An epidemiology of disease control in Ghana 1901-1990

An inaugural lecture delivered at the University of Ghana, Legon on 17th January, 199

Alternative approach to vital events registration in Ghana : the Suhum experience

Meeting: Research Issues in Child Health and Child Care, 22-26 Sept. 1986, Accra, GHIn IDL-99

Solution de rechange à l'enregistrement des déclarations de l'état civil au Ghana : l'expérience Suhum

Dans IDL-510

Climate change/variability and schistosomiasis transmission in Ga district, Ghana

Most studies on climate change and schistosomiasis transmission have mainly been on the development of models to understand the nature of the relationship. Globally, no attempt has been made to understand the relationship from the point of view of community members through public perception studies. In addition, there is no study on the nexus between climate change and schistosomiasis transmission in Ghana, albeit the disease is endemic in some parts of the country. This article attempts to fill both knowledge gaps. It uses four climate variables, hospital reported schistosomiasis cases, and data from focus group discussions undertaken in Ga District. Results show an increasing trend in total annual rainfall, maximum and minimum temperatures, and a decline in the number of rainy days between 1970 and 2010, during which time there was an increase in reported schistosomiasis cases. A Pearson correlation analysis shows negative and positive significant associations, respectively, between temperature and total rainfall and schistosomiasis cases. However, maximum temperature granger causes reported schistosomiasis cases. Community members perceive that extreme warm temperatures in recent times encourage people to swim in rivers, which increases infection rates. Rainfall is associated with water-based activities including swimming, washing, and bathing. Some control and prevention interventions and treatment-seeking behaviours are discussed, and some recommendations provided