Browsing by Author "De Souza, D."
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Item Combining design research with microbiology to tackle drug-resistant infections in different home environments in Ghana: Challenging the boundaries of design thinking(Design Journal, 2019-04-12) Ahorlu, C.; Tsekleves, E.; Darby, A.; De Souza, D.; Pickup, R.; Boakye, D.The aim of this paper is twofold. Firstly, to present design research work that crosses into specialist medical areas, in this instance that of antimicrobial resistance (AMR); and secondly, to contribute to the debate on the need for designdriven research to explore alternative ways of delivering healthcare by focusing on preventive design responses. These points are addressed in the exploration of an international design-led research project, Dust Bunny. The project uniquely combines design research and microbiology to provide an informed assessment of societal practices in domestic cleanliness and to co-create novel solutions that reduce infections in the home. The findings and experiences from this unique transdisciplinary collaboration (design, microbiology, epidemiology and social science) reveal several insights on the challenges and opportunities on challenging the boundaries of design thinking.Item Environmental factors associated with the distribution of Anopheles gambiae s.s in Ghana; an important vector of lymphatic filariasis and malaria(Public Library of Science, 2010) De Souza, D.; Kelly-Hope, L.; Lawson, B.; Wilson, M.; Boakye, D.Anopheles gambiae s.s mosquitoes are important vectors of lymphatic filariasis (LF) and malaria in Ghana. To better understand their ecological aspects and influence on disease transmission, we examined the spatial distribution of the An. gambiae (M and S) molecular forms and associated environmental factors, and determined their relationship with disease prevalence. Published and current data available on the An. gambiae species in Ghana were collected in a database for analysis, and the study sites were georeferenced and mapped. Using the An. gambiae s.s sites, environmental data were derived from climate, vegetation and remote-sensed satellite sources, and disease prevalence data from existing LF and malaria maps in the literature. The data showed that An. gambiae M and S forms were sympatric in most locations. However, the S form predominated in the central region, while the Mformpredominated in the northern and coastal savanna regions. Bivariate and multiple regression analyses identified temperature as a key factor distinguishing their distributions. An. gambiae M was significantly correlated with LF, and 2.5 to 3 times more prevalent in the high LF zone than low to medium zones. There were no significant associations between high prevalence An. gambiae s.s locations and malaria. The distribution of the An. gambiae M and S forms and the diseases they transmit in Ghana appear to be distinct, driven by different environmental factors. This study provides useful baseline information for disease control, and future work on the An. gambiae s.s in Ghana.