Research
Evaluating International Collaboration: Differential Perceptions of Partnership in a CBPR Project in Ghana
Exploring the relationship between chronic undernutrition and asymptomatic malaria in Ghanaian children
Anesthesia Teaching in Ghana: A 10-Year Experience
Educating for Service: The MA Profession in Ghana
Developing Residency Training in Global Health
Global Health Workforce and Physician Assistants
Comparative Study of Welfare Policies in Ghana and U.S.
A comparative study of the attachment relationships of U.S and Ghanaian undergraduate students
Role of Diagnostic Testing in Schistosomiasis Control Programs in Rural Ghana
Research is a critical component of the work being done by the GHI. Research provides us with assessment and evaluation information about the communities and our projects and allows us to ensure that appropriate steps are taken to address specific health issues facing this area of rural Ghana.
Currently, studies are being carried out on a variety of health issues. Assessments of the burden of schistosomiasis have been conducted with results being reported to the communities. Surveillance for malaria and rotavirus is ongoing. We are exploring the association of malaria and chronic undernutrition as well as the effectiveness of a community-based participatory research approach to development. In conjunction with these efforts, ongoing research in the areas of nutrition, parasite prevalence, Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) protocol use as well as beliefs surrounding the use of different sources of water are being carried out under the auspices of the GHI.
The data gathered will be used to establish area specific interventions to address health concerns found in this district. This research is also an integral part of the work currently underway in Ghana and we anticipate it will be integral to work in Hainan, China and Baroda, India.
Featured Publications
"Evaluating International Collaboration: Differential Perceptions of Partnership in a CBPR Project in Ghana" published in the Journal of Empirical Research on Human Research Ethic
Peter de Schweinitz, University of Utah, Daniel Ansong, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Stephen Manortey, University of Utah, John Amuasi, Isaac Boakye, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Benjamin T. Crookston, Stephen Alder, University of Utah
Abstract
PRACTITIONERS OF COMMUNITY-BASED participatory research (CBPR) must overcome numerous barriers in order to include research participants as equal partners in decision-making. The decision-making processes of stakeholders (including research participants) of one international CBPR project based in the middle belt of Ghana were analyzed through qualitative focus group and interview data, as well as direct observation of formal meetings. Using modified grounded theory to interpret our data, we find that despite the intentions of extracommunity stakeholders, ordinary community members do not experience full ownership of the governance of the research enterprise. We conclude that organizational philosophy, cultural expectations, and environmental context can help to explain differential perceptions of stakeholders and function as barriers to full partnership.
See Publication.
"Exploring the relationship between chronic undernutrition and asymptomatic malaria in Ghanaian children" published at in the Malaria Journal
Benjamin T Crookston1, Stephen C Alder1, Isaac Boakye2, Ray M Merrill3, John H Amuasi2, Christina A Porucznik1, Joseph B Stanford1, Ty T Dickerson4, Kirk A Dearden5, DeVon C Hale6, Justice Sylverken2, Bryce S Snow1, Alex Osei-Akoto7, and Daniel Ansong7
- Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of Utah, 375 Chipeta Way, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA
- Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, PO Box 1934, Kumasi, Ghana
- Department of Health Sciences, Brigham Young University, 229 Richards Building, Provo, UT 84602, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, 100 North Mario Cappechi Drive, Primary Children's Medical Center, Salt Lake City, UT 84113, USA
- Department of International Health and Center for International Health and Development, Boston University, 801 Massachusetts Avenue, Crosstown Center, 3rd Floor, Boston, MA 02118, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine 4C104, 30 N 1900 E, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA
- Department of Child Health, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
Abstract
Background
A moderate association has been found between asymptomatic parasitaemia and undernutrition. However, additional investigation using the gold standard for asymptomatic parasitaemia confirmation, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), is needed to validate this association. Anthropometric measurements and blood samples from children less than five years of age in a rural Ghanaian community were used to determine if an association exists between chronic undernutrition and PCR-confirmed cases of asymptomatic malaria.
Methods
This was a descriptive cross-sectional study of 214 children less than five years of age from a community near Kumasi, Ghana. Blood samples and anthropometric measurements from these children were collected during physical examinations conducted in January 2007 by partners of the Barekuma Collaborative Community Development Programme.
Results
Findings from the logistic model predicting the odds of asymptomatic malaria indicate that children who experienced mild, moderate or severe stunting were not more likely to have asymptomatic malaria than children who were not stunted. Children experiencing anemia had an increased likelihood (OR = 4.15; 95% CI: 1.92, 8.98) of asymptomatic malaria. Similarly, increased spleen size, which was measured by ultrasound, was also associated with asymptomatic malaria (OR = 2.17; 95% CI: 1.44, 3.28). Fast breathing, sex of the child, and age of the child were not significantly associated with the asymptomatic malaria.
See Publication.
Anesthesia Teaching in Ghana: A 10-Year Experience Original Articles
International Anesthesiology Clinics Spring 2010 - Volume 48 - Issue 2 - pp 23-37 doi: 10.1097/AIA.0b013e3181cd1603
Peters, Jeffrey L. PhD, MD; Boakye, Gabriel MB, ChB, F.ARZT (Anaesth.), FWACS, FGCPS; Harris, Mark MB, ChB; Nsiah-Asare, Anthony MD, FAChirg, FGCS, FWACS; Antwi-Kusi, Akwasi MB, ChB, DA, F.ARTZ (Anaesth.), WACS; Jabir, Abdul Rahman SRN, Advanced Diploma (Anaesth.); McAllister, Brian MD; Hale, Devon MD
"Educating for Service": The MA Profession in Ghana. Journal of Physician Assistant Education. 2009 Vol 20 No 3 44-47
Miniclier N., Antwi, J., Adjase, E.T.,
Developing Residency Training in Global Health: A Guidebook. Physician Assistants in the Global Health Arena. Global Health Education Consortium 2nd ed. 2009.
Pedersen K.,
Global Health Workforce and Physician Assistants. Module. Global Health Education Consortium Teaching Modules: Improving the Quality and Efficiency of Global Health Education. On line 2009
Pedersen K., DeGracia D.
Comparative Study of Welfare Policies in Ghana and U.S.
Mr. Peter Dwumah
Collaborative Study with J.A. Barnie, Department of Sociology and Social Work, KNUST and Jason Castillo, College of Social Work, University of Utah, U.S.A.
A comparative study of the attachment relationships of U.S and Ghanaian undergraduate students.
Mr. Peter Dwumah
Collaborative research with Joanna Bettman, College of Social Work, University of Utah.
Comparative Study of Welfare Policies in Ghana and U.S.
Jonas Asamanin Barnie
Collaborative Study with Peter Dwumah, Department of Sociology and Social Work, KNUST and Jason Castillo, College of Social Work, University of Utah, U.S.A.
"Role of Diagnostic Testing in Schistosomiasis Control Programs in Rural Ghana" has been submitted to PLoSMedicine
Additional Publications
Office Of Global Health Publications
Physician Assistant Global Health Publications
