Browsing by Author "Osei Owusu, Alexander"

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    Haemato-biochemical indices and their correlation with obstetrics profile and complications among pregnant women in the Northern Region of Ghana
    (OCTOBER, 2016) Osei Owusu, Alexander
    Pregnancy is a physiological condition in which the body undergoes extensive systemic alterations and modifications to compensate for the demands of the growing fe|tus. Howe|ve|r, obste|trics practice| in Africa of which Ghana is not an e|xception; is marred by a lot of challenges and complications. Anaemia and spontaneous abortion are among the leading frontiers of pregnancy related complications. In a cross-se|ctional study to assess the| Haemato-Biochemical indices and its correlate with obstetrics profile and complications among pregnant women in Ghana, a total of 248 pre|gnant wome|n atte|nding ante|natal clinic at the| Tamale| Te|aching Hospital (T.T.H) we|re| assesed for this study. Comple|te| haemogram, immunological analysis, biochemical analysis, estimation of gestation age| using symphysiofundal height measurement,last normal menstrual period (LNMP) , re|sults from the| first trime|ste|r ultrasound scan, parasitology analysis, serological analysis and obstetrics history such as level of parity, gravidae, history of abortion (spontaneous or induce|d) we|re| re|trie|ve|d from the|ir ante|natal bookle|t. Pre|vale|nce| of spontane|ous abortion among pregnant women in Ghana as shown in this study was 65.72%. High serum folic acid levels were found to be associated with spontaneous abortion. G6PD partial de|fe|ct (OR= 0.447; 95%CI=0.208-0.961; p=0.039), Multi-parity (OR= 2.724; 95%CI=1.277-5.809; p=0.01) and irregular antenatal attendance (OR= 2.036; 95%CI=1.093-3.793; p=0.025) were risk factors for the occurrence of spontaneous abortion. The| pre|vale|nce| of anae|mia among the| pre|gnant wome|n we|re| 33.87% using (Hb<11g/dl) and 43.55% using (hematocrit<33%) as criteria. Iron deficiency (ID) and iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) were the most prevalent type| of anae|mia. The| pre|vale|nce| of iron de|ficie|ncy (ID) and iron de|ficie|ncy anae|mia (IDA) in this current study were 16.94% and 4.44% re|spectively using the conventional markers of assessing iron status. With the introduction of the modern indicators of ID and IDA, pre|vale|nce| of iron de|ficie|ncy and iron iv deficiency anaemia were 50% and 16.13% respe|tively using transferrin:log ferritin as a marker. When transferrin re|ce|ptor was use|d as an inde|x for the| asse|ssme|nt of iron status, 77.42% and 27.8% pre|vale|nce| was obtaine|d for ID and IDA re|spectively. Low ferritin concentration, advanced gestational age(2nd and 3rd trimesters), non-intake of haematinics and poor appetite for food (anorexia) were the predisposing factors for the development of anaemia in pre|gnancy. The|re| is the| need for the introduction of the| mode|rn marke|rs of assessing iron status which are not influenced by inflammation or diurnal variabilities to augment the conventional markers in our clinical practice| since| ID and IDA are| be|ing unde|rdiagnose|d. Policy on folic acid and hematinic supplementation should be urgently and critically reviewe|d in obstetrics practice|.
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    The Prevalence and Risk Factors of Hepatitis B Virus Infection Among Dwellers in A Peri-Urban District of Ghana: A Cross Sectional Study
    (UDS PUBLISHING LIMITED, 2018) Opare-Asamoah, Kwame; Majeed, Saeed F; Osei Owusu, Alexander; Keelson, Kofi Okyere; Owusu, Emmanuel Abem; Wondoh, Paul M.; Kunfah, Sheba M. P.; Fosu, Samuel E.; Yorke, Joseph; Yakong, Vida Nyagre; 0000-0002-5229-0340
    Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a significant health issue affecting about 296 million people worldwide. The disease is of great public health concern in Ghana as the country is within the endemic region of HBV infection. This study sought to determine the prevalence of HBV infection and associated risk factors among dwellers in a peri-urban district of Ghana. This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in the Sunyani West District of the Bono Region of Ghana. Respondents aged ≥18 years were purposively recruited from the four major towns in the District with health centres. A questionnaire was used to collect data from participants, and a rapid diagnostic test for the sero-presence or otherwise of hepatitis B infection was conducted. A total of 992 respondents took part in the study, with the prevalence of HBV infection using HBsAg as a marker among all the study participants being 2.9% (male 4.0% (12/298), female 2.5% (17/694)). Females aged between 20-29 years had a comparatively higher prevalence of hepatitis B infection than their corresponding males. The intake of alcohol (RR=4.23; 95% CI:2.05-8.74, p <0.000), previously diagnosed of having a sexually transmitted disease (RR= 2.43; 95% CI: 1.03-5.71, p = .04) and having multiple sexual partners (RR= 2.27; 95% CI: 1.11-4.65, p = .02) were the significant risk factors for HBV infection among the study participants. The study showed a low prevalence of HBV infection in the Sunyani West District of Ghana using HBsAg as a serum marker to diagnose the infection.