Spatial analysis of climatic factors and plasmodium falciparum malaria prevalence among children in Ghana

Mohammed, Kamaldeen; Salifu, Mohammed Gazali; Batung, Evans; Amoak, Daniel; Avoka, Vasco Ayere; Kansanga, Moses Mosonsieyiri; Luginaah, Isaac

doi:10.1016/j.sste.2022.100537

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

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“…According to the World Health Organization (WHO) malaria report, there were 229 million cases and 409,000 deaths in 2019 alone, with most cases occurring in sub-Saharan Africa [3]. Children under five are particularly vulnerable, accounting for the highest-burden of malaria-related morbidity and mortality [4,5].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Child malaria vaccine uptake in Ghana: Factors influencing parents’ willingness to allow vaccination of their children under five (5) years

Saaka,

Mohammed,

K. A. Pienaah

et al. 2024

PLoS ONE

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Background Malaria is a substantial health burden in Ghana, particularly among children. Despite the availability of malaria vaccines, uptake remains low. Notwithstanding, there is a paucity of nationally representative studies on the factors driving hesitance towards the new malaria vaccine. In response, this study, guided by the Theory of Planned Behaviors (TPB), seeks to understand the determinants of child malaria vaccine uptake in Ghana to inform strategies for improving coverage. Materials and methods We employed multiple regression model to examine the association between maternal awareness, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, geographical location, and vaccine uptake using data from the 2019 Ghana Malaria Indicator Survey (MIS). Results Maternal awareness of vaccine (OR = 2.200; P<0.01) significantly predicted higher likelihood of vaccine uptake. Household wealth was associated with child vaccination as parents in middle-income households (OR = 9.342; P<0.01), and those in poorest households (OR = 9.409; P<0.05) recorded higher likelihood of allowing their children to be vaccinated. With regards to ethnicity, parents from the Mande ethnic group (OR = 0.106; P<0.05) were less likely to allow their children to be vaccinated when compared to parents from the Akan ethnic group. Knowing that malaria is covered by National Health Insurance (OR = 2.407; P<0.05) was associated with higher likelihood of allowing child vaccination compared to not knowing. More so, geographical variations were observed as parents who lived in rural areas (OR = 0.254; P<0.05) were significantly less likely to allow vaccination of their children compared to those in urban areas. Conclusions Enhancing awareness through education campaigns can improve child malaria vaccine coverage. Observing socioeconomic disparities in uptake and ensuring equitable access to vaccines are vital. Tailored strategies considering ethnic background and geographical location, can as well enhance acceptance of the vaccine. This study provides valuable insights for developing effective strategies to reduce the burden of malaria in children and improve coverage of uptake. This study underscores the need to improve parental awareness and the relevance of the vaccine in preventing child mortality.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Child malaria vaccine uptake in Ghana: Factors influencing parents’ willingness to allow vaccination of their children under five (5) years

Saaka,

Mohammed,

K. A. Pienaah

et al. 2024

PLoS ONE

Self Cite

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“…Malaria remains a major public concern, with over 90% of global cases occurring in Africa. Among children, the prevalence and mortalities associated with malaria are higher than among adults, and in 2019, about 67% of children died of malaria worldwide [reviewed in [19]]. The falciparum malaria prevalence in this current study was 65.5%, mostly among children under 10 years.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 69%

Evaluation of Four Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Test Kits Used at the Enyiresi Government Hospital in the Eastern Region of Ghana

Domfeh

Darkwa

Gablah

et al. 2023

Journal of Parasitology Research

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Microscopic identification of Plasmodium spp. is the gold standard for malaria diagnosis. However, malaria rapid diagnostic test kits are also available for prompt diagnosis. This study evaluated four routinely used malaria rapid diagnostic test kits at the Enyiresi Government Hospital in the Eastern Region of Ghana. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 238 patients suspected of malaria. Venous blood samples were collected to identify Plasmodium falciparum using microscopic techniques. Further, the performances of four malaria rapid diagnostic test kits, First Response Malaria Ag Pf, Carestart Malaria Pf, SD Bioline Ag Pf, and ABON Malaria Pf, were evaluated using the results from the microscopy as the standard reference. As confirmed by microscopy, 65.5% (156/238) of the patients have falciparum malaria. All malaria rapid diagnostic test kits had sensitivities and specificities over 75% compared to microscopy results as the reference standard. However, the SD Bioline Ag Pf kit recorded the highest agreement with the microscopy ( Cohe n ’ s kappa = 0.879 ). All the malaria rapid diagnostic test kits performed quite well and can be used in emergencies. However, results from these kits need to be confirmed by microscopy.

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“…Ghana has a life expectancy of 63 (62.5 for males and 64.4 for women) and is ranked 155 in World Life Expectancy [ 24 ]. Also, there are both regional and residential disparities in socio-economic status [ 22 ] and diseases [ 25 ] in the country, which can affect child mortality rates. Regionally, poor education and poverty are widespread in northern Ghana compared to southern Ghana.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geographic disparities in the time to under-five mortality in Ghana

Mohammed,

Abubakari,

Amoak

et al. 2023

PLoS ONE

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Globally, there has been tremendous advancement in medicine and child healthcare with increased life expectancy. That notwithstanding, the risk of under-five mortality ─ children dying before their fifth birthday remains relatively high in countries in Sub-Saharan Africa such as Ghana. In Ghana, under-five mortality remains a major public health problem that requires significant policy interventions. Using data from the 2017 Maternal Health Survey (n = 4785), we examined the geographic disparities in the time to under-five mortality in Ghana. The Kaplan Meier estimator showed significant (Log-rank: p< 0.001) rural-urban differences in the time to under-five mortality in Ghana. A disaggregated cox proportional hazards analysis showed that despite wide consensus that children in urban areas have a high survival rate, children in urban areas in northern regions of Ghana, especially the Upper West (HR = 4.40, p < 0.05) and Upper East (HR = 5.37, p < 0.01) Regions were significantly at increased risk of dying before the age of five compared to children in urban areas in the Greater Accra Region. A rural-urban comparison showed that children born in rural areas in all the other regions of Ghana were at a higher risk of dying before the age of five when compared to their counterparts in the rural areas of Greater Accra Region. Other factors such as sex of child, mothers’ age and use of the internet, number of household members, ethnicity and household wealth were significantly associated with the timing of under-five mortality in Ghana. Healthcare policies and programs such as immunizations and affordable child healthcare services should be prioritized especially in rural areas of regions with a high risk of child mortality. Also, there is a need to improve healthcare delivery in urban areas, particularly in northern Ghana, where deplorable healthcare service infrastructure and delivery coupled with high poverty rates put children at risk of dying before their fifth birthday.

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Spatial analysis of climatic factors and plasmodium falciparum malaria prevalence among children in Ghana

Cited by 3 publications

References 50 publications

Child malaria vaccine uptake in Ghana: Factors influencing parents’ willingness to allow vaccination of their children under five (5) years

Child malaria vaccine uptake in Ghana: Factors influencing parents’ willingness to allow vaccination of their children under five (5) years

Evaluation of Four Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Test Kits Used at the Enyiresi Government Hospital in the Eastern Region of Ghana

Geographic disparities in the time to under-five mortality in Ghana

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