Assessment of the quality of life of COVID-19 recovered patients at the Ghana Infectious Disease Centre.

BACKGROUND: The Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), initially thought to be a respiratory disease, is now known to affect multiple organ systems with variable presentation and devastating or fatal complications. Despite the large numbers of people who have suffered this disease globally, the mid- to long-term impact of COVID-19 on a person's general well-being and physical function has not been fully investigated in Ghana. AIM: This study sought to determine the Quality of Life (QoL) and associated factors among Ghanaian patients following clinical recovery from COVID-19 infection. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional quantitative study involving 150 COVID-19 recovered patients attending the review clinic of the Ghana Infectious Disease Centre. Quality of life was estimated using the EuroQol Group Association five-domain, five-level questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L) while participants' overall health status was measured on a visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS): a scale ranging from 0 (worst health) to 100 (best health). Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to assess differences in domain and overall QoL scores while quantile regression was used to determine demographic and clinical factors associated with QoL scores. RESULTS: The mean QoL from the EQ-5D-5L assessment tool was (81.5 ± 12.0) %, while the self-reported QoL from the EQ-VAS tool (75.6 ± 22.0) %. Persistence of symptoms after 30 days was significantly associated with EQ-5D-5L QoL (Adjusted median difference [95% CI] = -9.40 [-14.19, -4.61], p<0.001) while access to rehabilitative centres was significantly associated with EQ-VAS QoL (Adjusted median difference [95% CI] = -29.60 [-48.92, -10.29], p = 0.003). CONCLUSION: Quality of life was relatively good among the COVID-19 recovered patients. Persistence of symptoms and access to rehabilitative centres significantly predicted one's QoL.

Periodontal status and oral hygiene practices among adults in a peri-urban fishing community in Ghana.

Introduction: fisherfolk play a major role in emerging economies such as Ghana. While many fishing communities are noted to be underdeveloped, fisherfolk are considered to neglect their oral hygiene, while being prone to certain conditions due to peculiar risks. The purpose of this study was to determine the periodontal health status of adults in a selected fishing community in Ghana. Methods: a descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out to assess the periodontal status of adults in Jamestown, a peri-urban area in Ghana. Data acquisition was by means of a structured questionnaire and periodontal examination. Information obtained consisted of demographic data (age, sex, education and occupation category) oral hygiene practices (type of teeth cleaning materials, methods of tooth cleansing, frequency of dental visits and reasons for the visit) and periodontal clinical parameters (plaque index, and community periodontal index of treatment needs). Results: a total of 276 participants were included in the study, with ages ranging from 21 to 70 years. The participants were made up of 138 fisherfolk and 138 non-fisherfolk. Males had worse scores for periodontal disease compared to females. Plaque score did not vary among age groups, but changed significantly between educational level and occupational categories. CPITN varied significantly between educational levels, age categories and occupational categories. Conclusion: the study found inhabitants of the fishing community of Jamestown to have a generally unsatisfactory periodontal status, but worse for the fisherfolk in the community.

Assessment of oral health status in a Ghanaian population: rationale, methods, and population characteristics.

BACKGROUND: Oral health surveys aid in estimating the oral health of a population and provide a projection for future oral health care needs. We report the procedures and rationale of a survey carried out to assess the oral health status and risk factors for oral disease among adults in the Greater Accra Region (GAR) of Ghana. The objective was to provide prevalence estimates on dental diseases, oral health behaviour and risk factors, and to establish baseline epidemiological data on the population's oral health for further research. METHODS: This was a population-based cross-sectional study of adults aged 25 years and above. A random, stratified two-stage sampling method was used to select participants from rural and urban communities in three types of districts (Metropolitan, Municipal, Ordinary). A semi- structured questionnaire was used to collect data on socio-demographic characteristics, oral health behaviours and risk factors for oral disease. Anthropometric data and a full-mouth clinical examination was carried out including: soft tissue assessment, tooth count, prosthodontic status, dental caries assessment and periodontal assessment. RESULTS: A total of 729 participants were included in the study with a mean age of 43.9 years (SD 14.6). Majority 425 (61.0%) were females. Though the metropolitan districts had more dental clinics and personnel, along with better health insurance coverage, they had a higher prevalence of missing teeth, retained roots, severe periodontitis and poorer oral health coverage. The findings also show some significant differences in disease prevalence, within the different localities and districts. CONCLUSIONS: Availability and access to oral health services is not the most important determinant of good oral health outcomes in this region. We recommend exploring socio-behavioral and cultural factors as well. This study provides district level data to inform policy and guide further research.

Prevalence of oral conditions and associated factors among schoolchildren in Accra, Ghana: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: The impact of oral diseases on children cannot be overemphasized because their effects may go beyond the individual to the household and the community at large. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of common oral conditions in children between the ages of 9 and 16 years in Accra. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out among participants from 16 selected junior high schools in Accra. Their caries experience was assessed using the decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) index. Other variables recorded were age, sex, previous history of a dental visit, and the presence of other common oral conditions (ie, periodontal disease, traumatised teeth, oral mucosal lesions, neoplasia, cysts, and malocclusion). Summaries and descriptive statistics were generated and reported. The DMFT was compared between subgroups, and the χ2 test was used to compare outcomes of categorical variables. RESULTS: A total of 1118 students participated in the study. This consisted of 37.8% males and 62.2% females. The mean age was 12.8 (standard deviation = 1.7) years. Common oral conditions were found in 49.7% of the participants and the prevalence of caries, periodontal disease, and malocclusion were found to be 13.3%, 30.4%, and 11.3%, respectively. The population's mean DMFT was found to be 0.27 (standard deviation = 0.76). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of caries and periodontal disease calls for additionaleffort to reduce the burden of common oral conditions in Ghanaian children.

Salivary gland neoplasms: A 10-year review of a major referral center in Ghana.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to describe the clinicopathologic features of salivary gland tumors (SGTs) that were managed at a major referral center in Ghana. STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective study of all histologically diagnosed and managed Ghanaian patients with SGTs during the period January 2008 to December 2017. Information collected included age, gender, affected gland, presenting symptom, treatment modality, histologic diagnosis, and complications. Descriptive summaries of variables were generated. The χ2 test with Fisher's test was used to compare categorical variables with subsequent testing of association. RESULTS: The study included 116 patients, with 49 males (42.2%) and 67 females (57.8%), representing a ratio of 1:1.4. There were 82 (70.7%) benign SGTs and 34 (29.3%) malignant SGTs. The most common benign SGT was pleomorphic adenoma, which accounted for 62.1% of all SGTs. Malignant SGTs occurred more in older people, and the occurrence of SGTs was significantly at a lower age in males compared with females. CONCLUSIONS: Although the general pattern of SGTs did not seem to differ significantly in comparison with the findings of a review performed 10 years earlier, the findings of this study could inform hypotheses generation for future studies to explore the risk factors and associations peculiar to the Ghanaian environment.