Browsing by Author "Nyarko, R."
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Item Acceptability of Complementary Foods That Incorporate Moringa oleifera Leaf Powder Among Infants and Their Caregivers(Food and Nutrition Bulletin, 2018-03) Boateng, L.; Nyarko, R.; Asante, M.; Steiner-Asiedu, M.Background: Moringa oleifera leaf powder (MLP) is a nutrient-rich and readily available food resource that has the potential to improve the micronutrient quality of complementary foods in developing countries. Objective: To investigate the acceptability of complementary foods fortified with MLP. Methods: Moringa oleifera leaf powder was fed to infants either as part of a cereal–legume complementary food blend (MCL-35 g) or by sprinkling as a food supplement (MS-5 g) on infant’s usual foods. Mother–infant pairs (n = 18 for the MCL-35 g group and n = 16 for the MS-5 g group) attending regular weight monitoring sessions were recruited to participate in the acceptability trial. The study consisted of an initial tasting session after which mothers were to feed the assigned foods to their infants for 14 days. Mothers rated color, odor, taste, and overall liking of the complementary foods using a 5-point hedonic scale. Primary outcome was the proportion of test porridge consumed. Results: On the tasting day, MCL-35 g group infants consumed an average of 64.27% ± 25.02 of the test porridge offered, whereas MS-5 g group infants consumed an average of 66.43% ± 29.09. During the 14-day period, median percent daily consumption for MCL-35 g was 71.5% of the daily recommended intake, whereas median percent daily consumption for MS-5 g was 86.2%. Conclusion: We conclude that complementary foods incorporating Moringaoleifera leaf powder either as part of a cereal–legume complementary food blend (MCL-35 g) or when sprinkled as a food supplement (MS-5 g) on infant’s usual foods were well accepted.Item Bacterial contaminants in lettuce, tomatoes, beef and goat meat from the Accra Metropolis(Ghana Medical Journal, 2001-12) Mensah, P.; Armar-Klemesu, M; Hammond, A.S.; Haruna, A.; Nyarko, R.A survey on the role of lettuce. tomatoes, beef and goat meat in the transmission of food-borne bacteria in Accra was conducted by evaluating their microbial quality. All 60 market lettuce samples had significantly higher faecal bacteria compared to 8(12%) from the farms (5.0 ± 09 vrs. 4.3 ± 0.9. p <0.001). Salmonella Groups D and G, Shigella dysenteriae, flexneria and boydii were detected in both farm and market samples. Irrigation with tap water instead of drain water significantly reduced the level of faecal coliforms (4.4 ± 0.9 vrs. 3.8 ± 0.7, P <0.00 I). Market (16) and farm (8) samples of tomatoes had similar levels of coliforms and faecal coliforms but rotten tomatoes had more coliforms (6.8 ± 0.37 vrs. 4.6 ± 0.65, p<0.001) and faecal coliforms (4.7 ± 0.29 vrs. 3.5 ± 0.81, pItem Schistosoma haematobium, Plasmodium falciparum infection and anaemia in children in Accra, Ghana(Tropical Diseases, Travel Medicine and Vaccines, 2018) Nyarko, R.; Torpey, K.; Ankomah, A.Background: Urinary Schistosomiasis and malaria are endemic in Sub-Saharan Africa. There are public health concerns and implications of these parasites. This study sought to assess the prevalence of malaria, urinary schistosomiasis, and anaemia in children of school going age in two municipalities in Ghana. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used to investigate the prevalence of S. haematobium, P. falciparum infection and the haemoglobin concentration of respondents. A total of 404 (231 males and 173 females) school children between ages 9 - 14 years (mean age 11.8 ± 1.4 years) were recruited for the survey. Urine and blood samples were collected using standard operating procedures for urinary schistosomiasis and malaria diagnosis. Haemoglobin concentration was measured using a Hemocue® Hb 201 m. Results: The prevalence of mono-infection was 4.7 and 12.9% for S. haematobium and P. falciparum respectively with a small proportion (0.9%) of the respondents infected with both parasites. The prevalence of anaemia in the study population was 59.9%. The risk of developing anaemia was not associated with being infected with any of the parasites. All co-infected children had anaemia. Conclusion: High prevalence of anaemia was observed within the study population. Prevalence of malaria was higher compared to schistosomiasis. Interventions to address the high levels of anaemia is required within the community.