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Biomedical subjects

F K Wurapa

Publications and source records attributed to F K Wurapa.

15 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1979

Perception and management of guinea worm disease among Ghanaian villagers. A framework for differential health education planning.

A survey, resulted from the immediate need to understand the health behaviour of Southern Ghanaian villagers during an epidemic of guinea worm disease. While such problems are usually studied at a time when the epidemic has abated, this study emphasized getting into the field quickly to obtain data before the epidemic passed. If behaviour models are to have value for programme planning in the developing world, they should be amenable to such quick sample approaches. The study involved a survey on attitudes, beliefs and practices related to gent. Results showed distinctive and somewhat differing perceptions of susceptibility, seriousness, curability and preventability for the two ethnic groups within a single geographic area. The analysis of the survey results permitted suggestion of various educational strategies for both of the groups. This quick survey approach must be more refined before it has wide applicability. There appears to be a significant potential for developing a simplified checklist to be used by health workers in carrying a rapid educational diagnosis of a specific health problem for a given population.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

The prevalence of inguinal hernia in adult Ghanaian males.

Indirect inguinal hernia imposes a heavy patient caseload on surgical services in Africa. This study, conducted in rural southern Ghana in 1973, showed a marked increase in prevalence in adult males aged 55 years and older. In contrast, hospitalized patients undergoing herniorrhaphy in Accra were evenly distributed through all age groups. As hospital services expand and rural patients have better access to surgical care, recent innovations such as short stay surgery may be important for coping with rising patient demand.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

Endemic pyoderma in Ghana: a survey in rural villages.

The prevalence and characteristics of pyoderma in a randomly sampled rural population in Ghana has been studied. Findings are compared with studies reported in recent literature which describe pyoderma in other countries. In the present study, conducted in 1975 as part of the Danfa Project's Village Health Survey, pyoderma was diagnosed in 19.4% of villagers examined. Peak rates occurred in the five to nine-year-old age group, and pyoderma was more prevalent among males and unskilled labourers and farmers than among those engaged in more sedentary occupations. Non-bullous impetigo was most common (72% of lesions) and, in contrast to other studies, non-group A-streptococci predominated in these lesions (82% of streptococcal lesions were Group G, 18% Group C). Current knowledge of transmission and control of pyoderma is discussed.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1977

Blood pressure distribution in a rural Ghanaian population.

Hypertension and related complications appear, from clinical impression, to be increasing problems in urban Ghanaians. In early 1973 we conducted a blood pressure survey in 20 rural Ghanaian villages to determine the prevalence of hypertension, in comparison with studies done in Accra residents and black Americans. Rural Ghanaians had mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures which were lower at all ages than the urban groups. 2-5% of the subjects aged 16 to 54 years had diastolic blood pressures of 95 or higher mm Hg. These findings are discussed in view of the proposed hypertension control programme in Accra. We conclude that hypertension is not a significant health problem in rural Ghanaians and that large-scale hypertension case-finding and intervention programmes should be confined to urban populations.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1977

Haematological values in a rural Ghanaian population.

Early in 1973 residents of 20 randomly selected rural villages in southern Ghana were studied to determine the prevalence of anaemia. Laboratory tests were conducted to learn what haemoglobin phenotypes were present and the distribution of white blood cell counts. Moderate anaemia (below 10 g%) was fairly common, particularly in children and 15--29 year old women, but severe anaemia (below 7 g%) was rare. Malaria infection and diets with low iron content were major factors affecting haemoglobin level, while hookworm infestation and high parity had little effect. Neutropenia (about two-thirds of Caucasian values) and the distribution of haemoglobin types (AS 16.3%; AC 11.1%) were similar to findings in earlier studies. To improve haemoglobin levels in children and young women, low-cost intervention programmes based on volunteer village workers are recommended.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1976

A household morbidity survey in rural Africa.

A household morbidity interview survey with 2,000 randomly selected households (14,729 people) in rural Ghana is reported for a two-week recall period; 20-8 percent of people reported some illness, injury or disability. This prevalence is lower than reported during surveys in Columbia, USA, Britain and Australia. Adults averaged 0-5 days lost from work, which results in an estimated annual work loss of 13-4 days. The reported illness varied markedly with age, with a peak in middle-aged adults and females in their reproductive years. The use of clinic services varied with age (they were sought particularly for pre-school children), type of condition, and accessibility. The use of drug sellers was surprisingly high, about half that of clinic attendance, and increased in those geographical areas where clinics were least accessible.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1976

Endemic rabies in Ghana. Epidemiology and control measures.

Rabies is well established in Accra and there has been no decline in canine or human cases during the past 5 years. In the first 6 months of 1975, canine cases almost doubled over the period average. So far dogs are the only confirmed carnivorous vector in Ghana. A clear seasonal peak exists, so that intervention efforts can be times to achieve a maximum impact. Persons at greatest risk of contracting rabies are males and school-aged children, who need improved educational and post-dog bite services. The fundamental issue for health policy is to achieve a proper balance between environmental, preventive and treatment aspects of rabies. The report describes problems with logistics, canine vaccine shortage and failures, lack of owner cooperation, and control of a large stray dog population. Several proposals to improve coordination and organization of control programs are suggested.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

Comparison of morbidity interviews with a health examination survey in rural Africa.

This paper describes a study of the Danfa Comprehensive Rural Health and Family Planning Project, Ghana. The report compares information obtained from morbidity interviews with information obtained during subsequent health examinations. One to 4 days prior to examination by a team of physicians, 3,653 rural Ghanaians were interviewed by a team of auxiliary workers. Information obtained from the interview survey was noticeably different from examination diagnoses. Significant health problems such as malaria, intestinal parasites and diarrhea, as well as minor and chronic conditions were seriously under-reported. Interview findings were more accurate for children, women in the reproductive age group, and in cases in which the disease caused considerable discomfort or diability. Although individual examination was eight times as costly as an interview, small scale rural health examination surveys of a representative sample of the population are recommended to provide accurate morbidity information for health planners.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1976

A tuberculin skin test survey in a rural Ghanaian population.

A study to determine the prevalence of positive tuberculin skin tests in a rural area of Ghana is described. Subjects over 14 exhibited the greatest percentage of positive reactions (40%), those under 15, less than 10 percent. Males had a higher percentage of positive reactions than females, which is consistent with the results of other tuberculin skin test studies. Prevalence of BCG scars was also studied as part of a village health survey medical examination. Overall BCG coverage was low (10%): the school age population, mose easily reached by mobile vaccination teams, had the highest rate of coverage (16%). There was a poor correlation between mothers' perception of children's BCG immunization status and the children's actual status determined during the medical examination, largely due to poor communication between immunization staff and the villagers. The authors conclude that BCG immunizations should be encouraged, particularly in children under 15, preferably via a mobile, mass campaign approach, with careful communication between medical staff and villagers.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1975

Guinea worm in southern Ghana: its epidemiology and impact on agricultural productivity.

In southern Ghana guinea worm disease was found to occur almost exclusively in villages dependent upon pond water during the dry season. The recent occurrence of guinea worm for the first time in many villages in the survey area suggests that the disease is spreading. The risk of increasing disease in the Accra plains is serious, because almost half of the 159 villages surveyed use pond water, and residents frequently travel to endemic areas. In this study adult male farmers were at greatest risk of becoming infected. The average work loss in untreated adults was more than 5 weeks. Because guinea worm disease is seasonal, conciding with peak agricultural activities, and few alternative labor sources are available for the incapacitated farmer, a marked reduction in agricultural output occurs. Additional research is needed to guide health education programs, to evaluate the effectiveness of chemical control of cyclops in ponds, and to develop low-cost improved rural water supplies.

Absenteeism↗