HIV/AIDS: Knowledge, Attitude And Practice Of School Adolescents In The Kwaebibirem District Of Ghana

The study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes and sexual practices relating to HIV/AIDS among adolescents attending both categories of schools. Structured questionnaire was administered by a multistage sampling technique to 600 pupils and students, selected from six Junior Secondary Schools and three Senior Secondary Schools from different towns in the Kwaebibirem district in Ghana. A total of 531 (92.2%) agreed that sexual promiscuity is on the ascendancy among adolescents. The overall mean age of sexual activity debut among both boys and girls was 11.4 years. High -risk sexual behaviour increased with increasing age and class, and was significantly higher among females than males. Condom use was generally low among the sexually active adolescents. Generally knowledge of STIs among the adolescents was low. Nearly half did not know the origin of HIV/ AIDS, but 83% knew sexual intercourse as the highest mode of transmission, whilst about 64% knew HIV/AIDS could be prevented through abstinence and condom use. It was concluded that sexual promiscuity is on the ascendancy among the adolescents, but their knowledge of STIs is generally low. More education is therefore needed to keep them well informed about HIV/AIDS. Keywords: Kwaebibirem, Ghana, STIs, IV/AIDS, promiscuity Journal of Science and Technology (Ghana) Vol. 28 (2) 2008: pp. 10-1

Prevalence and ergonomic risk factors of work-related musculoskeletal injuries amongst underground mine workers in Zambia

Work-related musculoskeletal injuries (WMSIs) are common in both developed and third world countries. Most researchers agree that exposure to ergonomic risk factors is a major contributor to these injuries. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of and ergonomic risk factors associated with WMSIs amongst underground mine workers in Kitwe, Zambia. Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted using a sample size of 500 workers. A stratified random sampling method according to mining work activity type was used to obtain the sample. Data was collected by means of a structured questionnaire, and the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyze data using descriptive and inferential statistical methods. Results were significant at 5%. Results: A response rate of 40.4% (202) was obtained. The 12-month prevalence of WMSIs was 42.6%. The mean age of the workers was 40.31 years (SD +/− 8.57 years). Electricians and mechanics reported the highest injury frequencies. The back was the most affected body part. Ergonomic risk factors consistently reported by workers included poor postures and heavy lifting. There were significant (p=0.020) associations between working with the back bent and sustaining a back injury. Significant (p=0.049) associations were also found between injuries of the wrists/hands and grasping an unsupported object(s). Conclusions: This study revealed significant associations between WMSIs and ergonomic risk factors like working with the back bent and grasping object.Web of Scienc

Respiratory symptoms and lung function impairment in underground gold miners in Ghana

BACKGROUND: This is the first study in Ghana in the Obuasi gold mines where the silica content of the respirable dust is 10%, less than in previously studied gold mines, with only 23% of the miners having ever smoked. OBJECTIVES: The study was to assess the prevalence of respiratory impairment in the Ghanaian gold miner and to quantify the effects of the respirable dust on pulmonary function DESIGN: A cross sectional epidemiological study METHOD: The study was carried out using MRC respiratory symptoms questionnaire, spirometry, and personal respirable dust measurements. RESULTS: A total of 1236 miners were studied. The mean age was 39.7 ±5.8 (SD) years with a mean of 12.6 ± 6.7 (SD) years underground service and a mean total cumulative exposure to dust of 10.34 ±5.61 (SD) mg.m(−3).years. The prevalence of chronic bronchitis was 21.2% and not clearly related to cumulative exposure. MRC breathlessness grade≥2 was 31.3%, significantly related to cumulative respirable dust exposure after adjustment of age and smoking. There was however significant reduction in FEF(25–75%) with increasing dust exposure and an interaction with ever smoking. There was no correlation between cumulative exposure to respirable dust and FEV(1) % predicted in any group, suggesting that exposure to respirable silica at a mean level of 0.06 mg/m(3) had no deleterious effect on FEV(1) in a population with little tuberculosis, good housing and a low level of cigarette smoking. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of chronic bronchitis in the Ghanaian gold mine is related more to smoking than any occupational factor

Resistance-Mediating Polymorphisms of Plasmodium Falciparum Among Isolates From Children With Severe Malaria in Kumasi, Ghana

Background: Antimalarial drug resistance has been a major contributor to the failure of the battle against malaria in many developing countries. The P. falciparum genes, pfcrt and pfmdr-1, have been implicated in chloroquine resistance. The objective of this study was to determine the presence of mutant alleles of these chloroquine resistance genes amongisolates of P. falciparum from children presenting with severe malaria in Ghana.Methods: Venous blood samples were taken from patients, and plasma chloroquine levels measured. P. falciparum chromosomal DNA was isolated from the blood samples, and subjected to PCR, restriction digestion and sequencing. Resulting data were analysed using the STATA statistical software.Results: Of 140 children recruited into the study, 109 (77.9%) had detectable pre-treatment chloroquine levels. PCR and restriction digestion analysis of the pfcrt gene indicated that 124 (88.6%) had the mutantT76 gene, and that this correlated with higher chloroquine levels. Sequence analysis of these showed consistent genetic sequences for chloroquine resistant and sensitive parasites with respect to Pfcrt codons 72through 76.The Pfcrt T76 mutation was found in 88.4% of isolates having the Pfmdr-1Y86 mutation. The Pfmdr-1 Y86 mutation was found in 67.6% of isolates having the Pfcrt T76 mutation.Conclusion: The study affirms Pfcrt as a better chloroquine resistance marker. Both mutations are independently selected by chloroquine levels and that one mutation (Y86) might modify/increase the effect ofthe other (T76). This study also depicts the muchoverlooked antimalarial drug resistance situation in the area and emphasizes the need for a proper treatment strategy

Respirable dust exposure in underground gold miners at Obuasi in Ghana

Mechanised large-scale mining by European companies which began in the Gold Coast (now Ghana) as early as 1877 presently employs approximately 20,000 people. The Obuasi gold mine is one of the world's oldest and richest goldmines producing about eighty percent of Ghana's gold output. The study was conducted to quantify personal exposure to respirable dust and silica for different underground mining occupations in the Obuasi mine. Personal respirable dust samples were taken from a stratified sample of 125 (10%) of the 1229 underground miners available for the study. All filter samples were analysed gravimetrically and 1 in 10 filters analysed for their silica content. The mean shift/daily concentration of the underground respirable dust was 0.83 mg/m3 (SD ± 0.55) and a range of 0.07 to 2.86 mg/m3 over a mean sampling time of 6 hours. The concentration of respirable silica ranged from 0.01 to 0.12 mg/m3; mean 0.06 mg/m3. The mean silica content of the respirable dust was 9.93%. The present study shows a low personal respirable dust exposure levels as well as silica content in the Obuasi gold mines in Ghana. Keywords: respirable dust, crystalline silica, mining, personal air measurements Journal of Science and Technology Vol. 26(1) 2006: 14-2