Browsing by Author "Boatemaa, S."
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Item Caregiver profiles and determinants of caregiving burden in Ghana(Public health, 2015-07) Sanuade, O.A.; Boatemaa, S.Due to the growing elderly population, the high cost of care in Ghana and low coverage of the National Health Insurance Scheme, demands for family caregiving have become more imperative in Ghana than ever before. Many caregivers experience high burdens, yet literature on caregiving in Ghana is lacking. This study examined caregiver profiles and determinants of the burden of caregiving in Ghana. Cross-sectional study. This study used data from Wave 1 of the World Health Organization (WHO) Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health (2007-2008). In total, 238 caregivers were analysed in the study. The burden of caregiving was measured using the WHO Impact of Caregiving Scale. Independent sample t-tests, correlations and analysis of variance were used to investigate associations between background characteristics and the burden of caregiving. Linear regression was used to examine determinants of the burden of caregiving. The mean age of caregivers was 61 years (standard deviation 14.5), and the male:female ratio was approximately equal. On average, approximately two adults per household required care. Less than five percent of caregivers received financial, emotional, health, physical and personal care support. Place of residence, provision of financial, health and physical support to care recipients, and receipt of financial, physical and health support were significant determinants of the burden of caregiving. This study found a mismatch between the number of people needing care and the number of people providing care. In order to improve the health of caregivers and care recipients, there is a need to provide financial support for caregivers. In addition, pro-caregiving government programmes and policies should be established. Copyright © 2015 The Royal Society for Public Health. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Caregiver profiles and determinants of caregiving burden in Ghana | Request PDF. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/279300335_Caregiver_profiles_and_determinants_of_caregiving_burden_in_Ghana [accessed Sep 14 2018].Item Community and individual sense of trust and psychological distress among the urban poor in Accra, Ghana(PLoS ONE, 2018-09) Kushitor, M.K.; Peterson, M.B.; Asante, P.Y.; Dodoo, N.D.; Boatemaa, S.; Awuah, R.B.; Agyei, F.; Sakyi, L.; Dodoo, F.N.A.; De-Graft Aikins, A.Background Mental health disorders present significant health challenges in populations in sub Saharan Africa especially in deprived urban poor contexts. Some studies have suggested that in collectivistic societies such as most African societies people can draw on social capital to attenuate the effect of community stressors on their mental health. Global studies suggest the effect of social capital on mental disorders such as psychological distress is mixed, and emerging studies on the psychosocial characteristics of collectivistic societies suggest that mistrust and suspicion sometimes deprive people of the benefit of social capital. In this study, we argue that trust which is often measured as a component of social capital has a more direct effect on reducing community stressors in such deprived communities. Methods Data from the Urban Health and Poverty Survey (EDULINK Wave III) survey were used. The survey was conducted in 2013 in three urban poor communities in Accra: Agbogbloshie, James Town and Ussher Town. Psychological distress was measured with a symptomatic wellbeing scale. Participants’ perceptions of their neighbours’ willingness to trust, protect and assist others was used to measure community sense of trust. Participants’ willingness to ask for and receive help from neighbours was used to measure personal sense of trust. Demographic factors were controlled for. The data were analyzed using descriptive and multivariate regressions. Results The mean level of psychological distress among the residents was 25.5 (SD 5.5). Personal sense of trust was 8.2 (SD 2.0), and that of community sense of trust was 7.5 (SD 2.8). While community level trust was not significant, personal sense of trust significantly reduced psychological distress (B = -.2016728, t = -2.59, p < 0.010). The other factors associated with psychological distress in this model were perceived economic standing, education and locality of residence. Conclusion This study presents evidence that more trusting individuals are significantly less likely to be psychologically distressed within deprived urban communities in Accra. Positive intra and inter individual level variables such as personal level trust and perceived relative economic standing significantly attenuated the effect of psychological distress in communities with high level neighbourhood disorder in Accra.Item The double burden of disease and the challenge of health access: Evidence from access, bottlenecks, cost and equity facility survey in Ghana(PLoS ONE, 2018-03) Kushitor, M.K.; Boatemaa, S.Despite the double burden of infectious and chronic non-communicable diseases in Africa, health care expenditure disproportionately favours infectious diseases. In this paper, we examine quantitatively the extent of this disproportionate access to diagnoses and treatment of diabetes, hypertension and malaria in Ghana. A total of 220 health facilities was surveyed across the country in 2011. Findings indicate that diagnoses and treatment of infectious diseases were more accessible than NCDs. In terms of treatment, 78% and 87% of health facilities had two of the recommended malaria drugs while less than 35% had essential diabetes and hypertension drugs. There is a significant unmet need for diagnoses and treatment of NCDs in Ghana. These inequities have implications for high morbidity and mortality from NCDs. We recommend the use of task shifting as a model to increase the delivery of NCD services.Item Food beliefs and practices in urban poor communities in Accra: implications for health interventions(BMC Public Health, 2018-04) Boatemaa, S.; Badasu, D.M.; De-Graft Aikins, A.Background Poor communities in low and middle income countries are reported to experience a higher burden of chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and nutrition-related NCDs. Interventions that build on lay perspectives of risk are recommended. The objective of this study was to examine lay understanding of healthy and unhealthy food practices, factors that influence food choices and the implications for developing population health interventions in three urban poor communities in Accra, Ghana. Methods Thirty lay adults were recruited and interviewed in two poor urban communities in Accra. The interviews were audio-taped, transcribed and analysed thematically. The analysis was guided by the socio-ecological model which focuses on the intrapersonal, interpersonal, community, structural and policy levels of social organisation. Results Food was perceived as an edible natural resource, and healthy in its raw state. A food item retained its natural, healthy properties or became unhealthy depending on how it was prepared (e.g. frying vs boiling) and consumed (e.g. early or late in the day). These food beliefs reflected broader social food norms in the community and incorporated ideas aligned with standard expert dietary guidelines. Healthy cooking was perceived as the ability to select good ingredients, use appropriate cooking methods, and maintain food hygiene. Healthy eating was defined in three ways: 1) eating the right meals; 2) eating the right quantity; and 3) eating at the right time. Factors that influenced food choice included finances, physical and psychological state, significant others and community resources. Conclusions The findings suggest that beliefs about healthy and unhealthy food practices are rooted in multi-level factors, including individual experience, family dynamics and community factors. The factors influencing food choices are also multilevel. The implications of the findings for the design and content of dietary and health interventions are discussed.Item Hypertension prevalence, awareness, treatment and control in Ghanaian population: Evidence from the Ghana demographic and health survey(PLoS ONE, 2018-11) Sanuade, O.A.; Boatemaa, S.; Kushitor, M.K.Hypertension is a major cause of cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality in Ghana. This study examines the prevalence, awareness, treatment and control of hypertension among Ghanaian aged 15–49 years. This cross-sectional study retrieved data from the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS). The sample, comprising of 13,247 respondents aged 15–49 years, was analysed using descriptive statistics, Chi-Square tests, independent sample t-tests and binary logistic regressions. The overall prevalence of hypertension was 13.0% (12.1% for males and 13.4% for females). Among respondents who had hypertension, 45.6% were aware of their hypertension status; 40.5% were treating the condition while 23.8% had their blood pressure controlled (BP <140/90 mmHg). Socio-economic and demographic factors, health insurance coverage and recent visit to health facilities played significant roles in hypertension prevalence and awareness. While region of residence and health facility visits were predictors of hypertension treatment, age and region of residence predicted hypertension control in this population. This study suggests that in order to address the increasing burden of hypertension in Ghana, there should be an expansion of the National Health Insurance Scheme and development of measures to reduce health inequities. Also, some of the determining factors such as age, gender, marital status are similar to other cultures; therefore, existing interventions from those cultures could be adapted in addressing hypertension prevalence, awareness, treatment and control in Ghana.Item Livestock ownership is associated with higher odds of anaemia among preschool‐aged children, but not women of reproductive age in Ghana(Wiley, 2018-02) Jones, D.A.; Colecraft, K.E.; Awuah, B.R.; Boatemaa, S.; Lambrecht, N.J.; Adjorlolo, K.L.; Wilson, L.M.Livestock ownership may influence anaemia through complex and possibly contradictory mechanisms. In this study, we aimed to determine the association of household livestock ownership with anaemia among women aged 15–49 years and children aged 6–59 months in Ghana and to examine the contribution of animal source foods (ASFs) to consumption patterns as a potential mechanism mediating this association. We analysed data on 4,441 women and 2,735 children from the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey and 16,772 households from the Ghana Living Standards Survey Round 6. Haemoglobin measurements were used to define anaemia (non‐pregnant women: <120 g/L; children: <110 g/L). Child‐ and household‐level ASF consumption data were collected from 24‐hour food group intake and food consumption and expenditure surveys, respectively. Inmultiple logistic regressionmodels, household livestock ownership was associated with anaemia among children (OR, 95% CI: 1.5 [1.1, 2.0]), but not women (1.0 [0.83, 1.2]). Household ownership of chickens was associated with higher odds of anaemia among children (1.6 [1.2, 2.2]), but ownership of other animal species was not associated with anaemia among women or children. In path analyses, we observed no evidence of mediation of the association of household livestock ownership with child anaemia by ASF consumption. Ownership of livestock likely has limited importance for consumption of ASFs among young children in Ghana and may in fact place children at an increased risk of anaemia. Further research is needed to elucidate if and how pathogen exposure associated with livestock rearing may underlie this increased risk of anaemia.Item Migrant youth's emerging dietary patterns in Haiti: The role of peer social engagement(Public Health Nutrition, 2015-02) Heckert, J.; Boatemaa, S.; Altman, C.E.Objective The present study examines whether rural-to-urban migrant youth consume a greater diversity of high-sugar beverages and fried snacks (HSBFS) compared with their peers who remain in rural areas. It also tests whether the association between migration and HSBFS diversity is moderated by migrant youth's social engagement with their peers. Design Participants were recruited in August and September 2011 following the completion of primary school (6th grade) and shortly before many rural youth migrate to urban areas. Participants were re-interviewed six months later. HSBFS diversity was assessed at follow-up; analyses control for baseline and follow-up characteristics. Setting Baseline interviews occurred in rural Southeast Haiti. Follow-up interviews of migrants occurred at urban destinations in Haiti. Subjects The sample includes 215 youth (mean age 15·9 years; 43·3 % female; 21·9 % rural-to-urban migrants) who were interviewed at baseline and follow-up. Results Rural-to-urban migrant youth consumed a greater diversity of HSBFS products at follow-up than their rural counterparts (b=0·70, P≤0·05). Moreover, we found that this relationship varied by level of peer social engagement. Youth who migrated and had a high degree of peer social engagement consumed 2·2 additional types of HSBFS products daily than their counterparts who remained in rural areas and had low peer social engagement. Conclusions Higher HSBFS diversity among migrant youth is consistent with the patterns proposed by the nutrition transition. Interactions with peers may have an important influence as migrant youth adopt new dietary preferences. Emerging dietary patterns among youth migrants have important implications for health trajectories and the development of degenerative diseases. © 2014 The Authors.Item Preparing for Ebola Virus Disease in West African countries not yet affected: Perspectives from Ghanaian health professionals(Globalization and Health, 2015-02) Nyarko, Y.; Goldfrank, L.; Ogedegbe, G.; Soghoian, S.; de-Graft Aikins, A.; Koram, K.; Ohene, S.; Ofori-Atta, A.; Afari, E.; Sutherland-Addy, E.; Atobrah, D.; Boateng, W.B.; Boatemaa, S.; Sanuade, T.; Koram, N.; Anyidoho, A.; Lartey, M.; Markham-Seadey, J.; Ofori-Amankwah, G.; Amenuveve, C.Background: The current Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) epidemic has ravaged the social fabric of three West African countries and affected people worldwide. We report key themes from an agenda-setting, multi-disciplinary roundtable convened to examine experiences and implications for health systems in Ghana, a nation without cases but where risk for spread is high and the economic, social and political impact of the impending threat is already felt. Discussion: Participants' personal stories and the broader debates to define fundamental issues and opportunities for preparedness focused on three inter-related themes. First, the dangers of the fear response itself were highlighted as a threat to the integrity and continuity of quality care. Second, healthcare workers' fears were compounded by a demonstrable lack of societal and personal protections for infection prevention and control in communities and healthcare facilities, as evidenced by an ongoing cholera epidemic affecting over 20,000 patients in the capital Accra alone since June 2014. Third, a lack of coherent messaging and direction from leadership seems to have limited coordination and reinforced a level of mistrust in the government's ability and commitment to mobilize an adequate response. Initial recommendations include urgent investment in the needed supplies and infrastructure for basic, routine infection control in communities and healthcare facilities, provision of assurances with securities for frontline healthcare workers, establishment of a multi-sector, "all-hazards" outbreak surveillance system, and engaging directly with key community groups to co-produce contextually relevant educational messages that will help decrease stigma, fear, and the demoralizing perception that the disease defies remedy or control. Summary: The EVD epidemic provides an unprecedented opportunity for West African countries not yet affected by EVD cases to make progress on tackling long-standing health systems weaknesses. This roundtable discussion emphasized the urgent need to strengthen capacity for infection control, occupational health and safety, and leadership coordination. Significant commitment is needed to raise standards of hygiene in communities and health facilities, build mechanisms for collaboration across sectors, and engage community stakeholders in creating the needed solutions. It would be both devastating and irresponsible to waste the opportunity. © 2015 Nyarko et al.