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Background. Malaria is known to cause severe health consequences due to its marked effects and alteration on the haematological parameters of infected individuals. This study evaluated the haematological profile of adult individuals infected with the malaria parasite. Methods. A retrospective study was conducted using archived data of malaria positive cases from January 2017 to March 15, 2019. Data retrieved included subjects’ demographics, malaria parasite count, malaria parasite species, and full blood count parameters. A total of 236 malaria positive subjects were included in the study. Results. The study showed that more females were infected with the malaria parasite than males (69.07% and 30.93%, respectively). A total of 87.3% of the study population were infected with Plasmodium falciparum as compared to 12.7% infected with Plasmodium malariae. The commonest haematological abnormalities that were seen in this study were lymphopenia (56.78%), anaemia (55.51%), thrombocytopenia (47.46%), eosinopenia (45.76%), neutropenia (29.24%), monocytosis (21.19%), and leucocytosis (17.37%) in the infected subjects. The mean platelet count of P. falciparum-infected subjects was decreased as compared to the mean platelet count of P. malariae-infected subjects. There was a significant (P value Conclusion. Study participants infected with malaria demonstrated vital changes in haematological parameters with anaemia, thrombocytopenia, lymphopenia, monocytosis, and eosinopenia being the most important predictors of malaria infection especially with P. falciparum species.

Background. It is estimated that one out of every three Ghanaians has hemoglobin genotype mutation. This change in genetic make-up may result in genotypes such as HbAS, HbSS, and HbSC. Many children in low- and middle-income countries die even before they are diagnosed with sickle cell disease (SCD). In Africa, there are limited data on the incidence and prevalence of SCD and the Volta region of Ghana is no exception. Aim. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of SCD and to assess the hemoglobin variants among patients attending Ho Teaching Hospital. Methods. A retrospective study design was used to extract information from the Hospital Administration and Management Systems (HAMS) on the hemoglobin electrophoresis results and corresponding full blood count results of the SCD and sickle cell anemia (SCA) patients as well as patients who were asked to do Hb electrophoresis irrespective of their sickling status. Data were collected for the period January 2016 to December 2018. Sickle cell disease status was determined using the Hb genotypes from the Hb electrophoresis results. The full blood count was used to categorize the severity of anemia based on the hemoglobin concentration in the SCA and SCD patients. Results. A total of 1,523 subjects were included in the study of which the prevalence for sickle cell disease was 16.7%. The SCD genotypes included HbS (6.2%), HbSC (7.9%), and HbSF (2.6%). Hemoglobin C disease (HbCC) constituted 0.3% out of the total prevalence of SCD. The prevalence of anemia was 99.2%, with the severest form in HbS. Also, majority of the SCD patients had severe anemia. Difference in the severity of anemia was found to be significant among both male (P=0.006) and female (P=0.004) participants with SCD. Conclusion. Patients receiving health care at the Ho Teaching Hospital had different hemoglobin variants with HbAS recording the highest prevalence. The high incidence of hemoglobin AS implies the possibility of having an increased population of individuals with sickle cell disease in future if measures are not put in place to improve screening, counseling, and education of the public about the health threat SCD poses.

Background: This study aimed at determining the prevalence and morphological types of anaemia, among children under-five years, who had full blood count (FBC) investigation done at the laboratory of the Volta regional hospital. Methodology: This was a retrospective study of archival FBC test results data for children below 5 years in the laboratory, between1st July to 31st December 2015. The FBC results comprised of the hemoglobin (Hb) concentration and the red blood cell indices. Obtained data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. Results: A total 451 children were sampled. Anaemia prevalence in this study was 55.0% (248/451) and most of the children suffered from moderate anaemia (42%) (104/248) with mild and severe anaemia being 34% (84/248) and 24% (60/248) respectively. Children with microcytic hypochromic anaemia were 52%, (130/248), while those with normocytic normochromic were 25% (63/248). Conclusion: Anaemia was found in more than half of the children under-five years and microcytic hypochromic anaemia was the commonest morphological type of anaemia. There is need for a multi-disciplinary approach to elucidate the etiology of anaemia in children under-five years.

Background: This study is aimed at examining the dietary patterns and haematological profile in apparently healthy officers at the Ho Central Prisons. Methods: We employed a cross-sectional study to conveniently enroll 113 prison officers at the Ho Central Prisons. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to obtain demographic information including age, gender, ethnicity, religion, and marital status as well as the number of children, educational level, occupational rank and duration of service. A Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) and 24-Hour Recall (24HR) instrument were used to assess participants’ dietary intakes and consumption patterns. Portion sizes of all meals indicated were estimated using handy measures. Nutrient intakes were then determined using the FAO food composition database. Using standard methods, venous blood samples were obtained to determine participants’ full blood count (FBC). Anaemia and its morphological types were defined based on gender specific haemoglobin cut-off and MCV and MCH cut-off values respectively. Results: Only half of the total respondents [65 (57.5%)] followed the recommended daily eating pattern (breakfast, lunch and supper). Thirty-two (28.3%) had often skipped breakfast, 36 (31.9%) skipped lunch and 6 (5.3%) skipped supper while 16 (14.2%) skipped snacks. High protein intake was predominant among study participants [74(65.49%)], with a male preponderance [47(75.81%)]. Low folate, vitamins (C, B6, and B12) and fiber consumptions were proportionally higher among the study population whereas low thiamine [35(68.63%)] and copper [36(70.59%)] intakes were significantly higher among female compared to their male peers, [33(53.23%)] and [40(64.52%)]. The rate of anaemia was 36(31.86%). Normocytic normochromic anaemia was the commonest [76(67.26%)], followed by microcytic hypochromic anaemia [19(16.81%)]. Anisocytosis accounted for 18(15.93%) of the total study population, with a preponderance towards the male gender [10(16.13%)]. Conclusion: Good dietary practices is not optimal among the officers of the Ho Central Prisons. A third of the officers suffer from anaemia, with normocytic normochromic anaemia as the predominant anaemia type. Keywords: Dietary patterns, Dietary habits, Haematological profile, Anaemia