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Adjei AA, Winch P, Laar A, Sullivan DJ, Sakyi KS, Stephens JK, Adjei GO, Boateng IA, Aubyn VNA, Kubio C, Tuakli J, Vanotoo L, Bortei BB, Amo-Addae M, Sorvor F, Coleman N, Dalglish S, Owusu R, Gebreyesus T, Essuman E, Greene R, Ankomah E, Houston K, Bart-Plange C, Salamat S, Addison EA, Quakyi IA. Insights into the Affordable Medicines Facility-malaria in Ghana: the role of caregivers and licensed chemical sellers in four regions. Malar J 2016; 15:263. [PMID: 27160685 PMCID: PMC4862058 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-016-1307-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2016] [Accepted: 04/23/2016] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The Affordable Medicine Facility-malaria (AMFm) was an innovative global financing mechanism for the provision of quality-assured artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) across both the private and public health sectors in eight countries in sub-Saharan Africa. This study evaluated the effectiveness of AMFm subsidies in increasing access to ACT in Ghana and documented malaria management practices at the household and community levels during the implementation of the AMFm. Methods This study, conducted in four regions in Ghana between January, 2011 to December, 2012, employed cross-sectional mixed-methods design that included qualitative and quantitative elements, specifically household surveys, focus group discussions (FGD) and in-depth interviews. Results The study indicated high ACT availability, adequate provider knowledge and reasonably low quality-assured ACT use in the study areas, all of which are a reflection of a high market share of ACT in these hard-to-reach areas of the country. Adequate recognition of childhood malaria symptoms by licensed chemical seller (LCS) attendants was observed. A preference by caregivers for LCS over health facilities for seeking treatment solutions to childhood malaria was found. Conclusions Artemisinin-based combination therapy with the AMFm logo was accessible and affordable for most people seeking treatment from health facilities and LCS shops in rural areas. Caregivers and LCS were seen to play key roles in the health of the community especially with children under 5 years of age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew A Adjei
- Office of Research, Innovation and Development, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Peter Winch
- Department of International Health, Social and Behavioural Interventions Program, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Amos Laar
- Department of Population, Family, and Reproductive Health, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - David J Sullivan
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Kwame S Sakyi
- Department of International Health, Social and Behavioural Interventions Program, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Judith K Stephens
- Department of Biological, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 13, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - George O Adjei
- Centre for Tropical, Clinical, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Medicine and Dentistry, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Isaac A Boateng
- Ashanti Akim Central Municipal Health Directorate, Ghana Health Services, Konongo, Ghana
| | | | | | | | - Linda Vanotoo
- Regional Health Directorate, Ghana Health Services, Accra, Ghana
| | - Bernard B Bortei
- Department of Biological, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 13, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Maame Amo-Addae
- Shama District Health Directorate, Ghana Health Services, Shama, Ghana
| | - Felix Sorvor
- Department of Biological, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 13, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Nathaniel Coleman
- Department of Biological, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 13, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Sarah Dalglish
- Department of International Health, Social and Behavioural Interventions Program, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Richmond Owusu
- Department of Biological, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 13, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Tsega Gebreyesus
- Department of International Health, Social and Behavioural Interventions Program, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Edward Essuman
- Department of Biological, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 13, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Rebecca Greene
- Department of Paediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ezekiel Ankomah
- Department of Biological, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 13, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Kiely Houston
- Department of International Health, Social and Behavioural Interventions Program, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | | | - Samuel Salamat
- Department of Biological, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 13, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Ebenezer A Addison
- Kpone Katamanso District Health Directorate, Ghana Health Services, Kpone, Tema, Ghana
| | - Isabella A Quakyi
- Department of Biological, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 13, Legon, Accra, Ghana.
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Duedu KO, Sagoe KWC, Ayeh-Kumi PF, Affrim RB, Adiku T. The effects of co-infection with human parvovirus B19 and Plasmodium falciparum on type and degree of anaemia in Ghanaian children. Asian Pac J Trop Biomed 2015; 3:129-39. [PMID: 23593592 DOI: 10.1016/s2221-1691(13)60037-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2012] [Accepted: 12/12/2012] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determin the extent to which parvovirus B19 (B19V) and co-infection of B19V and malaria contribute to risk of anaemia in children. METHODS B19V DNA and malaria parasites were screened for 234 children at the PML Children's Hospital in Accra. The role of B19V and co-infection with B19V and malaria in anaemia was evaluated by analysing full blood cell counts, malaria and B19V DNA results from these children. RESULTS The prevalence of B19V, malaria and co-infection with B19V and malaria was 4.7%, 41.9% and 2.6%, respectively. Malaria posed a greater risk in the development of mild anaemia compared to severe anaemia (OR=5.28 vrs 3.15) whereas B19V posed a higher risk in the development of severe anaemia compared to mild anaemia (OR=4.07 vrs 1.00) from a non-anaemic child. Persons with co-infection with B19V and malaria had 2.23 times the risk (95% CI=0.40-12.54) of developing severe anaemia should they already have a mild anaemia. The degree of anaemia was about three times affected by co-infection (Pillai's trace=0.551, P=0.001) as was affected by malaria alone (Pillai's trace=0.185, P=0.001). B19V alone did not significantly affect the development of anaemia in a non-anaemic child. Microcytic anaemia was associated with B19V and co-infection with B19V and malaria more than normocytic normochromic anaemia. CONCLUSIONS B19V was associated with malaria in cases of severe anaemia. The association posed a significant risk for exacerbation of anaemia in mild anaemic children. B19V and co-infection with B19V and malaria may be associated with microcytic anaemia rather than normocytic normochromic anaemia as seen in cases of B19V infection among persons with red cell abnormalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kwabena Obeng Duedu
- Department of Microbiology, University of Ghana Medical School, Korle-Bu, Accra, Ghana ; Institute of Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
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