Browsing by Author "Sarkodie, B.D."
Now showing 1 - 8 of 8
Results Per Page
Sort Options
Item Caustic soda ingestion in children under-5 years presenting for fluoroscopic examinations in an Academic Hospital in Ghana(BMC Research Notes, 2015-11) Botwe, B.O.; Anim-Sampong, S.; Sarkodie, B.D.; Antwi, W.K.; Obeng-Nkansah, J.; Ashong, G.G.N.ABackground Disastrous effects and lifelong complications, ranging from respiratory and gastrointestinal burns to death can result from caustic soda ingestion. Accidental and non-accidental ingestions occur in different age groups. However, it is very troubling to find ingestion of caustic soda a very common occurrence among children below 5 years since they do not have the developmental level required to independently weigh up risks and are also under parental and societal protections. This study was therefore planned to investigate the ingestions of caustic soda by these children for purposes of proposing measures to curb the problem. Methods Descriptive survey was employed for this study. A 14-item, semi-structure questionnaire was purposively issued to 57 parents/guardians whose wards had ingested caustic soda. Data was analysed with SPSS V.20. Results Twenty-seven (47.4 %) children got access to the soda at storage, 1 (1.86 %) was administered accidentally by a sibling while 29 (50.9 %) ingested during soap preparation. In respect of the former, the majority got access because it was stored in soft drink and water bottles in their parents/guardians rooms or kitchen. For the later, the children got access to the left-over soda because the soap-makers failed to adhere to good storage and disposal practices. Conclusion Storage of caustic soda in soft drink and water bottles in accessible places, and training of children to drink directly from bottles influence caustic soda ingestion in children under five. Non-compliance to good practices of storage and disposal of caustic soda during soap preparation increases exposure and access of children to caustic soda ingestion.Item Caustic soda ingestion in children under-5 years presenting for fluoroscopic examinations in an Academic Hospital in Ghana(BioMed Central Ltd., 2015) Botwe, B.O.; Anim-Sampong, S.; Sarkodie, B.D.; Antwi, W.K.; Obeng-Nkansah, J.; Ashong, G.G.N.A.Background: Disastrous effects and lifelong complications, ranging from respiratory and gastrointestinal burns to death can result from caustic soda ingestion. Accidental and non-accidental ingestions occur in different age groups. However, it is very troubling to find ingestion of caustic soda a very common occurrence among children below 5 years since they do not have the developmental level required to independently weigh up risks and are also under parental and societal protections. This study was therefore planned to investigate the ingestions of caustic soda by these children for purposes of proposing measures to curb the problem. Methods: Descriptive survey was employed for this study. A 14-item, semi-structure questionnaire was purposively issued to 57 parents/guardians whose wards had ingested caustic soda. Data was analysed with SPSS V.20. Results: Twenty-seven (47.4 %) children got access to the soda at storage, 1 (1.86 %) was administered accidentally by a sibling while 29 (50.9 %) ingested during soap preparation. In respect of the former, the majority got access because it was stored in soft drink and water bottles in their parents/guardians rooms or kitchen. For the later, the children got access to the left-over soda because the soap-makers failed to adhere to good storage and disposal practices. Conclusion: Storage of caustic soda in soft drink and water bottles in accessible places, and training of children to drink directly from bottles influence caustic soda ingestion in children under five. Non-compliance to good practices of storage and disposal of caustic soda during soap preparation increases exposure and access of children to caustic soda ingestion.Item Density and regional distribution of radiologists in a low‑income country: the Ghana situation(Chinese Journal of Academic Radiology, 2023) Sarkodie, B.D.; Ohene‑Botwe, B.; Mensah, Y.B.; et al.Background This study assessed the density and distribution of radiologists across all 16 regions in Ghana to generate ref erence information for planning and policy formulation to encourage radiology specialization and in designing systems to improve the dissemination of radiological services across all the regions in Ghana. Method A cross-sectional design was used to collect secondary data on all radiologists (n=93) registered with the Medical and Dental Council of Ghana (MDCG) as of December 2022. This information collected on the records of the MDCG was confrmed with records from the Ghana Association of Radiologists. Population and land area data were also collected from the National Statistical Service of Ghana for each region in the country. The Stata statistical software version 15 was used to analyze the data collected. Results There were 93 radiologists in the country. The majority were male (n=60, 65%) and about one-third of the radiolo gists were female. The national density of radiologists was 1.9 radiologists per 5000 km2 . Only 3 of the 16 regions in the country had a better distribution of radiologists per 5000 km2 . There were three radiologists per million people in Ghana with a skewed regional distribution. Seven out of the 16 regions lacked radiologists. The proportion of female radiologists stationed within the Greater Accra and Ashanti regions was 87.9% (29/33). The Bono, Eastern, Northern, and Western regions had one female radiologist each. Conclusions Actions are needed to improve the shortage and skewed distribution of radiologists. The outcome will help to improve radiological services across all the regions in Ghana.Item MRI age verification of U-17 footballers: The Ghana study(Journal of Forensic Radiology and Imaging, 2018-03) Sarkodie, B.D.; Botwe, B.O.; Pambo, P.; Brakohiapa, E.K.; Mayeden, R.N.Background A fair playground is absolutely necessary in any age limited sports. Age determination in countries where birth registration is not compulsory can often be difficult making it a challenge to determine ages of people born in such countries. Objective To determine correlation between chronological ages of under 17 Ghanaian footballers and the FIFA MRI grading. Method The degree of radial epiphyseal fusion was evaluated in 286 male Ghanaian footballers aged 13–16 years over a 4 year period (June 2012–November 2016) using 1.5 T Magnetic Resonance Imaging. The ages of the participants used in the study were those provided by the football players and confirmed with their national passports. Results Over 48% of these Ghanaian players below the age of 17 years had completely fused radial epiphysis. No significant correlation between the given chronological ages and the degree of fusion was found. The Spearmans correlation was given as (r = 0.069; p = 0.540). Conclusion There was no correlation between chronological age and degree of radial fusion among Ghanaian players. Normative study among Ghanaian/black African players is long overdue to ensure the U-17 players from these countries are not unfairly disadvantaged.Item Personal radiation monitoring of occupationally exposed radiographers in the biggest tertiary referral hospital in Ghana(2015-10-21) Botwe, B.O.; Antwi, W.K.; Adesi, K.K.; Anim-Sampong, S.; Dennis, A.M.E.; Sarkodie, B.D.; Opoku, S.Y.Abstract Background The use of radiation in the health sector is of tremendous diagnostic and therapeutic benefit to patients. However, scatter radiation associated with its use poses detrimental risks to occupational staff and other health personnel whose activities are associated with the use of radiation. Therefore, there is a need to ensure effective monitoring of occupational exposed health personnel. Presently, the effectiveness of this programme at the biggest tertiary hospital in Ghana is however unclear. Aim The aim of this study was to investigate if occupationally exposed radiographers in the biggest tertiary referral hospital in Ghana were monitored in compliance with international regulations. Methods A quantitative descriptive survey design was used to obtain data on radiation monitoring in the biggest tertiary referral hospital in Ghana from February 2014 to April 2014. Two different tools, observation and questionnaire, were employed for data collection from 50 radiographers purposively sampled in the study. The data was analysed with Microsoft Excel 2010. Results A 100 % response rate was obtained. All respondents were monitored by means of a TLD badge except 4(8 %) who did not have any personal radiation monitoring device. Although 86 % of respondents confirmed that their personnel dosimeters were collected for reading after 3 months of use, all the respondents however, did not receive TLD readings feedback until after 3 or more months. In particular, 38 % of diagnostic radiographers claimed they never received any feedback, while 66 % respondents indicated radiation monitoring in their various departments were unsatisfactory. Delays from the service provider (regulatory body) were identified as the causes of irregularities in supply of dosimeters and monitoring feedback. Conclusion Radiation monitoring of occupational personnel at the biggest tertiary hospital was unsatisfactory and did not meet required standards. Hospital management and the regulatory body should ensure strict compliance with international regulations for purposes of achieving occupational radiation safety.Item Prenatal Diagnosis of Skeletal Dysplasia and Review of the Literature(Hindawi, 2021) Jimah, B.B.; Mensah, T.A.; Ulzen-Appiah, K.; Sarkodie, B.D.; Anim, D.A.; Amoako, E.; Gyamfi, E.A.Introduction. Obstetric ultrasonography is routinely used to screen for fetal anomalies. Thanatophoric dysplasia (TD) is one of the common though rare lethal skeletal dysplasia, detected during routine ultrasound scan. TD is caused by a mutation in FGFR3 gene. Characteristic features include shortening of limbs, macrocephaly and platyspondyly. In our local setting, it is common to miss the diagnosis in the early scans due to lack of expertise of the sonographers. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first publication from Ghana. Case Presentation. We present the case of a 33-year-old woman who was referred to the facility on account of ultrasound scan report suggestive of thanatophoric dysplasia type 1 at 34 weeks of a female baby. The diagnosis was not made despite the mother being a regular antenatal attendant, until a fifth scan done at 34 weeks reported features suggestive of thanatophoric dysplasia. The ultrasound scan features included a biparietal diameter of 37weeks, femur length—24weeks, narrowed thoracic cage with hypoplastic lungs and short ribs. The liquor volume was increased with amniotic fluid index (AFI) of 38.4 cm. The femur, tibia, fibula, humerus, ulna, and radius were shortened (micromelia). The diagnosis of thanatophoric dysplasia type 1 was confirmed on autopsy. Conclusion. This report was aimed to highlight the potential contribution of ultrasound scan in the diagnosis of thanatophoric dysplasia in our setting.Item Prostatic volume determination by transabdominal ultrasonography: Does accuracy vary significantly with urinary bladder volumes between 50 to 400 mL?(Journal of Medical Radiation Sciences, 2018-12-20) Brakohiapa, E.K.; Botwe, B.O.; Sarkodie, B.D.Introduction: In Ghana, trans-abdominal ultrasonography is the main sonographic method of prostatic volume evaluation. The examinations are done when the patient’s bladder is full. However, the delay and the discomforting experiences associated with a full bladder have been well documented. In an attempt to investigate other less discomforting options, this study was undertaken to determine if sonographic transabdominal prostatic evaluations performed at urinary bladder volumes of 50–99 mL differ significantly to evaluations done at volumes of 100–199, 200–299 and 300– 399 mL. Methods: A prostatic study of adult patients was undertaken in Accra, from 2014 to 2015. Using an ultrasound machine, 79 sets of prostatic measurements were recorded at a urinary bladder volume of 50–99 mL (V1 as our reference volume), and at least one of three other urinary bladder volumes (V2 = 100–199 mL, V3 = 200–299 mL and V4 = 300–399 mL), in 66 males. Twelve of the participants had multiple sets of prostate volume measurements. SPSS was used to analyse the data. T-test, Bland-Altman plots and linear regression were used to compare and test for the existence of proportional biases in measurements. Results: There was a statistically significant difference in prostatic volumes recorded at V1 and V2 (P = 0.017). However, the prostatic volume differences recorded for V1/V3, and V1/V4 groups of data were all not statistically significant (P > 0.05). The limits of agreement for the set of measurements spread from approximately 29 to +18 mL for V1/V2, 48 to +36 mL for V1/V3 and 12 to +12 mL for V1/V4 variables. There was no proportional bias in the V1/V2 (P = 0.55) and V1/V4 (P = 0.463) measurements. Conclusion: Urinary bladder volume of 50–99 mL produces prostatic volume measurements comparable to volumes measured in patients with a full (300–399 mL), or nearly full urinary bladder (200–299 mL). A urinary bladder volume of 50–99 mL may therefore be adequate for scanning the prostate gland, and is likely to be tolerated much better by patients.Item Prostatic volume determination by transabdominal ultrasonography: Does accuracy vary significantly with urinary bladder volumes between 50 to 400 mL?(Prostatic volume determination by transabdominal ultrasonography: Does accuracy vary significantly with urinary bladder volumes between 50 to 400 mL?, 2019-02) Brakohiapa, E.K.; Botwe, B.O.; Sarkodie, B.D.Introduction In Ghana, trans‐abdominal ultrasonography is the main sonographic method of prostatic volume evaluation. The examinations are done when the patient's bladder is full. However, the delay and the discomforting experiences associated with a full bladder have been well documented. In an attempt to investigate other less discomforting options, this study was undertaken to determine if sonographic transabdominal prostatic evaluations performed at urinary bladder volumes of 50–99 mL differ significantly to evaluations done at volumes of 100–199, 200–299 and 300–399 mL. Methods A prostatic study of adult patients was undertaken in Accra, from 2014 to 2015. Using an ultrasound machine, 79 sets of prostatic measurements were recorded at a urinary bladder volume of 50–99 mL (V1 as our reference volume), and at least one of three other urinary bladder volumes (V2 = 100–199 mL, V3 = 200–299 mL and V4 = 300–399 mL), in 66 males. Twelve of the participants had multiple sets of prostate volume measurements. SPSS was used to analyse the data. T‐test, Bland‐Altman plots and linear regression were used to compare and test for the existence of proportional biases in measurements. Results There was a statistically significant difference in prostatic volumes recorded at V1 and V2 (P = 0.017). However, the prostatic volume differences recorded for V1/V3, and V1/V4 groups of data were all not statistically significant (P > 0.05). The limits of agreement for the set of measurements spread from approximately −29 to +18 mL for V1/V2, −48 to +36 mL for V1/V3 and −12 to +12 mL for V1/V4 variables. There was no proportional bias in the V1/V2 (P = 0.55) and V1/V4 (P = 0.463) measurements. Conclusion Urinary bladder volume of 50–99 mL produces prostatic volume measurements comparable to volumes measured in patients with a full (300–399 mL), or nearly full urinary bladder (200–299 mL). A urinary bladder volume of 50–99 mL may therefore be adequate for scanning the prostate gland, and is likely to be tolerated much better by patients.