BackgroundPre-eclampsia (PE) is one of the leading causes of maternal morbidity and mortality globally. Adequate knowledge about a disorder contributes greatly to its prevention, control and management. This study assessed the level of knowledge of PE and evaluated the factors associated with knowledge adequacy among pregnant women attending antenatal care at a University Hospital in Kumasi-Ghana.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted at the University Hospital in Kumasi, Ghana. A validated closed-ended questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic information and history of PE. Knowledge of PE was assessed based on a series of questions regarding the awareness, signs/symptoms, risk factors and complications of PE. Responses were scored percentage-wise and grouped into low (< 60%), moderate (60–80%) and high (80–100%). Knowledge score was then re-stratified into adequate (% score of ≥60%) and inadequate knowledge of PE (% score of < 60%).ResultsThe prevalence of inadequate and adequate knowledge of PE was 88.6% (mean score = 55.5 ± 4.3%) and 11.4% (mean score = 76.3 ± 5.9%), respectively. For participants with adequate knowledge of PE, 9.1% (mean score = 67.4 ± 6.9%) and 2.3% (mean score = 85.2 ± 5.1%) had moderate and high knowledge, respectively. Using univariate logistic regression models, being older (> 35 years old) [cOR = 3.09, 95%CI (0.88–10.88), p = 0.049] and having a higher level of education (> SHS education) [cOR = 4.45, 95%CI (2.18–9.10), p < 0.0001] were significantly associated with greater odds of having adequate knowledge of PE. After controlling for potential confounders in multivariate logistic regression analysis, we found higher level of education to be independently associated with adequate knowledge of PE [aOR = 2.87, 95%CI (1.31–6.30), p = 0.008].ConclusionThe knowledge of PE among pregnant women in Ghana is low. The prominent factor that facilitates adequacy of knowledge of PE is higher level of education.

Background Malaria in pregnancy remains a major public health problem in Africa and Ghana and has been associated with a variety of pregnancy-related adverse complications. The development of effective and timely health policies for the prevention and control of malaria and anemia in pregnancy; requires current and consistent data on the prevalence and risk factors. We report the prevalence and risk factors of malaria and anemia from three major hospitals across three regions in Ghana. Methods This multicenter cross-sectional study comprising a total of 628 pregnant women was conducted at the antenatal care units of the Achimota Hospital in the Greater Accra Region (n = 199), St. Michael's Hospital in the Ashanti Region (n = 221), and Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital in the Western Region (n = 211). Questionnaires were administered to obtain socio-demographic, obstetrics and clinical data. Venous blood, stool and urine samples were collected for hematological profile and parasite identification using microscopy. Risk factors were evaluated using logistic regression models. Results The overall prevalence of P. falciparum malaria was 8.9%. Factors independently associated with malaria were self-reported mosquito exposure (moderate exposure: aOR = 3.11, 95% CI (1.12-8.61) and severe exposure: aOR = 10.46, 95% CI (3.86-28.34)) and non-use mosquito repellents (aOR = 3.29, 95% CI (1.70-6.39)). Multiparty (parity of 2: aOR = 0.19, 95% CI (0.05-0.70) and parity �3: aOR = 0.11, 95% CI (0.03-0.45)) and age (20-30 years old: aOR = 0.22, 95% CI (0.09-0.56)) reduced the odds of infection. The overall prevalence

Background The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the use of Insecticide Treated Bed-Nets and Intermittent Preventive Treatment (IPT) with Sulphadoxine-Pyrimethamine (SP) as interventions in curbing malaria during pregnancy. However, increasing evidence shows a gap in coverage where not all pregnant women receive the recommended SP dose. This study evaluated the factors influencing uptake of IPTp-SP among pregnant women in Kumasi, Ghana. Methodology This cross-sectional study was conducted among 280 pregnant women attending the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Hospital in Kumasi, Ghana. Validated structured questionnaires were administered to obtain sociodemographic, medical/reproductive information, and IPTp-SP uptake among participants. Statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS 25.0 statistics. Results The mean age of respondents was 29.7±4.9 years. Of the 280 women interviewed, 74.6% attended the antenatal care (ANC) clinic at least four times with only 31.8% completing the recommended doses. Tertiary education [aOR=3.15, 95% CI (0.94 -10.97), and p=0.042] and ≥ 4 ANC visits [aOR=24.6, 95% CI (5.87-103.07), p<0.0001] had statistically significant higher odds of completing the recommended IPTp-SP dose. However, participants employed by the formal sector [aOR=0.28, 95% CI (0.09 - 0.79), p=0.016] and participants with more than four children [aOR=0.14, 95% CI (0.03 - 0.63), and p=0.011] had statistically significant lower odds of completing the recommended IPT dose. Conclusion ANC attendance is critical in IPTp uptake. The results emphasize the need for the Health Policy Makers in Kumasi to encourage pregnant women, especially women working in the formal sector and women having more than four children to patronize ANC attendance to ensure high coverage of the recommended IPTp dose.

Background: Pre-eclampsia (PE) is one of the leading causes of maternal morbidity and mortality globally. Adequate knowledge about a disorder contributes greatly to its prevention, control and management. This study assessed the level of knowledge of PE and evaluated the factors associated with knowledge adequacy among pregnant women attending antenatal care at a University Hospital in Kumasi-Ghana. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the at a University Hospital in Kumasi, Ghana. A closed-ended validated well-structured questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic information and history of PE. Knowledge of PE was assessed based on a series of questions regarding the awareness, signs/symptoms, risk factors and complications of PE. Responses were scored percentage-wise and grouped into low (<60%), moderate (60-80%) and high (80-100%). Knowledge score was then re-stratified into adequate (% score of ≥ 60%) and inadequate knowledge of PE (% score of < 60%). Results: The prevalence of inadequate and adequate knowledge of PE was 88.6% (mean score = 55.5 ± 4.3%) and 11.4% (mean score = 76.3 ± 5.9%), respectively. For participants with adequate knowledge of PE, 9.1% (mean score = 67.4 ± 6.9%) and 2.3% (mean score = 85.2 ± 5.1%) had moderate and high knowledge, respectively. Using univariate logistic regression models, being older (>35 years old) [cOR=3.09, 95%CI (0.88-10.88), p=0.049] and having a higher level of education (> SHS education) [cOR=4.45, 95%CI (2.18-9.10), p<0.0001] were significantly associated with greater odds of having adequate knowledge of PE. After controlling for potential confounders in multivariate logistic regression analysis, we found higher level of education to be independently associated with adequate knowledge of PE [aOR=2.87, 95%CI (1.31-6.30), p=0.008]. Conclusion: The knowledge of PE among pregnant women in Ghana is low. The prominent factor that facilitates adequacy of knowledge of PE is higher level of education.

Background: In the absence of microscopy, Plasmodium falciparum histidine-rich proteins 2 (PfHRP2)-based rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are recommended for the diagnosis of falciparum malaria, particularly in endemic regions. However, genetic variability of the pfhrp2 gene threatens the usefulness of the test due to its impact on RDT sensitivity. This study aimed to investigate the diversity of pfhrp2 in malaria cases among children in Ghana. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Adidome Government Hospital in the Volta Region of Ghana. A total of 50 children with mean age of 6.6 ± 3.5 years and diagnosed falciparum malaria were included. Blood samples were collected for complete blood count, malaria parasite identification and counting using auto analyzer and microscopy, respectively. DNA was isolated from blood-spotted Whatman filters, amplified and sequenced. Nucleotide sequences were translated in silico to corresponding amino acids and the deduced amino acids sequences were analyzed for diversity using Mega X. Results: The number of repeats and number of each repeat within PfHRP2 varied between isolates. Twelve rare PfHRP2 repeat types, two of which are previously unreported, were identified in this study. The HRP2 sequence obtained in this study shared high similarities with isolates from Kenya. Using Baker's regression model, Group B was the highest occurring type (58.0%). Screening of all sequences for epitopes recognized by PfHRP2-specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), the predominant motif was AHHAADAHH, which is recognized by the C1-13 mAbs. Conclusion: This study reports diversity of P. falciparum HRP2 in samples from Ghanaian children with symptomatic malaria. The findings of this study highlight the existence of extra amino acid repeat types which adds to the PfHRP2 antigenic variability.