Browsing by Author "Nkornu, N."

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Comparison of neurocognitive changes among newly diagnosed tuberculosis patients with and without dysglycaemia
(BMC Psychiatry, 2020-04-03) Yorke, E.; Boima, V.; Dey, I.D.; Ganu, D.; Nkornu, N.; Acquaye, K.S.; Mate-Kole, C.C.
Background: Diabetes often occurs together with tuberculosis (TB) and both may affect each other negatively. Diabetes may be associated with neurocognitive dysfunctioning in affected patients and may negatively impact treatment adherence and outcomes. This study compared the neurocognitive status between newly diagnosed smear positive tuberculosis patients with dysglycaemia and those with normoglycaemia. Methods: The current study was a cross-sectional study involving one hundred and forty-six (146) newly diagnosed smear positive TB patients. Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed and the results were categorized as either normoglycaemia, impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), impaired fasting glucose (IFG) or diabetes. Neurocognitive functioning among study participants was assessed at the time of TB diagnosis using Cognitive Failure Questionnaire (CFQ), Montreal Cognitive Assessment tool (MoCA), California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT), Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) and the Spitzer Quality of Life Index (QLI). Results: The mean age of the participants (n = 146) was 38.7 years with 78.8% being males and 21.2% females. Using the fasting blood glucose test, the prevalence of impaired fasting glucose and diabetes were 5.5 and 3.4% respectively, both representing a total of 13 out of the 146 participants; whilst the prevalence of impaired glucose tolerance and diabetes using 2-h post-glucose values were 28.8 and 11.6% respectively, both representing a total of 59 out of the 146 participants. There were no significant differences in the mean scores on the neurocognitive measures between the dysglaycaemia and normoglycamic groups using fasting plasma glucose (FPG). However, there were significant differences in the mean scores between the dysglycaemia and normal groups using 2-h postprandial (2HPP) glucose values on Phobic Anxiety (Normal, Mean = 0.38 ± 0.603; dysglycaemia, Mean = 0.23 ± 0.356; p = 0.045), and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores (17.26 ± 5.981 vs. 15.04 ± 5.834, p = 0.037). Conclusion: Newly diagnosed smear positive patients with dysglycaemia were associated with significantly lower mean cognitive scores and scores on phobic anxiety than those with normoglyacaemia. The latter finding must be further explored.
Emotional ‘journey’ of street beggars with vision impairment: a study from Ghana
(Disability & Society, 2022) Ibrahim, Z.; Oppong-Asante, K.; Nkornu, N.
This study sought to understand the experiences of street beggars with vision impairment in Ghana. The study employed a qualitative research approach, specifically phenomenology. Twenty-five (25) participants were purposively sampled from three (3) busy streets in the Greater Accra region of Ghana. Participants were interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide and data collected was analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Findings showed that visually impaired street beggars experienced personal losses such as jobs, relationships and independence. In addition, the results showed that participants experienced daily challenges with regards to street begging. Further, street beggars with vision impairment reported a range of emotional experiences due to vision loss and street begging. The findings are discussed in relation to enhancing care and management of street beggars with visual impairments in Ghana.
Emotional experiences and challenges faced by patients with systemic lupus erythematosus who attend a support group in Ghana
(SAGE, 2021) Nkornu, N.; Ibrahim, Z.
Systemic lupus erythematosus is a disorder in which a person’s immune system attacks the tissues and organs of the body, causing inflammation, damage, and dysfunction. Challenges associated with systemic lupus erythematosus include cognitive and behavioural changes as well as problems with perceived quality of life. It affects mainly women between the ages of 15 and 45 years. This study explored the lived experiences of adults living with systemic lupus erythematosus in Accra, Ghana. The study employed a qualitative research approach where 11 systemic lupus erythematosus patients were purposively recruited from Accra. Data were collected through one on one in-depth interviews using a semi-structured interview guide. Data collected were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. The findings of the study revealed two main themes: Challenges living with systemic lupus erythematosus and Emotional experiences of systemic lupus erythematosus patients. Participants reported physical, financial, fertility challenges, struggles with medications, difficulty explaining the condition, and memory lapses as challenges. Emotional experiences reported include depressive feelings, sadness, fear, suicidal ideation, worry, dislike of the condition (systemic lupus erythematosus), and hope. These findings imply that participants are prone to psychological or psychiatric disorders if their emotions are not managed appropriately. The outcome of this study offers suggestions to policymakers and other organisations involved in the care and management of people with chronic conditions to adopt and effectively implement a multidisciplinary approach in health care by taking into consideration the mental health of persons living with systemic lupus erythematosus and other chronic conditions.
Neuropsychological Functioning in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
(University of Ghana, 2019-07) Nkornu, N.
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus is a disorder in which a person’s immune system attacks the tissues and organs of the body, causing inflammation, damage and dysfunction. Challenges associated with SLE include cognitive and behavioural changes as well as problems with perceived quality of life. It affects mainly women in their prime in Sub-Saharan Africa. This study examined the neuropsychological functioning of individuals with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in Accra, Ghana. The study used a mixed method design; one hundred and thirty five (135) participants comprising 70 SLE patients and 65 healthy controls were recruited from the Korle-bu Teaching Hospital in Accra for the quantitative phase. Eleven SLE patients were further recruited from the same sample for the qualitative phase. Quantitative data was collected using a battery of neuropsychological tests and behavioural measures. The quantitative data was analysed using multivariate analysis of covariance, standard multiple regression analysis, and independent t test. The qualitative data was analysed using thematic analysis. The quantitative results showed statistically significant differences between the SLE patients and the healthy control group on the cognitive tests, the behavioural and the quality of life measures. Further, attention positively predicted quality of life. The qualitative findings revealed the challenges SLE patients encounter, as well as the social support received and coping strategies they adopt. The findings are discussed in relation to enhancing SLE care and management of chronic diseases in Ghana
Neuropsychological Functioning in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
(University of Ghana, 2019-07) Nkornu, N.
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus is a disorder in which a person’s immune system attacks the tissues and organs of the body, causing inflammation, damage and dysfunction. Challenges associated with SLE include cognitive and behavioural changes as well as problems with perceived quality of life. It affects mainly women in their prime in Sub-Saharan Africa. This study examined the neuropsychological functioning of individuals with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in Accra, Ghana. The study used a mixed method design; one hundred and thirty five (135) participants comprising 70 SLE patients and 65 healthy controls were recruited from the Korle-bu Teaching Hospital in Accra for the quantitative phase. Eleven SLE patients were further recruited from the same sample for the qualitative phase. Quantitative data was collected using a battery of neuropsychological tests and behavioural measures. The quantitative data was analysed using multivariate analysis of covariance, standard multiple regression analysis, and independent t test. The qualitative data was analysed using thematic analysis. The quantitative results showed statistically significant differences between the SLE patients and the healthy control group on the cognitive tests, the behavioural and the quality of life measures. Further, attention positively predicted quality of life. The qualitative findings revealed the challenges SLE patients encounter, as well as the social support received and coping strategies they adopt. The findings are discussed in relation to enhancing SLE care and management of chronic diseases in Ghana.