Consequences of Type-2 diabetes mellitus and Malaria co-morbidity on sperm parameters in men; a case-control study in a district hospital in the Ashanti Region of Ghana.

Type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and malaria infection are highly prevalent in Africa particularly, in the Sub-Saharan Region. A greater number of people in the Ghanaian population who have T2DM are also reported to harbor malaria parasites. This study aimed to investigate the influence of T2DM & Malaria co-morbidity on sperm parameters among patients in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. This hospital-based cross-sectional analytic case-control study comprised 254 adult male study participants comprising 80 T2DM & Malaria co-morbidity, 80 T2DM only, and 94 normal controls. A blood sample (10mL) was drawn from each participant to measure FBG, HbA1c levels, Testosterone levels, Total cholesterol, and determination of Malaria parasite density. Seminal fluid was also collected from each participant for semen analysis. Sperm kinetics of the T2DM & Malaria co-morbidity group particularly; total motility, rapid progressive motility, and slow progressive motility were negatively affected compared to both T2DM only (p<0.0001) and the Normal control (p<0.0001). Normal sperm morphology was significantly affected in the co-morbidity group compared to T2DM only (p<0.0001). Sperm vitality was also statistically significantly reduced in the T2DM & Malaria co-morbidity than in T2DM only (t (64) = -8.62; p<0.001). There was a significant decline in testosterone levels in the T2DM & Malaria co-morbidity group than in the T2DM only (p<0.0001) and the control (p <0.0001). In conclusion, T2DM and malaria infection have a stronger propensity to alter sperm morphology and lower sperm motility and vitality.

Non-life-threatening adverse reactions from COVID-19 vaccine; a cross-sectional study with self-reported symptoms among Ghanaian healthcare workers.

Health-care professionals in Ghana were among the prioritized high-risk groups to be administered with the initial supply of Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine procured by the Government of Ghana. This study sought to assess and identify the determinants of COVID-19 vaccine short-term side effects among health-care workers. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 654 Ghanaian healthcare workers between 16th March and 5th May 2021. The study included health-care workers in registered health settings, who had been vaccinated against COVID-19 and consented to participate in the survey. Descriptive statistics, binary and multivariable logistic regression analyses were executed using SPSS version 22 at p < .05. The findings revealed that, 528 (80.7%) of the participants experienced adverse reactions, which lasted between 0 and 2 days among, 347 (53.1%) of the study participants. The most reported adverse reactions were general body weakness, 434 (32.0%), headache 371 (27.3%), and fever, 257 (19.1%). Health workers aged 35-39 and 40-44 years had lower odds of adverse reactions compared with those aged 25-29 years (aOR: 0.34, 95% C.I. 0.186,0.621, p < .001) and (aOR: 0.42, 95% C.I. 0.201,0.890, p = .023). Taking analgesics before vaccination decreased the likelihood of adverse reactions (aOR: 0.28, 95% C.I. 0.185,0.427, p < .001). High prevalence of adverse reactions was found among the healthcare workers, however short-lived. The most reported systemic adverse reactions were general body weakness, headache, and fever. We recommend intensification of campaigns on COVID-19 vaccines and their associated adverse effects to avoid the negative implication on uptake among the healthcare workers and the general population.