scholarly journals Abattoir-based prevalence and distribution of porcine cysticercosis in northern Ghana inferred from Kumasi Abattoir

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 82-89
Author(s):  
Francis ADDY ◽  
Edward MASEKO ◽  
Osman DUFAILU
Keyword(s):  
Taenia Solium ◽  
Wide Distribution ◽  
Intervention Strategies ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Northern Ghana ◽  
North East ◽  
Porcine Cysticercosis ◽  
East Region ◽  
Upper East Region ◽  
Sub Saharan

Taenia solium cysticercosis is a cosmopolitan foodborne disease that is neglected in many endemic tropical societies. The disease situation is less understood in parts of sub-Saharan Africa including Ghana, meanwhile useful surveillance data are needed from all endemic localities for designing effective intervention strategies. The present study estimated abattoir-based prevalence and distribution of T. solium cysticercosis in pigs from northern Ghana. A survey was carried out at the Kumasi abattoir to screen for cyst infection and localization sites, and evaluate the handling of infected carcasses. Taenia solium cysticercosis infection was noted in pigs at the abattoir, drawn from all five Regions of northern Ghana. Generally, porcine cysticercosis had 9.73% prevalence across the Regions with the Upper East Region (10.10%) being noted as a key focus of the cestode. Animals from the Upper West, Savannah, Northern and North East Regions also recorded a prevalence range of 8.25 – 12.12%. The results indicate considerable prevalence of T. solium cysticercosis that was in wide distribution in pig in northern Ghana and point to a public health threat in cities where such infected pigs are slaughtered.

scholarly journals Control trial of porcine cysticercosis in Uganda using a combination of the TSOL18 vaccination and oxfendazole

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zachary Nsadha ◽  
Chris Rutebarika ◽  
Chrisostom Ayebazibwe ◽  
Bukenya Aloys ◽  
M. Mwanja ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Taenia Solium ◽  
Control Program ◽  
Control Area ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Intermediate Hosts ◽  
Porcine Cysticercosis ◽  
Intervention Area ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Village Communities

Abstract Background Neurocysticercosis caused by Taenia solium when the parasite lodges in the central nervous system, is an important cause of human seizures and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. The parasite is prevalent in many regions of Uganda. Pigs are intermediate hosts for T. solium, and we evaluated a T. solium control program in pigs, involving vaccination of pigs with the TSOL18 vaccine and treatment with oxfendazole. Methods The study was conducted in two districts of Eastern Uganda involving the rural village communities of Bukedea (intervention area) and Kumi (control area) during 2016–2017. Seven hundred and thirty-four households were enrolled in the study. Pigs in the intervention area received intramuscular immunizations with TSOL18 (Cysvax™) and an oral medication with 30 mg/kg oxfendazole (Paranthic™) at approximately 3-monthly intervals for 18 months. Porcine cysticercosis was evaluated by post-mortem examination. At the beginning of the study, 111 pigs were examined. In an interim evaluation in the intervention area, 55 pigs were evaluated 12 months after starting the project. At the end of the study approximately 3 months after the final intervention, 55 pigs from the intervention area and 56 pigs from the control area were evaluated. Results The prevalence of porcine cysticercosis for the two sites was 16.2% at the beginning of the study (17.2% in the intervention area and 15.1% in the control area) with no statistically significant difference (P = 0.759) between the two study sites. Among the 110 animals assessed from the intervention site (55 at the interim evaluation and 55 at the final evaluation), no pig with viable T. solium cysts was found. There was a statistically significant difference between the prevalence at baseline (17.2%) and at the end of the study (0%) in the intervention area (P = 0.001) and a statistically significant difference between the intervention (0%) and control areas (5.4%) (P = 0.041) at the end of the study. Conclusions Three-monthly concurrent vaccination of pigs with the TSOL18 vaccine and medication with oxfendazole eliminated T. solium transmission by the animals involved in the study. Application of vaccination with medication in pigs has the potential to reduce transmission of T. solium in Uganda and other endemic countries.

scholarly journals Challenges experienced by midwives working in rural communities in the Upper East Region of Ghana: a qualitative study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Adatara ◽  
Philemon Adoliwine Amooba ◽  
Agani Afaya ◽  
Solomon Mohammed Salia ◽  
Mabel Apaanye Avane ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Maternal Mortality Ratio ◽  
Physical Space ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Northern Ghana ◽  
Maternal Deaths ◽  
East Region ◽  
Upper East Region

Abstract Background In 2017, a total of 295,000 women lost their lives due to pregnancy and childbirth across the globe, with sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia accounting for approximately 86 % of all maternal deaths. The maternal mortality ratio in Ghana is exceptionally high, with approximately 308 deaths/100,000 live births in 2017. Most of these maternal deaths occur in rural areas than in urban areas. Thus, we aimed to explore and gain insights into midwives’ experiences of working and providing women-centred care in rural northern Ghana. Methods A qualitative descriptive exploratory design was used to explore the challenges midwives face in delivering women-centred midwifery care in low-resource, rural areas. A total of 30 midwives practicing in the Upper East Region of Ghana were purposefully selected. Data were collected using individual semistructured interviews and analysed through qualitative content analysis. Results Five main themes emerged from the data analysis. These themes included were: inadequate infrastructure (lack of bed and physical space), shortage of midwifery staff, logistical challenges, lack of motivation, and limited in-service training opportunities. Conclusions Midwives experience myriad challenges in providing sufficient women-centred care in rural Ghana. To overcome these challenges, measures such as providing adequate beds and physical space, making more equipment available, and increasing midwifery staff strength to reduce individual workload, coupled with motivation from facility managers, are needed.

scholarly journals Challenges Experienced by Midwives Working in Rural Communities of the Bongo District in the Upper East Region of Ghana. A Qualitative Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Adatara ◽  
Philemon Adoliwine Amooba ◽  
Agani Afaya ◽  
Solomon Mohammed Salia ◽  
Mabel Apaanye Avane ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Maternal Mortality Ratio ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Northern Ghana ◽  
Maternal Deaths ◽  
Midwifery Care ◽  
East Region ◽  
Service Training ◽  
Upper East Region

Abstract IntoductionGlobally, a total of 295 000 women lost their lives due pregnancy and childbirth in 2017, with sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia accounting for approximately 86% of all maternal deaths. Currently the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) in Ghana is uncceptably high with about 308 deaths/100,000 live births in 2017 and most of these maternal deaths occur less in urban areas than in rural areas. As midwives play a vital role in maternity care and in the reduction of MMR, this study therefore sought to explore and describe challenges experienced by midwives working in rural communities in the Bongo District of the Upper East region of Ghana.MethodsA qualitative descriptive exploratory design was used to gain better insight into midwives’ experiences of working and providing women-centred midwifery care in rural areas of Ghana. A total of 30 midwives providing midwifery care in rural areas of the Upper East region of Ghana for at least three years were purposefully selected for this study. Data were collected using individual semi-structured interviews and analysed through qualitative content analysis. ResultsFive main themes emerged from the data analysis. These thematic areas included inadequate infrastructure (lack of bed and physical space), lack of logistics, shortage of midwifery staff, lack of motivation, and limited in-service training opportunities.ConclusionThe study concludes that although the rural midwives perform a multidisciplinary function in providing midwifery care in rural northern Ghana, they experience a myriad of challenges in providing midwifery care. There is the need for the Ghana Health Service and other stakeholders to motivate midwives working in rural areas through policy interventions such as rural incentive allowances, supportive supervision and in-service training opportunities for midwives in order to encourage them to accept posting to rural areas of Ghana to improve maternal and child health care.

Change and Continuity in Kassena Men's Perceptions of Family Planning in Northern Ghana

2018 ◽  
Vol 77 (2) ◽  
pp. 135-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren Wallace ◽  
Philip Baba Adongo
Keyword(s):  
Family Planning ◽  
Family Formation ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Northern Ghana ◽  
Family Planning Programs ◽  
Upper East Region ◽  
Intergenerational Change ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Companionate Marriage ◽  
The Impact

Studies suggest that men's perceptions of family planning in sub-Saharan Africa would be improved if they were included more extensively in family planning programs. However, few studies capture how men's views change over time and what processes are responsible for these shifts. Examining the processes that underpin men's shifting family formation strategies is essential in order to understand the impact of family planning programs. This research, framed by a political economy of fertility approach that draws on life history data, highlights intergenerational change and continuity in men's perceptions of family planning in Kassena-Nankana West District of the Upper East Region of Ghana, where a family planning program involving men was implemented in the 1990s. Eight months of ethnographic fieldwork was conducted in rural village and clinic settings in 2013 and 2014. We find that men's sense of responsibility for the cost of schooling, against a changing economic backdrop, as well as shifts toward “companionate marriage” are among the most salient factors contributing to their growing approval of family planning. This study highlights the importance of paying attention to changes in the larger socioeconomic context that encourage men's acceptance of family planning. We argue that programs incorporating men should move beyond health education to consider broader social and economic drivers of attitudinal change.

scholarly journals Are we ready for Taenia solium cysticercosis elimination in sub-Saharan Africa?

Parasitology ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 144 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
MARIA VANG JOHANSEN ◽  
CHIARA TREVISAN ◽  
SARAH GABRIËL ◽  
PASCAL MAGNUSSEN ◽  
UFFE CHRISTIAN BRAAE
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Taenia Solium ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
World Health ◽  
Transmission Model ◽  
Small Community ◽  
Porcine Cysticercosis ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Health Organization

SUMMARYThe World Health Organization announced in November 2014 at the fourth international meeting on ‘the control of neglected zoonotic diseases – from advocacy to action’, that intervention tools for eliminating Taenia solium taeniosis/cysticercosis (TSTC) are in place. The aim of this work was to elucidate theoretical outcomes of various control options suggested for TSTC elimination in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) over a 4-year period. Our current knowledge regarding T. solium epidemiology and control primarily builds on studies from Latin America. A simple transmission model – built on data from Latin America – has been used to predict the effect of various interventions such as mass treatment of humans, vaccination and treatment of pigs, and health education of communities, potentially leading to change in bad practices and reducing transmission risks. Based on simulations of the transmission model, even a 4-year integrated One Health approach fails to eliminate TSTC from a small community and in all simulations, the prevalence of human taeniosis and porcine cysticercosis start to rise as soon as the programmes end. Our current knowledge regarding transmission and burden of TSTC in SSA is scarce and while claiming to be tool ready, the selection of diagnostic and surveillance tools, as well as the algorithms and stepwise approaches for control and elimination of TSTC remain major challenges.

scholarly journals Neurocysticercosis – A Journey from Pre-independence to Modern India

2016 ◽  
Vol 52 (02) ◽  
pp. 076-099
Author(s):  
Gagandeep Singh ◽  
Monika Singla
Keyword(s):  
Indian Subcontinent ◽  
Taenia Solium ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Ct Scans ◽  
Common Finding ◽  
Cns Involvement ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Endemic Areas ◽  
Sub Saharan

ABSTRACTNeurocysticercosis (NCC) is infestation of the human brain by the larva of worm, Taenia solium and is the most prevalent central nervous system (CNS) helminthiasis. The disease is widespread in tropical and subtropical regions of the world, including the Indian subcontinent, China, Sub-Saharan Africa, Central and South America and contributes substantially to the burden of epilepsy in these areas(1) . CNS involvement is seen in 60-90% of systemic cysticercosis. About 2.5 million people worldwide are infected with T. solium, and antibodies to T. solium are seen in up to 25% of people in endemic areas(1-3) . A higher prevalence of epilepsy and seizures in endemic countries is partly because of a high prevalence of cysticercosis in these regions. Seizures are thought to be caused by NCC in as many as 30% of adult patients and in 51% of children in population based endemic regions (2) . About 12% of admissions to neurological services in endemic regions are attributed to NCC and nearly half a million deaths occurring annually worldwide can be attributed directly or indirectly to NCC (Bern et al.). Punctate calcific foci on CT scan are a very common finding in asymptomatic people residing in endemic areas, found in 14-20 % of CT scans. Both seizures and positive cysticercus serology are associated with the detection of cysticerci on CT scans. Seroprevalence using a recently developed CDC- based enzyme-linked immunotransfer blot (EITB) assay is estimated at 8-12% in Latin America and 4.9-24% in Africa and South-East Asia. It is estimated that 20 million people harbour neurocysticercosis worldwide(1) .

scholarly journals No Confirmed Cases of Taenia solium Taeniasis in a Group of Recently Arrived Sub-Saharan Migrants to Italy

Pathogens ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 296 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorenzo Zammarchi ◽  
Marta Tilli ◽  
Antonia Mantella ◽  
Annarita Botta ◽  
Alessandra Nicoletti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Positive Result ◽  
Taenia Solium ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
False Positive Result ◽  
Specific Enzyme ◽  
Density Values ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Autochthonous Transmission

One-hundred and sixty-four migrants from Sub-Saharan Africa to Italy were screened with the Taenia solium specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay coproantigen (ELISA CoAg) and four (2.4%) were recorded as positive, but with optical density values near to the cut-off. No ELISA CoAg positive samples were confirmed by parasitological methods. Low positivity could be attributed to false positive result or cross-reaction with other Taenia species. Further studies are needed to assess the role of migration on sporadic autochthonous transmission of T. solium taeniasis/cysticercosis in Europe.

scholarly journals Landscape Changes and Fragmentation Analysis in a Guinea Savannah Ecosystem: Case study of Talensi and Nabdam Districts of the Upper East region, Ghana

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steve Ampofo ◽  
Isaac Sackey ◽  
Boateng Ampadu
Keyword(s):  
Human Interaction ◽  
Northern Ghana ◽  
Landcover Change ◽  
East Region ◽  
Upper East Region ◽  
Spatio Temporal ◽  
Categorical Maps ◽  
Landsat Satellite

Landcover change is an observed natural change dynamics at both the local and regional levels. However, its scales are exacerbated by human interaction with its natural environment. The study examines these spatio-temporal changes in landcover and the level to which the change is accompanied by fragmentation of the identifiable cover types in the Talensi and Nabdam districts in Northern Ghana. The research uses digital classification of Landsat satellite imagery for 1999 and 2007 to produce the cover types which results in good accuracy levels of 66.39% and 63.03% respectively. Fragmentation analysis of the landscape was computed using FRAGSTATS® software for categorical maps obtained from the classified landcover maps for the two years. All cover types increased marginally. However, Bare areas decreased by as much as 17.17% and that of water decreased from 3% to 1%. The changing landscape involving conversions within and among various cover types is accompanied by fragmentation in all classes but more pronounced in the Bare class. The Bare class type which has more patches corresponds to the class with increased cover size and rather strangely decreases in the mean path size.

scholarly journals The Distribution of Consumption Expenditure in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Inequality Among All Africans

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-25
Author(s):  
La-Bhus Fah Jirasavetakul ◽  
Christoph Lakner
Keyword(s):  
Wide Distribution ◽  
Living Standards ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Household Surveys ◽  
Consumption Expenditure ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Full Sample ◽  
Alternative Measures ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Measures Of Inequality

Abstract This paper uses a set of national household surveys to study the regional Sub-Saharan Africa distribution of consumption expenditure among individuals during 1993–2008. The analysis puts the disparities in living standards that exist among all persons in Africa into context with the disparities that exist within and between African countries. We find some evidence that African interpersonal inequality has increased, but this depends on the measure of inequality. The Africa-wide Gini increased from 53% in 1993 to 56% in 2008 in the full sample, compared with an increase from 54% to 56% in the balanced sample of countries. In the full sample, this result is robust to alternative measures of inequality, while in the balanced sample, some bottom-sensitive measures show a decline. Disparities in living standards between countries have increased, while there has been no systematic increase in within-country inequality. For the Africa-wide distribution, the growth of consumption expenditure (from household surveys) has been low (between 0.9% and 1.6% per year depending on the sample). This growth has been uneven such that the richest 5% of Africans received around 40% of the total gains.

scholarly journals Soil Amendments and Rotation Effects on Soybean and Maize Growths and Soil Chemical Changes in Northern Ghana

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. A. L. Kanton ◽  
S. S. J. Buah ◽  
A. Larbi ◽  
A. M. Mohammed ◽  
J. K. Bidzakin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Amendments ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Northern Ghana ◽  
Cost Ratio ◽  
Benefit Cost Ratio ◽  
East Region ◽  
Continuous Maize ◽  
Upper East Region ◽  
Phosphorus And Potassium ◽  
Benefit Cost

A four-year field trial was conducted at Bonia in the Upper East Region of Ghana to evaluate soybean-maize rotation amendment systems. The treatments included soybean without amendment, inoculated soybean, inoculated soybean with fertisol, inoculated soybean with phosphorus and potassium (P, K), inoculated soybean with P, K and fertisol, inoculated soybean with nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (N, P, K), and continuous maize. Treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Inoculation negatively affected yields by 2% and 14% in 2013 and 2015, respectively. Soil amendments with P, K or N, P, K increased yields within 45–51%, fertisol increased by 95%, and integration of P, K and fertisol recorded 76% increment of inoculated soybean. Yields of maize increased by 1%, 20%, 25%, 43%, 44%, and 46% under inoculated soybean, inoculated soybean with N, P, K, inoculated soybean with P, K, inoculated soybean with fertisol, soybean without amendment, and inoculated soybean with P, K and fertisol, respectively. Maize after inoculated soybean with fertisol and maize after inoculated soybean with P, K and fertisol consistently scored higher benefit-cost ratio across the two years of experimentation. Thus, the two systems are conceivable for recommendation to the farmers in northern Ghana.

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