Browsing by Author "Manu, G."
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Item Non-malaria fevers in a high malaria endemic area of Ghana(BioMed Central Ltd., 2016) Asante, K.P.; Owusu-Agyei, S.; Cairns, M.; Boamah, E.; Manu, G.; Twumasi, M.; Gyasi, R.; Adjei, G.; Kayan, K.; Mahama, E.; Dosoo, D.K.; Koram, K.; Greenwood, B.; Chandramohan, D.Background: The importance of fevers not due to malaria [non-malaria fevers, NMFs] in children in sub-Saharan Africa is increasingly being recognised. We have investigated the influence of exposure-related factors and placental malaria on the risk of non-malaria fevers among children in Kintampo, an area of Ghana with high malaria transmission. Methods: Between 2008 and 2011, a cohort of 1855 newborns was enrolled and followed for at least 12 months. Episodes of illness were detected by passive case detection. The primary analysis covered the period from birth up to 12 months of age, with an exploratory analysis of a sub-group of children followed for up to 24 months. Results: The incidence of all episodes of NMF in the first year of life (first and subsequent) was 1.60 per child-year (95 % CI 1.54, 1.66). The incidence of NMF was higher among infants with low birth weight [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 1.22 (95 % CI 1.04-1.42) p = 0.012], infants from households of poor socio-economic status [aHR 1.22 (95 % CI 1.02-1.46) p = 0.027] and infants living furthest from a health facility [aHR 1.20 (95 % CI 1.01-1.43) p = 0.037]. The incidence of all episodes of NMF was similar among infants born to mothers with or without placental malaria [aHR 0.97 (0.87, 1.08; p = 0.584)]. Conclusion: The incidence of NMF in infancy is high in the study area. The incidence of NMF is associated with low birth weight and poor socioeconomic status but not with placental malaria.Item Patterns of Cultural Consensus and Intracultural Diversity in Ghanaian Complementary Feeding Practices(Maternal and Child Nutrition, 2017-04) Kalra, N.; Pelto, G.; Tawiah, C.; Zobrist, S.; Milani, P.; Manu, G.; Laar, A.; Parker, M.Designing effective interventions to improve infant and young child (IYC) feeding requires knowledge about determinants of current practices, including cultural factors. Current approaches to obtaining and using research on culture tend to assume cultural homogeneity within a population. The purpose of this study was to examine the extent of cultural consensus (homogeneity) in communities where interventions to improve IYC feeding practices are needed to address undernutrition during the period of complementary feeding. A second, related objective was to identify the nature of intracultural variation, if such variation was evident. Selected protocols from the Focused Ethnographic Study for Infant and Young Child Feeding Manual were administered to samples of key informants and caregivers in a peri-urban and a rural area in Brong-Ahafo, Ghana. Cultural domain analysis techniques (free listing, caregiver assessment of culturally significant dimensions, and food ratings on these dimensions), as well as open-ended questions with exploratory probing, were used to obtain data on beliefs and related practices. Results reveal generally high cultural consensus on the 5 dimensions that were assessed (healthiness, appeal, child acceptance, convenience, and modernity) for caregiver decisions and on their ratings of individual foods. However, thematic analysis of caregiver narratives indicates that the meanings and content of the constructs connoted by the dimensions differed widely among individual mothers. These findings suggest that research on cultural factors that affect IYC practices, particularly cultural beliefs, should consider the nature and extent of cultural consensus and intracultural diversity, rather than assuming cultural homogeneity.Item Synthesis and characterisation of zeolite-A and Zn-exchanged zeolite-A based on natural aluminosilicates and their potential applications(Cogent Engineering, 2018-03) Nyankson, E.; Efavi, J.K.; Yaya, A.; Manu, G.; Asare, K.; Daafuor, J.; Abrokwah, R.Y.Zeolites have been hydrothermally synthesized using alumina and silica based deposits (kaolin, bauxite, silica and feldspar) sampled from three regions in Ghana and the chemical compositions of the zeolites varied by batch formulations. The as-synthesized zeolites were characterized using X-ray Diffraction, Fourier Transform Infra-Red and Porosimetry techniques. The morphology and elemental compositions were examined using Scanning Electron Microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The results indicate that zeolite A was formed with a cubic structure and structural variations depending on the batch formulations. By increasing the silica content (Si/Al ratio) through batch formulations, the crystallite sizes of zeolites increased forming Zeolite A with LTA structure and Zeolite A (K-exchanged dehydrated). Samples with higher alumina content produced Zeolite A (Hydrated), Zeolite-Na and Zeolite A (Na, Dehydrated) with lower crystallite sizes. The zeolite synthesized was then used in the synthesis of zinc exchanged Zeolite A (Zn-zeolite A). EDX analysis confirmed a complete exchange of Na in the Zeolite framework with Zn and the feasibility as an adsorbent for methylene blue tested. The synthesized Zn-exchanged Zeolite A showed strong adsorption for methylene blue dye. The adsorption kinetics of the MB onto Zn-exchanged Zeolite A was observed to follow pseudo-second-order model. Freundlich model better described the interaction among adsorbate molecules onto the Zn-exchanged Zeolite A adsorbent, suggesting a multilayer distribution of adsorbate molecules with some level of interaction between adsorbed molecules. The regeneration capacity of the adsorbent was low and calculated to be about 48% at pH of 12. © 2018 The Author(s). This open access article is distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 license.Item Synthesis and Kinetic Adsorption Characteristics of Zeolite / CeO2 Nanocomposite(Scientific African, 2019-11-23) Nyankson, E.; Adjasoo, J.; Efavi, J.K.; Yaya, A.; Manu, G.; Kingsford, A.; Abrokwah, R.Y.Adsorption is an effective method for treating polluted water bodies. In this study, Zeolite/Cerium oxide nanocomposite (Z/CeO2-NC) was hydrothermally synthesize and its adsorption capacity on methylene blue organic dye (MB) studied. The as-synthesized nanocomposite (Z/CeO2–NC) were characterized using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FT-IR), Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDX) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Kinetic models and sorption isotherms were used to predict the adsorption rate constants and process mechanisms. The synthesized Z/CeO2-NC showed an excellent adsorption kinetics of methylene blue and the characteristics of adsorption best fitted a pseudo-second-order model. The rate parameters of other models were evaluated and compared to establish the adsorption mechanisms. The Langmuir isotherm model best fitted the adsorption process indicating a homogeneous monolayer of the dye on the surface of the adsorbent. The thermodynamic Gibbs free energy (ΔG) parameter was determined to be negative, indicating a spontaneous adsorption process. The synthesized Z/CeO2-NCs showed strong adsorption for methylene blue dye with increasing amount of CeO2. The maximum adsorption efficiency was calculated as 93.9% and the maximum regeneration efficiency of the adsorbent was found to be 78.8% higher after it had been washed by alkaline solution of pH 13. The results reflect the feasibility of the nanocomposite as an adsorbent with a potential application in wastewater treatment technologies.Item Synthesis of TiO2–Ag3PO4 photocatalyst material with high adsorption capacity and photocatalytic activity: application in the removal of dyes and pesticides(RSC, 2021) Nyankson, E.; Efavi, J.K.; Agyei-Tuffour, B.; Manu, G.The photocatalytic activity of TiO2 can be enhanced by coupling it with other semiconductors and the semiconductor composites may find useful application in water treatment technologies. TiO2–Ag3PO4 composites were synthesized and characterized with XRD, SEM-EDX and DRS. The synthesized TiO2– Ag3PO4 showed high photocatalytic activity in the presence UV-vis light on rhodamine B, methylene blue and the pesticides imidacloprid, atrazine and pyrimethanil. LC-MS analysis of the photodegraded pyrimethanil led to the identification of hydroxylated and aliphatic derivatives of pyrimethanil. The photocatalytic activity of the coupled semiconductor was higher than that of the bare TiO2 and Ag3PO4 and this was attributed to the unique band matching between TiO2 and Ag3PO4 which resulted in efficient charge separation and subsequent reduction in the electron–hole recombination. In addition, the synthesized TiO2–Ag3PO4 showed strong adsorption for water soluble dyes implying that TiO2– Ag3PO4 can remove pollutants through photocatalysis and adsorption. The results from the study showed the potential application of TiO2–Ag3PO4 composite in water treatment technologies.