African Journal of Current Medical Research最新文献

{"title":"Preventing malaria in pregnancy: knowledge and practices of pregnant women in an urban hospital in Kumasi, Ghana","authors":"Daniel Danso Aboagye, S. Newton","doi":"10.31191/afrijcmr.v5i2.74","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31191/afrijcmr.v5i2.74","url":null,"abstract":"Background \u0000Malaria in pregnancy (MiP) is a public health concern in Ghana. The current national control program seeks to have 85% of pregnant women sleeping under insecticide-treated nets (ITNs). It also seeks to achieve 100% intake of at least 2 doses of Sulfadoxine- Pyrimethamine (SP). To achieve these aims, pregnant women must have good knowledge of malaria and subscribe to good preventive practices. This cross-sectional study sought to assess the knowledge and practices on malaria prevention among pregnant women in an urban setting in Ghana.\u0000Methods \u0000This was a hospital-based study that involved 185 pregnant women visiting an urban hospital for antenatal care in Kumasi, Ghana. Data was collected via structured interviewer-administered questionnaires. Univariate analyses were conducted to assess the participants’ knowledge and practices on malaria prevention.\u0000Results \u0000The women demonstrated good knowledge of MiP, with 76% of them having an excellent knowledge score. Familiarity with ITNs (99.5%) was higher than IPTp-SP (86.5%). ITN usage was poor (55.1%), with common challenges being difficulty in hanging nets, nets being deemed too hot, and the unpleasant smell of the nets. 66.5% of the women had taken at least 2 SP doses.\u0000Conclusion\u0000Although there was good knowledge, ITN use and SP coverage were below national targets. More studies should be conducted to explore the factors underlying poor ITN use and SP intake.","PeriodicalId":221258,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Current Medical Research","volume":"8 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"133558791","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Improving newborn care in Ashanti - a look at the role of the Mother and Baby Unit of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Ghana","authors":"A. Boakye-Yiadom","doi":"10.31191/afrijcmr.v5i1.108","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31191/afrijcmr.v5i1.108","url":null,"abstract":"Background \u0000One of the targets of the Ghana Newborn Strategy for the period 2019 to 2023 is the reduction of Institutional Neonatal Mortality Rate by at least 40% by 2023. This paper seeks to describe how the Mother Baby Unit (MBU) of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), is collaborating with other Facilities in the Region to achieve this goal. \u0000Methods \u0000Admission and Mortality Data was collected from 7 peripheral facilities that have Pediatricians and which admit and manage Newborns in Ashanti Region. This Data was collected in the period immediately before and after MBU began to take deliberate steps to reduce congestion, which was identified as a major challenge to providing good quality care. The data was analyzed to look at the contribution of MBU to Newborn Care in the Ashanti Region and whether these steps were yielding \u0000Results \u0000Following the partial closure in May 2021, there was a deliberate effort to collaborate more closely with other Facilities in the Ashanti Region. It was found that though the number of admissions reduced by nearly 50%, this did not reflect in a commensurate reduction in Mortality Rates. \u0000In the period, KATH MBU, had 45% of facility Newborn admissions but 80% of facility Newborn deaths in the Region. The reduction in admissions did not appear to significantly increase admissions in these 7 other facilities. Mortality rates in the 7 Facilities looked at, ranged from 0.3% to 8.2%. The average newborn Mortality rate of the 7 facilities was 3.05%. \u0000Conclusions \u0000A reduction in numbers of newborns admitted into MBU is possible through effective collaboration with other Facilities, but further steps need to be taken to improve care and reduce the Units Facility Newborn Mortality Rates.","PeriodicalId":221258,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Current Medical Research","volume":"11 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-02-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"115904243","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Determinants of outcome among preterm infants admitted to the Mother and Baby Unit of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Ghana","authors":"Ocran Akua Afriyie, A. Enimil, G. Plange-Rhule, A. Boakye-Yiadom, N. Brobby, Stella B. Adjei","doi":"10.31191/afrijcmr.v5i1.92","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31191/afrijcmr.v5i1.92","url":null,"abstract":"Background \u0000Each year, approximately 15 million babies are born too early. Mortality associated with preterm birth is the highest contributor to under five mortality globally. \u0000At Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), preterm birth remains the leading cause of admission to the Mother and Baby Unit (MBU) and is the highest contributor to neonatal mortality. \u0000Objectives \u0000To determine the precipitating factors for preterm birth at KATH and to evaluate factors that influence the outcome of preterm babies admitted to the MBU. \u0000Methods \u0000A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 80 babies delivered before 33 weeks gestation who were admitted to the MBU between January and March, 2021.Babies were selected prospectively by simple random sampling and their birth weight, gender, initial temperature, precipitating factors for delivery, admission and discharge/death dates were recorded on a case-record form and analysed using excel version 2016. \u0000Results \u0000Among the 80 cases studied, 56% were males, 54% were born vaginally and 42% were referred. Their gestational ages ranged from 25 to 32weeks (average 29 weeks). Their mean birth weight was 1.12kg (range 0.6kg to 1.9kg). Eighty-four percent of recruits had temperatures below 36.50C.Premature rupture of membranes (63%) was the leading precipitating factor and hypertensive disorders was associated with the highest mortality (55%). \u0000Conclusions \u0000The precipitating factors for preterm birth can be predominantly attributed to maternal infections therefore a comprehensive antenatal care with active screening and management of maternal infections can lead to a decline in preterm birth and its complications. \u0000Majority of babies were hypothermic on admission. The deleterious effect of hypothermia on the preterm infant has been widely studied. Robust interventions must be put in place especially during transfer of preterm infants to maintain their temperatures within the normal range. \u0000These can lead to improved outcomes which will contribute favourably to achieving the third sustainable development goal.","PeriodicalId":221258,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Current Medical Research","volume":"123 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"115610245","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Towards SDG3: Empowering Non-Nephrologists to Perform Peritoneal Dialysis in District Settings","authors":"Anima M. Sarfo, Nana Akua Bakoma Agyeman Appiah, A. Amoah, E. Obeng, S. Antwi","doi":"10.31191/afrijcmr.v5i1.85","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31191/afrijcmr.v5i1.85","url":null,"abstract":"BackgroundSDG3 stipulates good health and well-being for all. Dialysis has remained a specialized skill for nephrologists. In settings without nephrologists, many die from Acute Kidney Injury (AKI).  In 2014, the International Society of Nephrology (ISN) launched the 0by25 initiative for zero death from AKI globally. In this paper, we report on training of district health practitioners in the performance of PD for AKI using improvised means. \u0000Methods \u0000 PD training workshops with hands-on experienced were organized in 7 regional capitals in Ghana. Topics taught included: \u0000 \u0000Recognition of a child with AKI \u0000Principles of PD \u0000Indications for dialysis therapy and writing of PD prescription \u0000Technique in insertion of PD catheter plus video exhibit \u0000Catheters suitable for use as PD catheters \u0000Fluids suitable for use as dialysate \u0000Performing the PD exchanges \u0000Complications related to PD \u0000Infection prevention in PD. \u0000 \u0000Results \u0000A total of 150 health workers made up of 131 Doctors or Physician Assistants and 19 nurses were trained across Ghana. Feedback from trainees indicates that 42 PDs have been carried out in 7 district hospitals. 25 (59.5%) of the 42 dialyzed children survived and recovered renal function. \u0000Conclusion \u0000 It is possible to build the capacity of non-nephrologists to identify AKI and institute PD in district level hospitals so SDG3 could be realized. Such achievement will also help to realize the ISN 0by25 initiative especially in resource-limited settings where nephrology expertise is lacking.","PeriodicalId":221258,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Current Medical Research","volume":"7 11 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"128423221","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Developing Standardized Care Pathways for management of autism spectrum disorders in the Ashanti Region","authors":"A. Osei-Bonsu, A. Tannor, C. Hammond, J. Dogbe","doi":"10.31191/afrijcmr.v5i1.95","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31191/afrijcmr.v5i1.95","url":null,"abstract":"Background \u0000According to the Ghana Multiple Indicator cluster survey 2011, 1 in 4 Ghanaian children aged 36-59 months is estimated to have a delay in their development (cognitive, learning, socioemotional and physical). Although the exact prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the country is unknown, these children are a particularly under-served population in Ghana, suffering from late identification and poor access to evaluation and treatment.Aim: \u0000To establish standard care pathways in the public health sector for the management of ASD in the Ashanti Region of Ghana by August 2021. \u0000Method \u0000A multidisciplinary guiding coalition was established to conduct a fish-bone root cause analysis via one-on-one interviews and focused group discussions with major stakeholders to understand the primary cause of the problem. A simple referral process map was then designed by the group. After an extensive literature search using google scholar and PubMed, the 23Q screening tool, originally designed in Uganda, for developmental assessment of children aged 2-9years was selected and locally validated. The tool was then piloted in 15 schools across 9 out of 43 districts assemblies in the Ashanti Region. \u0000Results \u000023 out of 43 special needs coordinators in Ashanti Region were trained in the use of the screening tool. Across the 15 schools visited, the tool identified developmental disorders in a total of 427 children, aged 3-17years, with an average age of 9years. 18% (n=78) of these children aged between 3 and 17years, were flagged by ASD specific questions with 7% (32) aged between 3-9years. \u0000Conclusion \u0000Autism awareness is evolving in Ghana. This project seeks to ultimately establish the burden of ASD in Ghana and connect pediatricians, medical officers, special education teachers, therapists, and families in an all teach, all learn collaboration which would set the framework for a national system of coordinated care for children with ASD.","PeriodicalId":221258,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Current Medical Research","volume":"100 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"121474958","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia, a mimicry of neonatal sepsis","authors":"Ocran Akua Afriyie, G. Plange-Rhule, A. Boakye-Yiadom, N. Brobby, Stella B. Adjei","doi":"10.31191/afrijcmr.v5i1.93","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31191/afrijcmr.v5i1.93","url":null,"abstract":"Background \u0000Neonatal sepsis is one of the commonest reasons for admission to the neonatal unit. Its non-specific clinical features makes its definition a conundrum for experts. This paves way for several conditions to hide behind the umbrella of neonatal sepsis. One of such conditions is salt-wasting crisis in babies with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia. The objective of this abstract is to highlight the importance of a good clinical history, thorough physical examination and investigations to avoid incorrect diagnosis and management of babies with adrenal crisis. \u0000Clinical presentation \u0000A month-old infant presented with poor feeding, vomiting, fever and seizures. Physical examination revealed high temperature of 38.2 degree Celsius, signs of dehydration, episodes of seizures and lethargy. \u0000A diagnosis of neonatal sepsis with differential of neonatal meningitis was made. Empiric antibiotics and supportive therapy with intravenous infusions and anticonvulsants were started. After 24 hours, there was deterioration in baby’s presentation with spiking temperature and progressive lethargy requiring escalation of care.  This prompted further history and examination. \u0000Baby had a notably hyperpigmented skin and ambiguous genitalia. The external genitalia was a phallus-like/large clitoris-like structure measuring 1.8cm in length. Urethral meatus was at the base of the phallus – like structure. The sac-like folds in the perineum were fused with no vaginal opening or palpable testes. \u0000Biochemical investigations showed hyponatremia (Na-121umol/l), hyperkalaemia(K-6.4umol/l) and 17-hydroxyprogesterone of 1057.5nmol/l (< 18.9nmol/l). \u0000The diagnosis was revised to Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia with salt wasting crisis. The baby underwent aggressive electrolyte correction and was started on high dose steroids. There was remarkable improvement in baby’s condition and was discharged after five days. \u0000Conclusion \u0000Several conditions can mimic neonatal sepsis therefore the importance of a detailed history and thorough physical examination cannot be over-emphasized.","PeriodicalId":221258,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Current Medical Research","volume":"45 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"126937662","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring The Reasons For Late Reporting Of Childhood Cancer Cases For Treatment At Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital","authors":"Gladys Acquah, V. Paintsil, Bernice Eklu","doi":"10.31191/afrijcmr.v5i1.98","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31191/afrijcmr.v5i1.98","url":null,"abstract":"Background \u0000Childhood cancer when reported early has a good prognosis and increases the survival rate. Normally, parents report these childhood cancer cases at stage 3 and 4 when it is more difficult and expensive to treat. The aim of this article seeks to explore the reasons of this late reporting of childhood cancers to Komfo Anokye Teaching hospital (KATH) and how they can be mitigated. \u0000MethodParents of 70 patients diagnosed with cancer from January to December 2020 were interviewed on when they detected their children had cancer, when it was reported to our facility and why they reported at our hospital at that time. \u0000ResultsAfter careful analysis of the data and information, the study reveals that 40 of these patients were male and 30 female with 45 of them being less than 5years old whiles 25 were between the ages of 5 and 14years. The most common type of cancer presented was Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia n=18 (25.7%) followed by Nephroblastoma, n=14 (20%), then Retinoblastoma, n=13 (18.6%), Burkitt’s lymphoma n=12 (17.1%), Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma n=10 (14.2%) and Rhabdomyosarcoma, n=3(4.2%). The main reasons for the late report of these childhood cancer cases by parents are limited knowledge on childhood cancers and their treatments, superstitious beliefs and lack for funds for transportation and investigations. \u0000ConclusionAlthough, there were many reasons sighted, lack of education and limited knowledge on childhood cancer and its treatment has been the major cause of the delay in reporting childhood cancers. Parents were unable to detect early warning signs of the cancer. Stakeholders must step up childhood cancer education to promote early detection of the cancers.","PeriodicalId":221258,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Current Medical Research","volume":"515 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"116566139","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Hypoxia and mortality outcomes in children presenting with pneumonia to a tertiary Hospital: A Retrospective review of records","authors":"S. Kwarteng Owusu, B. A. Baah, J. Sylverken, N. Mensah, Naomi Adjetey, D. Ansong, E. Addo-Yobo","doi":"10.31191/afrijcmr.v5i1.105","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31191/afrijcmr.v5i1.105","url":null,"abstract":"BackgroundChildhood pneumonia is a leading cause of hospitalisation and death in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMIC). Despite remarkable achievements in global mortality trends in children under 5 nearly 700 000 children die annually from pneumonia. In Ghana, an estimated 4,700 children under 5 died from pneumonia in 2017. Hypoxia is a known predictor of death among children hospitalised with pneumonia. Few studies in Ghana have described the predictors of mortality among children with pneumonia. This study aimed to determine the factors associated with mortality among children hospitalized for pneumonia to the Paediatric Emergency Unit (PEU) of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH). \u0000MethodsMedical records of children admitted to the PEU of KATH from January 2016 to December 2020 were reviewed. Data was cleaned and exported to STATA version 16 for analysis. Outcomes measures of interest were survival and mortality. \u0000Results Records for 482 children hospitalised with pneumonia to the unit were available of which 55 per cent (n=265) were males, 94 per cent (n= 455) were less than five years and 51 per cent (n=265) were younger than 12 months old. In all, 77 per cent (n=301), had received three doses of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. Twenty-one percent (n=89), presented with hypoxia and 15% (n= 77), died from pneumonia. There was a significant association between death as an outcome and hypoxia at presentation [?2 (1)= 13.29, p < .001(OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.42 to 4.75)], axillary temperature of 38oC or more at presentation [?2 (1)= 5.03, p = .025 (OR 2.09 (95% CI 1.08 to 4.02)], fast breathing at presentation [?2 (1) = 5.45, p = .020 (OR 2.12 95% CI 1.11 – 4.01)] and  having received all 3 doses of pneumococcal vaccine [?2 (1) = 9.78, p = .002 (OR 0.45 95% CI 0.27 – 0.75). \u0000Conclusion  Hypoxia at presentation, axillary temperature of 38oC or greater, fast breathing, are likely predictors of mortality in children under 5 hospitalised for pneumonia. Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine uptake is high among children with pneumonia, receiving all 3 doses likely protects children with pneumonia from death.","PeriodicalId":221258,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Current Medical Research","volume":"530 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"131513679","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Profile Of Childhood Cancer Cases Seen At The Paediatric Oncology Unit Of A Tertiary Hospital In Ghana - A 10 Year Review","authors":"V. Paintsil, Yaa Gyamfua Oppong–Mensah, C. Hammond, Lawrence Osei-Tutu, Bernice Eklu","doi":"10.31191/afrijcmr.v5i1.99","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31191/afrijcmr.v5i1.99","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction \u0000Childhood cancers though curable have inequalities in outcomes between low- and middle-income countries and high-income countries. The World Health Organisation (WHO) Global initiative on Childhood cancer (GICC) has a goal of increasing survival rate at least by 60% by 2030 while reducing suffering and improving quality of life for children with cancer globally. \u0000The main aim for this study was to assess the trends in yearly proportions and numbers of cases seen and to evaluate the survival patterns and also to serve as a baseline as interventions are implemented in tandem with the WHO GICC. \u0000MethodsA retrospective study was conducted to review secondary data from the paediatric cancer registry of all patients diagnosed with cancer from 2011-2020. Demographic and clinical data stored in excel was exported to Stata and analyzed. Outcome data included death or alive. \u0000ResultsTotal number of patients diagnosed were 1,094 with the lowest number of new patients (n=84) seen in 2012 and the highest (n=132) seen in 2014. There was a Male: Female ratio of 1.4:1. The commonest cancers seen was lymphomas forming about 38.1% of the new diagnosis made. The incidence of lymphomas reduced from 62.8% in 2011 to 23.0% in 2020. Proportions for Acute leukaemia’s also increased from 11.3% in 2011 to 23.8% in 2020. Number of patients alive in reference to the year of diagnosis was lowest in 2016 with 29% of patients being alive. Subsequent years have higher survival with 53% of patients in 2019 still alive. Leukaemia treatment is expensive and unaffordable and translated to poor outcomes as patients tend to abandon treatment. \u0000ConclusionThis baselines preliminary data showed a reducing trend in the incidence of lymphomas with an increase in the number of leukaemia patients seen but poor outcomes in patients with leukaemia. This calls for concerted effort with interventions to improve on the outcome and be able to reach the 60% survival goal for the WHO GICC.","PeriodicalId":221258,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Current Medical Research","volume":"51 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"132893084","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Hospitalizations among children with Sickle Cell Disease enrolled into the Kumasi SPARCo database","authors":"Yaa Gyamfua Oppong–Mensah, S. Odoom, V. Paintsil, I. Nyanor, E. X. Amuzu, Suraj Abubakar Yawnumah, A. Mohammed, Emmanuel Asafo-Adjei, Paul Obeng, E. Dogbe, D. Ansong, A. Osei‐Akoto","doi":"10.31191/afrijcmr.v5i1.90","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31191/afrijcmr.v5i1.90","url":null,"abstract":"BackgroundSickle cell disease (SCD) is the commonest monogenic haemolytic disorder in Africa. It continues to be a major public health burden. Newborn screening of SCD has been implemented in Kumasi, Ghana, since 1995 and SCD patients identified have been enrolled into the paediatric SCD clinic. The Sickle Pan African Research Consortium (SPARCo) which commenced in 2017 comprises of the Hub in Tanzania with two collaborating sites in Ghana and Nigeria has established a SCD patient consented database. Despite strides made in managing SCD, a significant proportion of patients are hospitalized from the various complications of the disease. This study set out to describe the main causes and outcomes of hospitalizations among paediatric patients with SCD at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi. \u0000MethodsProspectively, all patients in the database who were hospitalized over the 12-month period between April 2019 and March 2020 at the Paediatric Emergency Unit of KATH were followed up. Indications and outcomes of the hospitalizations were recorded. The data was exported to STATA/SE version 14.0 for analysis. \u0000ResultsA total of 201 hospitalizations were recorded over the period. Majority of the patients were males (57.2%, 95%CI: 50.1 - 64.2), in the age group 5-10 years (34.3%, 95%CI: 27.8 -41.3) and of phenotype SCD-SS (83.1%, 95%CI: 77.2 - 88.0). The common causes of hospitalization were VOPE (n=81, 40.3 %), ACS (n=52, 25.9 %), and infections (n=25, 12.4 %). Highest number of admissions was observed in November 2019 (n=34, 16.9 %) followed by June 2019 (n=25, 12.4 %). Six patients (3.0%, 95%CI: 1.1 - 6.4) died and the median (IQR) length of stay was 6 days (4-10). Comparing SCD-SS to SCD-SC, the case fatality was 2.5% and 0.5% respectively (p=0.985) \u0000ConclusionVaso-Occlusive Pain Events (VOPE), Acute Chest Syndrome (ACS) and infections were observed as the most common causes of hospitalizations among the SCD patients.","PeriodicalId":221258,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Current Medical Research","volume":"41 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"128148061","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}