Browsing by Author "Egbi, G."

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Acute Phase Responses Vary Between Children of HbAS and HbAA Genotypes During Plasmodium falciparum Infection
(Dovepress, 2021) Tetteh, M.; Addai-Mensah, O.; Siedu, Z.; Kyei-Baafour, E.; Lamptey, H.; Williams, J.; Kupeh, E.; Egbi, G.; Kwayie, A.B.; Abbam, G.; Afrifah, D.A.; Debrah, A.Y.; Ofori, M.F.
Purpose: Haemoglobin genotype S is known to offer protection against Plasmodium falciparum infections but the mechanism underlying this protection is not completely under stood. Associated changes in acute phase proteins (APPs) during Plasmodium falciparum infections between Haemoglobin AA (HbAA) and Haemoglobin AS (HbAS) individuals also remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate changes in three APPs and full blood count (FBC) indices of HbAA and HbAS children during Plasmodium falciparum infection. Methods: Venous blood was collected from three hundred and twenty children (6 months to 15 years) in Begoro in Fanteakwa District of Ghana during a cross-sectional study. Full blood count (FBC) indices were measured and levels of previously investigated APPs in malaria patients; C-reactive protein (CRP), ferritin and transferrin measured using Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays. Results: Among the HbAA and HbAS children, levels of CRP and ferritin were higher in malaria positive children as compared to those who did not have malaria. The mean CRP levels were significantly higher among HbAA children (p=0.2e-08) as compared to the HbAS children (p=0.43). Levels of transferrin reduced in both HbAA and HbAS children with malaria, but the difference was only significant among HbAA children (p=0.0038), as compared to the HbAS children. No significant differences were observed in ferritin levels between HbAA and HbAS children in both malaria negative (p=0.76) and positive (p=0.26) children. Of the full blood count indices measured, red blood cell count (p=0.044) and haemoglobin (Hb) levels (p=0.017) differed between HbAA and HbAS in those without malaria, with higher RBC counts and lower Hb levels found in HbAS children. In contrast, during malaria, lymphocyte and platelet counts were elevated, whilst granulocytes and Mean Cell Haematocrit counts were reduced among children of the HbAS genotypes. Conclusion: Significant changes in APPs were found in HbAA children during malaria as compared to HbAS children, possibly due to differences in malaria-induced inflammation levels. This suggests that the HbAS genotype is associated with better control of P. falciparum infection-induced inflammatory response than HbAA genotype.
Anaemia among school children older than five years in the Volta Region of Ghana
(The Pan African medical journal, 2014-01) Egbi, G.; Steiner-Asiedu, M.; Kwesi, F.S.; Ayi, I.; Ofosu, W.; Setorglo, J.; Klobodu, S.S.; Armar-Klemesu, M.
INTRODUCTION: Anaemia among children is a public health issue in Ghana. The Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP) was instituted on pilot basis in an effort to provide nutritious lunch to school children. Evidence on the nutritional status of pupils is needed to inform the expansion of GSFP. This study sought to assess anaemia among Ghanaian pupils.METHODS: This cross-sectional study involved a random sample of 143 pupils aged 6 to 12 years. Blood samples were collected and analysed for serum-ferritin (SF), C-reactive protein (CRP), haemoglobin and malaria-parasitaemia (MP). Stool samples were examined for soil-transmitted helminths. Dietary data were collected using the 24 hour-recall method on three non-consecutive days and a food frequency questionnaire. The Student's t-test was used to compare mean values between sexes. Binary logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with anaemia. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.RESULTS: SF and haemoglobin concentrations were 23.9 ± 15 ng/ml and 120 ± 11 g/L respectively. The prevalence of anaemia was 30.8%. More females (41.5%) than males (21.8%) had anaemia (p < 0.005). Seventy-one percent of pupils had low SF levels. MP prevalence was 67.8%. Hookworm infestation was only observed in males (18.0%). Dietary iron and vitamin C intakes were 18.98 ± 8.8 mg and 23.7 ± 6.7 mg, respectively. Child's sex, SF and MP were associated with anaemia. Males had a lower likelihood of being anaemic (OR = 0.2, CI 0.1-0.5, p = 0.002).CONCLUSION: The study findings underscore the need for multi-pronged approaches that address both malaria control and nutrition in order to reduce anaemia among pupils.
Anaemia, vitamin-A deficiency, anthropometric nutritional status and associated factors among young school children in Kodzobi, Ghana, a peri-urban community
(Informal Logic, 2019) Tohouenou, M.M.; Egbi, G.; Ohemeng, A.; Steiner-Asiedu, M.
Anaemia, vitamin-A deficiency and under nutrition are prevalent among children at levels of public health significance in developing countries of which Ghana is no exception. The objective of this study was to assess the anaemia, low vitamin-A level and anthropometric nutritional status of 162 randomly selected young Ghanaian school children 4 – 8 years in Kodzobi, a peri-urban community and establish associated factors. Questionnaires were used to collect background data from parents of study participants. Vitamin-A and haemoglobin concentrations were determined using High Performance Liquid Chromatography and Haemocue hemoglobinometer, respectively. Malaria parasitaemia was examined by the Giemsa staining technique. Weight and height measurements were taken according to WHO’s standard procedures to assess participants’ nutritional status. The mean haemoglobin and serum retinol concentrations were 11.6 ± 1.1 g/dl and 22.8 ± 6.5 μg/dl, respectively. Prevalence of anaemia and vitamin-A deficiency among study participants were 38.3 % and 24.0 %, respectively. The prevalence of underweight, stunting, thinness and overweight were 9.3 %, 9.9 %, 4.3 % and 3.7 %, respectively. Haemoglobin correlated positively and significantly with weight, weight-for-age and body mass index-for-age z scores. Child’s sex, vitamin-A status and parental monthly income associated with anaemia status. Females had a higher risk of being anaemic compared to males (OR = 2.519; 95 % CI: 0.965 - 6.580; p = 0.049). Participants with normal vitamin-A concentration were at lower risk of being anaemic (OR = 0.302; 95 % CI: 0.109 - 0.840; p = 0.022) than those with low vitamin-A concentration. Anaemia and young child age negatively associated with vitamin-A status, at p = 0.039 and p = 0.037, respectively. Anaemia and vitamin-A deficiency are issues of public health importance among school-aged children in Ghana. There is, therefore, the need to invest in actions that prevent their occurrence and management especially among children of school going age.
Anemia Prvalence And Associated Factors Among School Age Children In Accra And Kumasi Metropolis In Ghana
(ajfand, 2022) Egbi, G.; Larbi, I.A.; Nti, H.; Marquis, G.S.; Lartey, A.; Aryeetey, R.
Anemia remains a serious public health concern, globally, affecting learning ability and physical development of children. Anemic children are at a higher risk of diminished economic productivity and low earning capacity in adulthood due to impaired school performance and reduced work capacity. Anemia contributes to about a quarter of Africa’s nutrition-related Disability Adjusted Life Years. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of anemia and its associated risk factors among school-aged children (SAC) between ages 9 and 15 years in urban Ghana. The analysis included a randomly selected subsample of 1,634 children from a larger study on nutrition of SAC enrolled between 2009 and 2012 in private and public basic schools in the Accra and Kumasi Metropolis in Ghana. Socio-demographic and household characteristics were collected with questionnaires. Weight and height were taken to the nearest 0.1kg and 0.1cm, respectively. Dietary information was collected using a food frequency questionnaire. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistic version 23. The relationship between hemoglobin levels and socio-demographic variables, and predictors of hemoglobin levels were determined using Chi-square and binary logistic regression. The mean hemoglobin concentration of the study participants was 12.9±1.3 g/dL. In Kumasi, SAC had higher mean hemoglobin concentration (13.1±1.2 g/dL) compared to those from Accra (12.6±1.3 g/dL; p=0.001). Mean hemoglobin concentration was significantly higher among males than females (13.0±1.4 g/dL vs 12.8±1.2 g/dL; p=0.002). Prevalence of anemia was 20.4%; mild anemia was most common (13.6% of total sample). Anemia cases were higher in public schools (24.6%) compared to private (18.2%). Two-thirds of anemia cases (64.0%) were from schools in Accra. Males had significantly higher prevalence of anemia (26.5%) than females (15.9%; p <0.05). In the adjusted logistic regression model, only city of residence (OR+1.65, 95% CI: 1.44–1.83), thinness (OR=2.60, 95% CI: 1.11-5.75), stunting (OR=1.85, 95% CI: 1.99-3.10) and overweight (OR=0.60, 95% CI: 0.36-0.94) were significantly associated with anemia. In this study, anemia was significantly associated with location and nutritional status.
Impact of Cowpea-Based Food Containing Fish Meal Served With Vitamin C–Rich Drink on Iron Stores and Hemoglobin Concentrations in Ghanaian Schoolchildren in a Malaria Endemic Area
(Food and nutrition bulletin, 2015-09) Egbi, G.; Ayi, I.; Saalia, F.K.; Zotor, F.; Adom, T.; Harrison, E.; Ahorlu, C.K.; Steiner-Asiedu, M.
Background: Nutritional anemia is a public health problem among Ghanaian schoolchildren. There is need to employ dietary modification strategies to solve this problem through school and household feeding programs. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of cowpea-based food containing fish meal served with vitamin C-rich drink to improve iron stores and hemoglobin concentrations in Ghanaian schoolchildren. Methods: The study involved cross-sectional baseline and nutrition intervention phases. There were 150 participants of age 6 to 12 years. They were randomly assigned to 3 groups, fish meal -vitamin C (n = 50), vitamin C (n = 50), and control (n = 50), and given different cowpea-based diets for a 6-month period. Height and weight measurements were done according to the standard procedures, dietary data were obtained by 24-hour recall and food frequency questionnaire, hemoglobin concentrations were determined by Hemocue Hemoglobinometer, and serum ferritin and complement-reactive protein (CRP) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Participants' blood samples were examined for malaria parasitemia and stools for helminthes using Giemsa stain and Kato-Katz techniques, respectively. Results: Mean ferritin concentration was not significantly different among groups. End line mean or change in hemoglobin concentrations between fish meal-vitamin C group (128.4 ± 7.2/8.3 ± 10.6 g/L) and control (123.1 ± 6.6/4.2 ± 10.4 g/L) were different, P < .05. Change in prevalence of anemia in fish meal-vitamin C group (19.5%) was different compared to those of vitamin C group (9.3%) and the control (12.2%). Levels of malaria parasitemia and high CRP among study participants at baseline and end line were 58% and 80% then 55% and 79%, respectively. Level of hookworm infestation was 13%. Conclusion: Cowpea-based food containing 3% fish meal and served with vitamin C-rich drink improved hemoglobin concentration and minimized the prevalence of anemia among the study participant (PDF) Impact of Cowpea-Based Food Containing Fish Meal Served With Vitamin C-Rich Drink on Iron Stores and Hemoglobin Concentrations in Ghanaian Schoolchildren in a Malaria Endemic Area. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/282045286_Impact_of_Cowpea-Based_Food_Containing_Fish_Meal_Served_With_Vitamin_C-Rich_Drink_on_Iron_Stores_and_Hemoglobin_Concentrations_in_Ghanaian_Schoolchildren_in_a_Malaria_Endemic_Area [accessed Sep 12 2018].
Improving nutritional status through improved cowpea based foods: tool for promoting food sovereignty in Ghana
(Biotech Ghana 5(1): 6-7, 2007) Egbi, G.