Browsing by Author "Oppong, S."
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Item Characterizing local-scale heterogeneity of malaria risk: a case study in Bunkpurugu-Yunyoo district in northern Ghana(Malaria Journal, 2019-03) Amratia, P.; Psychas, P.; Abuaku, B.; Ahorlu, C.; Millar, J.; Oppong, S.; Koram, K.; Valle, D.Background: Bayesian methods have been used to generate country-level and global maps of malaria prevalence. With increasing availability of detailed malaria surveillance data, these methodologies can also be used to identify fine-scale heterogeneity of malaria parasitaemia for operational prevention and control of malaria. Methods: In this article, a Bayesian geostatistical model was applied to six malaria parasitaemia surveys conducted during rainy and dry seasons between November 2010 and 2013 to characterize the micro-scale spatial heterogeneity of malaria risk in northern Ghana. Results: The geostatistical model showed substantial spatial heterogeneity, with malaria parasite prevalence varying between 19 and 90%, and revealing a northeast to southwest gradient of predicted risk. The spatial distribution of prevalence was heavily influenced by two modest urban centres, with a substantially lower prevalence in urban centres compared to rural areas. Although strong seasonal variations were observed, spatial malaria prevalence patterns did not change substantially from year to year. Furthermore, independent surveillance data suggested that the model had a relatively good predictive performance when extrapolated to a neighbouring district. Conclusions: This high variability in malaria prevalence is striking, given that this small area (approximately 30 km × 40 km) was purportedly homogeneous based on country-level spatial analysis, suggesting that fine-scale parasitaemia data might be critical to guide district-level programmatic efforts to prevent and control malaria. Extrapolations results suggest that fine-scale parasitaemia data can be useful for spatial predictions in neighbouring unsampled districts and does not haItem Detecting local risk factors for residual malaria in northern Ghana using Bayesian model averaging(Malaria Journal, 2018-09) Millar, J.; Psychas, P.; Abuaku, B.; Ahorlu, C.; Amratia, P.; Koram, K.; Oppong, S.; Valle, D.Background There is a need for comprehensive evaluations of the underlying local factors that contribute to residual malaria in sub-Saharan Africa. However, it is difficult to compare the wide array of demographic, socio-economic, and environmental variables associated with malaria transmission using standard statistical approaches while accounting for seasonal differences and nonlinear relationships. This article uses a Bayesian model averaging (BMA) approach for identifying and comparing potential risk and protective factors associated with residual malaria. Results The relative influence of a comprehensive set of demographic, socio-economic, environmental, and malaria intervention variables on malaria prevalence were modelled using BMA for variable selection. Data were collected in Bunkpurugu-Yunyoo, a rural district in northeast Ghana that experiences holoendemic seasonal malaria transmission, over six biannual surveys from 2010 to 2013. A total of 10,022 children between the ages 6 to 59 months were used in the analysis. Multiple models were developed to identify important risk and protective factors, accounting for seasonal patterns and nonlinear relationships. These models revealed pronounced nonlinear associations between malaria risk and distance from the nearest urban centre and health facility. Furthermore, the association between malaria risk and age and some ethnic groups was significantly different in the rainy and dry seasons. BMA outperformed other commonly used regression approaches in out-of-sample predictive ability using a season-to-season validation approach. Conclusions This modelling framework offers an alternative approach to disease risk factor analysis that generates interpretable models, can reveal complex, nonlinear relationships, incorporates uncertainty in model selection, and produces accurate predictions. Certain modelling applications, such as designing targeted local interventions, require more sophisticated statistical methods which are capable of handling a wide range of relevant data while maintaining interpretability and predictive performance, and directly characterize uncertainty. To this end, BMA represents a valuable tool for constructing more informative models for understanding risk factors for malaria, as well as other vector-borne and environmentally mediated diseases.Item Editorial: Contextualizing psychological assessment in Africa: COVID-19 and beyond(Frontiers in Psychology, 2023) Oppong, S.; Appiah, R.; Hapunda, G.; Kheswa, J.G.Historically, the science of Psychology and the practice of psychological assessment have in Africa have been influenced by Western ideologies and practices (Nsamenang, 2007; Oppong et al., 2022). However, there are vast cultural differences among people of different social structures and value orientations. Therefore, there is a growing need for locally generated and validated tools to assess the strengths, capacities, and mental health of the African people (Oppong, 2017; Laher, 2019; Appiah et al., 2020; Oppong et al., 2022), who are often under-represented in global psychological research (Nielsen et al., 2017; Rad et al., 2018; Thalmayer et al., 2021). The overarching importance of generating and administering context-appropriate measures is that it strengthens the drive toward ensuring valid, reliable, and context-worthy assessment of mental health and psychological wellbeing among individuals, groups, and communities in the context of research and practice.Item Fear of COVID-19: Psychological distress and coping among university students in Ghana(Springer, 2021) Oti-Boadi, M.; Malm, E.; Dey, N.E.Y.; Oppong, S.The advent of the coronavirus pandemic has impacted the psychological well-being of many people. This study examined the relationship between fear of COVID-19, psychological distress (depression, anxiety, and stress) and coping strategies adopted by undergraduate students in Ghana. A sample of 209 students were recruited to complete online surveys on fear of COVID-19, psychological distress and coping strategies between June and July 2020. Students scored between normal to mild levels of psychological distress but above average scores on fear of coronavirus (M = 19.45, SD = 6.04). Fear of COVID-19 was positively related to psychological distress. Only maladaptive coping was found to be significantly and positively associated with fear of COVID-19. However post-hoc analysis of the components of coping strategies revealed that denial (β = .17, p = .028), venting (β = .18, p = .036) and humour (β = −.18, p = .023; an adaptive coping strategy) were associated with fear of COVID-19. Finally, both adaptive coping and maladaptive coping strategies had a mediating effect on fear of COVID-19 and psychological distress. These findings emphasize the need to design and optimize institutional interventions that will assess psychological distress and fear of COVID-19 levels during this pandemic and provide psychotherapeutic support for students as they return to school.Item Impact of indoor residual spraying on malaria parasitaemia in the Bunkpurugu-Yunyoo District in northern Ghana(Parasites and Vectors, 2018-10) Abuaku, B.; Ahorlu, C.; Psychas, P.; Ricks, P.; Oppong, S.; Mensah, S.; Sackey, W.; Koram, K.A.Background Since 2008 indoor residual spraying (IRS) has become one of the interventions for malaria control in Ghana. Key partners in the scale-up of IRS have been the US President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) and AngloGold Ashanti (AGA). This study was designed to assess the impact of IRS on malaria parasitaemia among children less than 5 years-old in Bunkpurugu-Yunyoo, one of PMI-sponsored districts in northern Ghana, where rates of parasitaemia significantly exceeded the national average. Methods Two pre-IRS cross-sectional surveys using microscopy were conducted in November 2010 and April 2011 to provide baseline estimates of malaria parasitaemia for the high and low transmission seasons, respectively. IRS for the entire district was conducted in May/June to coincide with the beginning of the rains. Alpha-cypermethrin was used in 2011 and 2012, and changed to pirimiphos-methyl in 2013 and 2014 following declining susceptibility of local vectors to pyrethroids. Post-IRS cross-sectional surveys were conducted between 2011 and 2014 to provide estimates for the end of high (2011–2014) and the end of low (2012–2013) transmission seasons. Results The end of high transmission season prevalence of asexual parasitaemia declined marginally from 52.4% (95% CI: 50.0–54.7%) to 47.7% (95% CI: 45.5–49.9%) following 2 years of IRS with alpha-cypermethrin. Prevalence declined substantially to 20.6% (95% CI: 18.4–22.9%) following one year of IRS with pirimiphos-methyl. Conclusions The use of a more efficacious insecticide for IRS can reduce malaria parasitaemia among children less than 5 years-old in northern Ghana.Item Implementation of Single Spine Pay Policy in public sector of Ghana: Analysis and recommendations from organizational development perspective.(Business Excellence, 2015) Oppong, S.; Dickson, E.; Asumeng, M.A.With generally lower salaries in the public sector, the Government of Ghana initiated pay policy reforms in 2006 and established the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission by law in 2007. Th is pay policy is an organisational development (OD) intervention that aimed at ensuring internal and external pay equity. Th is process culminated in the design of the single spine pay policy whose implementation commenced in January 2010. Th e implementation has not been without its challenges; this resulted in a calling of a national forum on the sustainability of the new pay policy. It is against this backdrop that this paper sought to review the implementation of the single spine pay policy (SSPP) in the public sector within an OD and intervention perspective. Specifi cally, this paper pointed out that SSPP reforms constitute a re-creation, a reactive but a discontinuous change. As a result, its implementation was explored in the light of Lewinian three-stage model of organizational change; it further assessed the implementation against its main objectives whiles identifying some of its challenges. In addition, recommendations were also presented for further improvement of the pay policy. It was concluded that the implementation has been partially successful and when given the needed support it would achieve its objectives and be sustainable in the long-run.Item Infectious Diseases as Threat to International Security-The Case of West Africa(University of Ghana, 2016-07) Oppong, S.ABSTRACT The 2014 Ebola Virus Disease emerged as a landmark representation o f the threat of infectious diseases within the sub-region. The disease was dominant in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leonne and threatened the internal security of numerous states within the region. Over the 2 year span of the disease, it resulted in over 11, 300 deaths and left behind devastating social-economic impacts. The period of the outbreak called for much global attention and the eventual securitization of the disease by ECOWAS and the United Nations Security Council. The study seeks to explore the consciousness of the West African public in conceptualizing the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) as a threat to security. It further examines the influences of socio-cultural factors in the securitizing the disease. The study employs a qualitative method in the gathering and analysis of data. Information was obtained from key informants and through the analysis is of relevant data. Findings of the study elucidate the various factors that fueled the threat of the Ebola Virus Disease. Amidst the existent weak public health systems of most West African states, there were numerous social-cultural factors that impeded the successful containment of the disease within sub-region. Some of these factors largely bordered on rites of passage and the ordinary practices of the communities within most states. The beliefs of sections of communities also vehemently opposed the tenets of the instituted containment measures with in states. In essence, the conceptualization of the disease by the public and some state institutions hugely undermined the efforts of the various actors in containing the disease. Although securitized by major global actors, the consciousness of the public of the disease as a security threat was at variance the Securitization act. Also, ECOWAS as a regional actor demonstrated significant frailties in offering adequate support to contain the disease. The study recommends that ECOWAS. Dedicates substantial resources by way of a health fund in order to forestall similar impacts in future occurrences of pandemics. Also, peace education should be advanced within communities. to heighten awareness and consciousness of such threats in sustaining the region.Item Nature and patterns of lagoon fisheries resource utilisation and its implications to waterbird management in coastal Ghana(2008) Gbogbo, F.; Oduro, W.; Oppong, S.Seasonal patterns in human fisheries resource utilisation and the capture characteristics of fish, swimming crabs and land crabs harvested from four coastal lagoons in Ghana between September 2005 and August 2007 are described. These are discussed in relation to sustainable management of the lagoons’ fisheries for both human and waterbird use. With the exception of small pelagic foraging fish-eating birds, human fishing practices in the lagoons were in direct competition with crab- and fish-eating birds, because of the overlap of same-sized fish and crabs, and also in indirect competition because many of the exploited fish and crabs were immature. Fishing practices were also in direct competition with food foraging by invertebrate-eating birds. Intense exploitation of swimming crabs was linked to the use of drag nets, in comparison to the exclusive use of cast nets in some lagoons. In order to reduce the incidence of waterbird-human interactions and conflict during the energy-demanding phase of the birds’ non-breeding season, it is recommended that the practice of closed seasons be extended to include crab fisheries and be strictly enforced at all Ramsar sites on the Ghanaian coast.Item Obesity and testosterone levels in Ghanaian men with type 2 diabetes(Clinical Diabetes, 2014-04) Asare-Anane, H.; Ofori, E.; Agyemang, Y.; Oppong, S.; Tagoe, E.; Bani, S.; Ateku, R.; Bawa, T.Testosterone plays a vital role in obesity, glucose homeostasis, and lipid metabolism. The aim of this study was to investigate androgen levels and its association with obesity in Ghanaian men with type 2 diabetes. The study showed that serum total and free testosterone concentrations were lower in male patients with type 2 diabetes and that obesity was strongly associated with low levels of total and free testosterone in Ghanaian men with type 2 diabetes.Item Parental Knowledge and Attitudes Towards Sexuality and Sex-Education of Their Children with Developmental Disabilities(Sexuality and Disability, 2023) Oti-Boadi, M.; Oppong, S.; Malm, E.K.; Dey, N.Y.E.This study examined parents’ knowledge and attitudes about sexuality and sex education of their children with developmental disabilities (DD) in the Accra Metropolis of Ghana. Using a descriptive cross-sectional design, 46 conveniently sampled parents of children with DD responded to an online survey on knowledge of their children’s sexuality and their attitudes towards sex education. Findings from univariate analysis revealed that about 67% of parents have not given any form of sexual education to their children. However, 65% of parents in this study had good general knowledge about the sexuality of their children except for experiential topics (i.e., sexual feelings and experiences, including their sexual orientation (heterosexual/ gays and lesbians), and masturbation, but were generally positive about views of sex education for their children. Majority of the parents (82.6%) had not received any training on how to educate their children on sexuality matters to support and empower themselves and their children. These findings indicate that Ghanaian families rarely provide sex education for their children with DD, however, they perceive sex education as a positive and protective strategy for the reproductive and sexual health of their children with DD. Implications for the development of training programs that provides appropriate knowledge and skills related to sexual health are discussed.Item Pregnancy in non-palliated functionally single ventricle: challenges of management in resource-poor settings(Pan African Medical Journal, 2020-01-09) Aniteye, E.; Delsol-Gyan, D.; Oppong, S.; Ofosu-Appiah, E.; Edwin, F.Women with complex functionally univentricular hearts rarely survive into adulthood without corrective or palliative surgery. Reports of pregnancy outcome in this group of patients in resource-poor settings are sparse. We report a case of unrepaired pulmonary atresia ventricular septal defect (VSD) with major aorto-pulmonary collateral arteries (MAPCA) who survived into adulthood and was able to complete a successful pregnancy in a resource-poor countryItem Self-Forgiveness Among Incarcerated Individuals in Ghana: Relations With Shame- and Guilt-Proneness(https://doi.org/10.1177/0306624X20914496v, 2020-04-22) Osei-Tutu, A.; Cowden, R.G.; Kwakye-Nuako, C.O.; Gadze, J.; Oppong, S.; Worthington, E.L.J.Research on the forgiveness of self has largely focused on less severe, more common types of offenses among samples within developed westernized nations. In this brief report of a study within a developing nation in Africa, applications of self-forgiveness are extended to incarcerated people. The sample comprised N = 310 males (83.87%) and females (16.13%) who were incarcerated in a medium-security Ghanaian prison (Mage = 39.35, SDage = 13.28). Participants completed measures of self-forgiveness, shame-proneness, and guilt-proneness. Prison records were examined for criminal history details. We hypothesized that self-forgiveness would correlate negatively with shame-proneness and positively with guilt-proneness. We tentatively hypothesized that this association would be moderated by offense type. Self-forgiveness correlated with both shame- and guilt-proneness in the hypothesized direction. However, neither association was moderated by type of offense. The findings offer further evidence on the salience of self-conscious emotions in forgiving oneself, particularly among incarcerated offender populations. We discuss the implications of the findings for enhancing offender rehabilitation initiatives.