Browsing by Author "Ganu, V.J."
Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
Results Per Page
Sort Options
Item Antiretroviral therapy adherence and viral suppression among HIV-infected adolescents and young adults at a tertiary hospital in Ghana(NISC, 2021) Biney, I.J.K.; Kyei, K.A.; Ganu, V.J.; Kenu, E.; Puplampu, P.; Manortey, S.; Lartey, M.With the introduction of antiretroviral therapy (ART), many HIV-infected children are growing into adolescence and adulthood. A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted at the Fevers Unit of one of the teaching hospitals in Ghana. The Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8) and pill count were used to assess adherence, while measured viral load levels of participants were used to assess viral suppression. The rate of viral suppression (<400 copies/ml) was 68.2%. Participants with high MMAS-8 scores were 8.4 times more likely to be virally suppressed compared to those with low MMAS-8 scores (OR = 8.4, p = 0.003, 95% CI: 2.11–33.48). The commonest reason for missing doses of their antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) was forgetfulness. Efforts must be made by all stakeholders involved in HIV care to engage adolescents and young adults living with HIV (AYALHIV) on personal and/or group levels to help identify and improve particular ART adherence issues so as to increase viral suppression rates.Item Depression and quality of life in patients on long term hemodialysis at a nationalhospital in Ghana: a cross-sectional study(Ghana medical journal, 2018-03) Ganu, V.J.; Boima, V.; Adjei, D.N.; Yendork, J.S.; Dey, I.D.; Yorke, E.; Mate-Kole, C.C.; Mate-Kole, M.O.The study examined quality of life and prevalence of depressive symptoms in patients on long term hemodialysis. Further, it explored the impact of socio-demographic characteristics on depression and quality of life. Design Study design was cross-sectional. Setting Study was conducted in the two renal dialysis units of the Korle-Bu Teaching hospital in Accra, Ghana. Participants and study tools One hundred and six participants on haemodialysis were recruited for the study. The Patient Health Questionnaire and the World Health Organization Quality of Life instrument were used to assess depression and quality of life. Results Forty five percent of participants screened positive for symptoms of depression. Approximately 19% obtained low scores on overall quality of life. There were significant negative correlations between the following: Depression and overall QoL, Depression and duration of dialysis treatment and Depression and income level. There was positive correlation between overall QoL and duration of dialysis, treatment and income. Conclusion Depressive symptoms were common amongst patients on long term hemodialysis. Haemodialysis patients who obtained low scores on quality of life measures were more likely to screen positive for depressive symptoms. Screening for depressive symptoms among these patients is critical as early treatment may improve their general wellbeing.Item The in-hospital tuberculosis diagnostic cascade and early clinical outcomes among people living with HIV before and during the COVID-19 pandemic - a prospective multisite cohort study from Ghana(International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2023) Ahsberg, J.; Bjerrum, S.; Ganu, V.J.; Kwashie, A.; Commey, J.O.; Adusi-Poku, Y.; Puplampu, P.; Andersen, A.B.; Kenu, E.; Lartey, M.; Johansen, I.S.Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic had a disruptive impact on tuberculosis (TB) and HIV services. We assessed the in-hospital TB diagnostic care among people with HIV (PWH) overall and before and during the pandemic. Methods: In this prospective study, adult PWH admitted at three hospitals in Ghana were recruited if they had a positive World Health Organization four-symptom screen or one or more World Health Organization danger signs or advanced HIV. We collected data on patient characteristics, TB assessment, and clinical outcomes after 8 weeks and used descriptive statistics and survival analysis. Results: We enrolled 248 PWH with a median clusters of differentiation 4 count of 80.5 cells/mm3 (interquartile range 24-193). Of those, 246 (99.2%) patients had a positive World Health Organization four symptom screen. Overall, 112 (45.2%) patients obtained a sputum Xpert result, 66 (46.5%) in the prepandemic and 46 (43.4%) in the pandemic period; P-value = 0.629. The TB prevalence of 46/246 (18.7%) was similar in the prepandemic 28/140 (20.0%) and pandemic 18/106 (17.0%) population; P-value = 0.548. The 8-week all-cause mortality was 62/246 (25.2%), with no difference in cumulative survival when stratifying for the pandemic period; log-rank P-value = 0.412. Conclusion: The study highlighted a large gap in the access to TB investigation and high early mortality among hospitalized PWH, irrespective of the COVID-19 pandemic.Item Interventions in Place to Enhance Tuberculosis Case Detection in Health Facilities in Greater Accra Region, Ghana.(University of Ghana, 2016-07) Ganu, V.J.; Kenu, E.; University of Ghana, College of Health Sciences, School of Public HealthIntroduction Despite the global response to the tuberculosis epidemic, a high burden of this disease still persists particularly affecting the poor and vulnerable population. Many cases are missed annually and passive case detection have not proven to improve on the number of tuberculosis cases detected. Implementation of facility and community based active case detection interventions have been documented to increase TB case detection rates. The aim of this study was to assess the interventions in place to enhance tuberculosis case detection in public health facilities in the Greater Accra region, Ghana Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among TB coordinators of public health facilities in the Greater Accra region of Ghana. Questionnaires were administered to each TB coordinator to evaluate the TB case detection intervention measures being implemented and any hindering or facilitating factors to the implementation of the interventions. Results Only 1 out of 71 health facilities was implementing all the 6 intervention measures and 4 health facilities were not implementing any of the tuberculosis case intervention measures. Twenty-seven out of 71 health facilities were implementing at least 3 intervention measures. Most respondents (72.41%) stated periodic training on tuberculosis case detection interventions as an important facilitating factor and 75.38% of them also indicated that little or no support from the Ministry of Health or the National Tuberculosis control Programme was a major hindering factor. Conclusions Public health facilities in general are not implementing all the tuberculosis case detection interventions. However some facilities are implementing some of the tuberculosis case detection interventions. There was lack of monitoring and evaluation of tuberculosis case detection implementation activities at the health facilities. Effective supervision, monitoring and evaluation and provision of required resources for intervention activities of the health facilities will ensure implementation of all case detection interventions. Keywords Tuberculosis, case detection, implementation, health facilities, Greater Accra, monitoring, evaluationItem Risk factors for COVID-19 infections among health care workers in Ghana(PLOS ONE, 2023) Lartey, M.; Kenu, E.; Ganu, V.J.; Bekoe, F.A; Opoku, B.A; Yawson, A.; Ohene, S-AIntroduction Health care workers (HCWs) are crucial to the fight against COVID-19 and are at risk of being infected. We sought to determine the risk factors and associations of COVID-19 among HCWs in Ghana during the period of the pandemic. Materials and methods A case-control study was conducted using the WHO COVID-19 HCWs exposure risk assessment tool. A HCW was categorized as “high risk” for COVID-19 if s/he did not respond “always, as recommended” to adherence to Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) measures during a healthcare interaction. A HCW was categorized as “low risk” if s/he responded “always, as recommended” to adherence to IPC measures. We used univariate and multiple logistic regression models to determine associated risk factors. Statistical sig nificance was set at 5%. Results A total of 2402 HCWs were recruited and the mean age was 33.2±7.1 years. Almost 87% (1525/1745) of HCWs had high risk for COVID-19 infection. Risk factors identified were pro fession (doctor- aOR: 2.13, 95%CI: 1.54–2.94; radiographer—aOR: 1.16, 95% CI: 0.44– 3.09)), presence of comorbidity (aOR: 1.89, 95%CI: 1.29–2.78), community exposure to virus (aOR: 1.26, 95% CI: 1.03–1.55), not performing hand hygiene before and after aseptic procedures performed (aOR: 1.6, 95% CI: 1.05–2.45); not frequently decontaminating high touch surfaces always as recommended (aOR: 2.31, 95%CI: 1.65–3.22; p = 0.001) and con tact with a confirmed COVID-19 patient (aOR: 1.39, 95% CI: 1.15–1.67). Among those who came into any form of contact with confirmed COVID-19 patient, providing direct care (aOR: 2.0, 95%CI: 1.36–2.94), face-to-face contact (aOR: 2.23, 95%CI: 1.41–3.51), contact with environment/materials used by COVID-19 patient (aOR: 2.25, 95%CI: 1.45–3.49) and presence during conduct of aerosol generating procedures (aOR: 2.73, 95%CI: 1.74–4.28) were associated with COVID-19 infection. Conclusion Non-adherence to IPC guidelines puts HCWs at increased risk of COVID-19 infection thus ensuring IPC adherence is key to reducing this risk.