Papers by James Kojo Prah
International Journal of Health Sciences
Purpose: Destructive eye surgeries have been described as necessary evils. Even though they are i... more Purpose: Destructive eye surgeries have been described as necessary evils. Even though they are important and sometimes life-saving, their psychological impacts on the patients are many. This study sought to determine the prevalence and main indications of evisceration in Our Lady of Grace Hospital in the Asikuma–Odoben-Brakwa District of the Central Region of Ghana. Methodology: The mixed method study design was used. A five-year review of all cases of eviscerations from 2012-1016, was conducted. Also, in-depth interviews of 9 patients purposively selected, who had undergone eviscerations during the period under review were conducted. Data analysis was largely descriptive. Result: Out of a total of 2996 ocular surgeries conducted within the 5-year period, 101 were eviscerations. This gives a 5-year prevalence of 3.4 per 100 surgeries. Out of the 101 cases of eviscerations, 81 were included in the analysis due to the availability of complete data. The mean age of patients was 50 yea...
TEXILA INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
Even though a university is a privileged institution where high level of sanitation is expected t... more Even though a university is a privileged institution where high level of sanitation is expected to be observed, university students continue to experience sanitation related diseases. The University of Cape Coast was plagued with outbreaks of cholera in 2015 and 2016. This study therefore aimed at assessing the sanitation facilities as well as investigating students' attitudes towards the sanitary facilities on the campus of the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. This was a cross sectional descriptive study conducted among 422 students who resided in the university's halls of residence from January 2018 to February 2018. Both quantitative and qualitative study methods were used to collect data. A structured self-administered questionnaire was used to gather data on students' assessment of sanitary facilities on campus. The study found the state of sanitary facilities in the halls and lecture theatres to be generally good. However, most halls were found to be overcrowded with insufficient toilets and wash rooms for students. Most of the toilets (70%) and bath rooms (62.5%) inspected were clean. All (100%) of toilets had hand washing basins. Most (92.5%) of the toilets did not have any anal cleaning materials at the time of inspection. Accommodation and sanitation facilities in the halls were found to be inadequate despite some expansions in toilets and wash rooms. Availability of soaps and anal cleaning materials was found to be inadequate. Students' bad behavior as well as inadequate number of cleaning personnel must be addressed so as to improve sanitary conditions on campus. Regular sanitation awareness campaigns and educational sessions should be organized by the environmental health section of the University Health Services to address health issues associated with poor sanitation.
International Journal of Medical Science and Health Research
Background: Modelling and forecasting demand for future emergency healthcare services is increasi... more Background: Modelling and forecasting demand for future emergency healthcare services is increasingly gaining wide attention in the emergency healthcare industry worldwide. This aids hospital managers in looking into various options to appropriately plan and allocate available scarce resources for optimal and swift performance. Despite its importance, our knowledge of daily patient flow into the Accident and Emergency Department (AED) of the University of Cape Coast Hospital is incomprehensive, and even the model that best explains its movements remains unknown. Methods: Using daily periodicity of 517 time-series observations on daily patient arrivals sourced from the AED register over January 2020 through May 2021 the autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) of the classical Box-Jenkins methods of time series analysis was used to analyse the data. Results: This study revealed twenty-five non-seasonal candidate models for the hospital AED and ARIMA (0, 1, 2) emerged as the b...
JKG (Jurnal Keperawatan Global)
Background: Medical emergencies are common but Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) incidences are rare; y... more Background: Medical emergencies are common but Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) incidences are rare; yet when they occur could be life threatening leading either to disability or death. During SCA incidents, health care professionals will be required to act skilfully and swiftly to restart the heart and stabilise the patient until advanced care can be accessed or provided. There is evidence that victims of cardio and/or respiratory arrest whilst in the hospital will have improved outcomes if Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is initiated within three to five minutes. The objectives of this study were to find if emergency nurses were adequately resourced to practice Basic Life Support (BLS), and the ease or difficulties with which they practice BLS. Methods: This Qualitative Descriptive (QD) study was conducted at the University of Cape Coast Hospital (UCCH) between June and September 2019. Six nurses were purposively recruited for the study. All interviews were audio-recorded and trans...
Journal of Advances in Medicine and Medical Research
Introduction: the World Health Organization recommends that the gold standard for diagnosing typh... more Introduction: the World Health Organization recommends that the gold standard for diagnosing typhoid fever is the use of blood cultures. However, under real-world conditions in low-resource settings, there are lack of culture facilities as well as expertise, and usually, patients report late after prior antibiotic exposure. This study sought to evaluate the performance of typhoid rapid diagnostic tests, blood, and stool cultures as well as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) under such settings. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved the use of blood and stool samples from 400 consenting outpatients suspected of typhoid fever by attending clinicians at the University of Cape Coast Hospital, Ghana. Results: out of the 400 participants, 171 (42.8%) tested positive to at least one of the RDTs. Even though many of the participants had a history of fever, all of them were afebrile as none presented with a temperature of 380C and above. There was a high (48.0%) history of antibiotic use...
Advances in Infectious Diseases, 2021
Introduction: Most febrile illnesses in Ghana are often misdiagnosed and presumptively treated as... more Introduction: Most febrile illnesses in Ghana are often misdiagnosed and presumptively treated as malaria. This situation may be due to the inappropriate diagnostic tool, clinical oversight and lack of awareness of some of the disease conditions that might have been present in the country. This study sought to investigate the seroprevalence of dengue virus, geographical location of participants with circulating antibodies and finally evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of a Rapid diagnostic kit (RDT) using Enzyme Linked Immuno-Sorbent Assay (ELISA) as a gold standard for confirmation. Method: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among adults (≥18) attending the University of Cape Coast Hospital. From each participant, 3-4 ml of venous blood was drawn and serum was tested for IgG and IgM using RDT methods. Positive samples were selected for ELISA confirmation. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS (v.20) and STATA (v.14) software. Results: A total of 270 participants were enrolled in the study. The geometric mean age was 32 years. Overall, Dengue virus (DENV) IgG seroprevalence by RDT was 10 (3.7%). Seroprevalence of IgG and IgM by the ELISA method was 34 (12.6%) and 6 (2.2%) respectively. Females recorded a high seroprevalence (7.4%) than males (5.2%) in terms of past exposure (IgG). On current exposure (IgM), females recorded a high seroprevalence (1.5%) than males (0.7%). Seroprevalence of individuals with dual positivity ((IgG + IgM+) (acute secondary infection) was 1.9%. Those with primary and recent infection (IgM+ only) were 0.4% whiles those with past and probably secondary infection (IgG+ only) were 10.7%. The odds of dengue exposure were significantly high among participants with ages 50-59 as compared to their other counterparts (AOR = 3.5, p = 0.03).
European Journal of Health Sciences, 2022
Background: Haemoglobin disorders such as Sickle cell disease (SCD) have been acknowledged to be ... more Background: Haemoglobin disorders such as Sickle cell disease (SCD) have been acknowledged to be of great public health concern by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2006. To reduce the tremendous public health and economic burden SCD exerts on many countries, the WHO is urging countries, especially those in Africa, to increase public awareness of the disease. Such awareness programmes among the young unmarried population will go a long way to prevent the birth of children with this painful genetic condition. Purpose: This study therefore sought to assess the level of knowledge, attitude to people living with SCD, and perception of SCD among undergraduate students of the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out. A total of 400 participants were selected using multistage sampling technique. Data was collected using a pretested, self-administered questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS software, version 25. Results: Almost all the...
Extensive Reviews, 2021
Background: Access to a doctor, nurse, or a midwife during childbirth is key to the global effort... more Background: Access to a doctor, nurse, or a midwife during childbirth is key to the global effort to reduce maternal mortality ratios. Ghana has recorded significant improvements in maternal care over the past three decades. However, despite many policies aimed at improving health care for pregnant women such as the free maternal care policy, many Ghanaian women still deliver without a skilled birth attendant present. This systematic review, therefore, sought to identify the various factors affecting utilisation of skilled birth attendance in Ghana. Methods: PubMed Central, African Journals Online (AJOL), CINAHL Plus with Full Text (EBSCO), and Science Direct were searched for studies from January 2010 to December 2020. A broad range of search terms was used. Studies included had diverse designs, were conducted among Ghanaian pregnant women, and had skilled delivery as an outcome of interest. The quality of studies was assessed. Due to the diversity of types of studies included in t...
Journal of Advances in Mathematics and Computer Science, 2021
Background: Accurate and reliable forecasting of outpatient department visits enhances decision-m... more Background: Accurate and reliable forecasting of outpatient department visits enhances decision-making and planning for future healthcare demands and is the foundation for greater and better utilization of healthcare resources and increased levels of outpatient care and satisfaction. Though the literature has proposed several candidate models for predicting outpatient visits in some hospitals in Ghana, the model regulating outpatient visits at the University of Cape Coast Hospital (UCC) is unknown. There is therefore a need to determine the best model applicable to the specific case of UCC Hospital. Aim: This study sought to determine and model the dynamics of outpatient visits in UCC Hospital and to project outpatient healthcare demands at the facility for the period July 2021 to July 2024. Methods: This paper employed a monthly periodicity of 114-time series data sourced from District Health Information Management Systems Two (DHIMS 2) on outpatient department visits at UCC Hospit...
The Pan African Medical Journal, 2021
Introduction it has been more than a decade since the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended... more Introduction it has been more than a decade since the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended parasitological confirmation of malaria before treatment begins. Light microscopy and rapid diagnostic tests are currently being used for diagnosing malaria in routine clinical care settings. Many clinicians have however raised questions about the competencies of laboratory staff who perform these tests and the performance of these diagnostic methods. This study aimed at assessing the performance of microscopy and two rapid diagnostic test kits in the hands of routine laboratory staff compared to expert microscopy as well as assess the performance of clinical diagnosis. Methods this was a cross sectional study involving 799 participants of all ages who visited the out patient department of the University of Cape Coast Hospital with symptoms suggestive of malaria. Results when the different methods were compared to expert microscopy, the rapid diagnostic test kits had the highest sensiti...
International Journal of Reproduction, Contraception, Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2020
Ectopic pregnancies continue to be among the leading causes of maternal mortality globally. Cornu... more Ectopic pregnancies continue to be among the leading causes of maternal mortality globally. Cornual pregnancies are types of ectopic pregnancies that occur in the interstitial part of the fallopian tube and invades the uterine wall. We report a case of cornual ectopic pregnancy at 26 weeks that was missed and only diagnosed at autopsy following rupture and death of the pregnant woman. This case emphasizes the importance of a detailed carefully performed ultrasonography in the first trimester for all pregnant women.
Journal of Public Health in Africa, 2020
Background: Stigma against people living with HIV (PLHIV) among health workers remains a barrier ... more Background: Stigma against people living with HIV (PLHIV) among health workers remains a barrier to the provision of needed care to HIV patients worldwide. We sought to investigate predictors of HIV stigma among health workers in Cape Coast, Ghana. Methods: This was a cross sectional study conducted in three hospitals from November 2016 to February 2017. The study made use of a pre-existing self-administered questionnaire. Multiple regression analysis and Pearson’s coefficient tests were performed to determine the relationship between the dependent variable, stigmatized attitudes of health workers and some independent variables, and to determine which of the independent variables predict stigma amongst health care workers. Results: A total of 331 health workers of different categories participated. Respondents’ personal opinions on HIV, fears/worries of getting infected and category of staff {F(3,327)= 23.934 p<0.00 }, R2 = 0.180) significantly predicted their stigmatizing behavi...
Journal of public health in Africa, Jan 31, 2017
There is great concern about the increasing rise in the rate of caesarean section in both develop... more There is great concern about the increasing rise in the rate of caesarean section in both developed and developing countries. This study was to ascertain the prevalence and compare outcomes of elective and emergency caesarean sections among women who deliver at the University of Cape Coast Hospital, Ghana. This retrospective study reviewed records of 645 women who delivered through caesarean sections during the period of January 2014 and December 2015. The prevalence of caesarean section was 26.9%. There was a significantly higher rate of adverse fetal outcomes (P=0.016) among babies born through emergency caesarean section. There were 12 (1.9%) women who had caesarean section done based on maternal request. The caesarean section rate found in this study was high. The lack of availability of technology for diagnosing fetal distress found in this study could possibly lead to over diagnosis of fetal distress. Thus availability of such diagnostic technology could reduce the high caesar...
Texila International Journal of Public Health, 2017
Over the years, caesarean section has become increasingly safe and remains one of the most common... more Over the years, caesarean section has become increasingly safe and remains one of the most commonly performed surgeries in obstetric practice worldwide. Even though there is an increased rate of Caesarean section in both developed and developing countries, some studies have suggested that African women have an aversion for it. We therefore set out to assess the knowledge, attitude and perceptions of Ghanaian women towards caesarean section. A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted in the University of Cape Coast Hospital. A structured questionnaire was used to assess the knowledge, attitude and perception of 412 pregnant women towards caesarean section. Total knowledge was categorized as inadequate (<50%) and adequate (≥50%). All the 412 respondents were aware of caesarean section. There was, however, a low level of adequate knowledge (39.6%) among the respondents. Majority of the women (94%) preferred vaginal delivery to caesarean section as their primary mode of delivery. Although 40% perceived that most women undergoing CS may die, 95.7% were willing to undergo the operation when indicated. However, 4.3% of the pregnant women would refuse the surgery even if indicated. Formal education (p=0.018), parity (p=0.035) and a previous experience of caesarean section (p<0.0001) were significantly associated with adequacy of knowledge on caesarean section. Even though there was a high awareness among the pregnant women, there was a low level of knowledge on caesarean section in our setting. Educational messages on caesarean section should be prepared to address especially issues on safety of the procedure and how post-operative pain is managed. Doctors should actively get involved in the education on caesarean section at the antenatal clinics, probably this will increase the knowledge of antenatal clinic attendants on CS.
International Journal of Reproduction, Contraception, Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2016
The study sought to investigate the factors influencing mobile telecom services access and usage ... more The study sought to investigate the factors influencing mobile telecom services access and usage in Cape Coast metropolis in the Central Region of Ghana by addressing the following question: What are the main factors that influence the access and usage of mobile telephone services? Primary data were collected from 200 subscribers and non-subscribers of mobile telecom services. The logit model was employed to identify the factors influencing mobile telecommunication services access. The results of the study showed that the probability that an individual will subscribe to a mobile telecom is dependent on income, price of mobile service, employment and education. It is recommended that a mobile number portability system should be introduced in the mobile telecom industry to reduce the lock-in effect currently prevailing in the industry. Also, efforts should be made to provide employment opportunities to individuals to enable them use more mobile telecom services.
Journal of Tropical Medicine, 2016
Most prescribers and patients in Ghana now opt for the relatively expensive artemether/lumefantri... more Most prescribers and patients in Ghana now opt for the relatively expensive artemether/lumefantrine rather than artesunate-amodiaquine due to undesirable side effects in the treatment of uncomplicated malaria. The study sought to determine the existence of substandard and/or counterfeit artemether-lumefantrine tablets and suspension as well as artemether injection on the market in Cape Coast. Six brands of artemether-lumefantrine tablets, two brands of artemether-lumefantrine suspensions, and two brands of artemether injections were purchased from pharmacies in Cape Coast for the study. The mechanical properties of the tablets were evaluated. The samples were then analyzed for the content of active ingredients using High Performance Liquid Chromatography with a variable wavelength detector. None of the samples was found to be counterfeit. However, the artemether content of the samples was variable (93.22%−104.70% of stated content by manufacturer). The lumefantrine content of the ar...
Advances in Hematology, 2016
The clinical outcome of falciparum malaria in endemic areas is influenced by erythrocyte polymorp... more The clinical outcome of falciparum malaria in endemic areas is influenced by erythrocyte polymorphisms including the ABO blood groups. Studies have reported association of ABO blood group to resistance, susceptibility, and severity ofP. falciparummalaria infection. Individuals with blood group “A” have been found to be highly susceptible to falciparum malaria whereas blood group “O” is said to confer protection against complicated cases. We analyzed samples from 293 young children less than six years old with malaria in the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra, Ghana. It was observed that group O was present in about 16.1% of complicated cases weighed against 40.9% of uncomplicated controls. Individuals with complicated malaria were about twice likely to be of blood groups A and B compared to group O (A versus O, OR = 1.90, 95% CI = 1.59–2.26,P<0.0001; B versus O, OR = 1.82. 95% CI = 1.57–2.23,P<0.0001). Blood group O participants with complicated diseases had low parasitaemia ...
Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine, 2015
To investigate the effect of pre-existing Schistosoma haematobium (S. haematobium) infection on m... more To investigate the effect of pre-existing Schistosoma haematobium (S. haematobium) infection on malaria disease severity. Methods: The study involved the use of twenty-five imprinting control region mice, fifteen of which were initially infected with S. haematobium. Five of the remaining ten schisto-uninfected mice together with five schisto-infected mice were infected with Plasmodium berghei (P. berghei) after four weeks (acute stage) of schistosoma infection. The remaining five schisto-uninfected mice together with five schisto-infected mice were also infected with P. berghei after seven weeks (chronic stage) of schistosoma infection. The last five schisto-infected mice were used as control group. They were then monitored for changes in P. berghei parasitaemia on Days 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 post-infection. Records on their survivability were also taken. Results: The co-infected mice had significantly higher malaria parasitaemia, compared with the mono-infected mice during acute S. haematobium infection. In contrast, the coinfected mice had significantly lower malaria parasitaemia during chronic S. haematobium infection and a higher survival rate. Conclusions: Co-infection of mice with P. berghei during acute S. haematobium infection resulted in rapid P. berghei development and increased malaria parasitaemia. However, the co-infection resulted in slower P. berghei development and decreased malaria parasitaemia with enhanced survivability of the mice during chronic S. haematobium infection. Therefore, pre-existing chronic S. haematobium infection may provide some protection to the host by reducing parasitaemia.
European Journal of Health Sciences
Background: The healthcare needs of under-fives and infants create major public health and develo... more Background: The healthcare needs of under-fives and infants create major public health and development challenges in Ghana. Though some level of progress has been achieved in the area, there still exist several challenges to be addressed with regard to the survival and development of these vulnerable age groups. One module used in this domain is to monitor, assess, and evaluate the healthcare needs of infants and under-fives in healthcare facilities. Although the literature has dealt greatly with child healthcare in Ghana very little has been done in the area of modelling and forecasting the prevalence of infant and under-five outpatients’ healthcare needs across hospitals in the country. Purpose: This study was conducted to assess, model, and probably predict the outpatient performance variable for infants and under-fives in the University of Cape Coast Hospital. Methodology: Quantitative methods and a longitudinal research design were used in this study. Monthly data of infant and...
Background: Optimal adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) among HIV/AIDS patients has proved ... more Background: Optimal adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) among HIV/AIDS patients has proved elusive despite increasing access to ART worldwide.
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Papers by James Kojo Prah