cases of the training institution and construction camp were screened the same day of reporting symp toms, whiles the factory index case required a second visit before the screening. All index cases were tested with RT PCR. The training institution followed and tested all contacts, and an enhanced contact tracing approach was con ducted for staff of the other two sites. Multi-sectorial engagement and collaboration with stakeholders enabled effec tive handling of the outbreak response in all sites. Conclusion: Comparing all three settings, early diagnosis and prompt actions taken through multi-sectorial collabo rations played a major role in controlling the outbreak. Engaging stakeholders in the COVID-19 response is an effective way to mitigate the challenges in responding to the pandemic