Mahama Saaka

ORCID: 0000-0003-0295-0328
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About
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Research Areas
  • Child Nutrition and Water Access
  • Poverty, Education, and Child Welfare
  • Global Maternal and Child Health
  • Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations
  • Child Nutrition and Feeding Issues
  • Birth, Development, and Health
  • Nutritional Studies and Diet
  • Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
  • Iron Metabolism and Disorders
  • Breastfeeding Practices and Influences
  • Trace Elements in Health
  • Pneumonia and Respiratory Infections
  • Maternal and Perinatal Health Interventions
  • HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions
  • Sex work and related issues
  • Infant Nutrition and Health
  • Respiratory viral infections research
  • Gestational Diabetes Research and Management
  • HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk
  • Diet and metabolism studies
  • Bacterial Infections and Vaccines
  • Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia detection and treatment
  • Celiac Disease Research and Management
  • Food composition and properties
  • Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum

Ghana Health Service
2025

University for Development Studies
2015-2024

Edith Cowan University
2009

MRC Unit the Gambia
2006-2008

Medical Research Council
2005

St Thomas' Hospital
1997

To prepare for the introduction of a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine restricted valency, we studied nasopharyngeal carriage Streptococcus pneumoniae in Gambian villagers.A cross-sectional survey was conducted 21 villages after census. We recorded demographic characteristics, information on medical history, and data possible risk factors from subjects. collected swab specimen each subject isolation serotyping S. antibiotic susceptibility testing.The prevalence among 2872 villagers 72%. It...

10.1086/506941 article EN Clinical Infectious Diseases 2006-08-17

Though the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) indicators have been in use, little is known about their association with child nutritional status. The objective of this study was to explore relationship between IYCF (timing complementary feeding, minimum dietary diversity, meal frequency acceptable diet) growth indicators.A community-based cross-sectional survey carried out November 2013. population comprised mothers/primary caregivers children...

10.1186/s12889-015-2494-7 article EN cc-by BMC Public Health 2015-11-23

Undernutrition among preschool children in Northern region is the highest Ghana. However, there scarcity of data on factors that determine undernutrition these children. This study investigated effect maternal and child was a community based analytical cross-sectional survey sample 425 mother- pairs drawn from 25 clusters. A semi- structured questionnaire used to collect socio-demographic characteristics, feeding practices anthropometry. Anthropometric indices Height-for-age Z-scores (HAZ),...

10.1186/s40795-017-0154-2 article EN cc-by BMC Nutrition 2017-04-04

Introduction . This study used three dependent measures of food security to assess the magnitude household insecurity and its consequences on nutritional status children 6–36 months in Tamale Metropolis Northern Ghana. Methods An analytical cross-sectional was conducted a sample 337 mother/child pairs June 2012. Food access measured as scale (HFIAS), dietary diversity score (HDDS), consumption (FCS). Results The depended indicator, with HFIAS yielding highest 54%. Of indicators, 30-day not...

10.1155/2013/304169 article EN cc-by International Journal of Population Research 2013-07-01

Inappropriate complementary feeding is a major contributor to child malnutrition. Previous studies have described practice using single indicators but combination of needed better explain the role practices in growth. To adequately quantify appropriate feeding, we used composite indicator comprising three World Health Organization (WHO) core infant and young (IYCF) that relate closely feeding. A community-based cross sectional cluster survey was carried out November 2013. The study...

10.1186/s40795-015-0037-3 article EN cc-by BMC Nutrition 2016-01-08

Objective. The main aim of the study was to assess magnitude concurrent wasting and stunting among Ghanaian preschool children. Secondly, we investigated relationship between as well factors associated with these conditions. Methods. This paper is based on reanalysis anthropometric other relevant data which collected in 2014 Ghana Demographic Health Survey. set consisted 2,720 children aged 0-59 months. We conducted three-step moderated hierarchical multiple regression analyses determine...

10.1155/2016/4654920 article EN cc-by Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism 2016-01-01

Background . Information regarding how dietary diversity is related to haematological status of the pregnant women in rural areas Northern Ghana limited. This study therefore evaluated maternal intake and it relates nutritional belonging different socioeconomic conditions Ghana. Methods was cross-sectional design involving 400 women. Midupper arm circumference (MUAC) anaemia were used assess Results The mean score (DDS) population from ten food groups was<mml:math...

10.1155/2017/8497892 article EN cc-by Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism 2017-01-01

Objective. This study investigated the treatment outcomes and determinant factors likely to be associated with recovery rate. Methods. A retrospective chart review (RCR) was performed on 348 patients who were enrolled in outpatient care (OPC) during period. Results. Of cases, 33.6% recovered (having MUAC<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M1"><mml:mrow><mml:mo>≥</mml:mo></mml:mrow></mml:math>125 mm), 49.1% defaulted, 11.5% transferred other OPC units continue...

10.1155/2015/641784 article EN cc-by Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism 2015-01-01

Background . This study was designed to understand the patterns and determinants of three essential newborn care practices: safe cord care, optimal thermal neonatal feeding practices. Methods A community-based cross-sectional carried out on a sample 404 lactating mothers who have delivered live baby at home within past one year prior study. Results Overall, prevalence practices exceptionally low. Of newborns, only 0.2% (1) had 5.2% (21) 50.2% (203) were considered adequate feeding. In...

10.1155/2014/404387 article EN International Journal of Population Research 2014-03-11

There was less than satisfactory progress, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, towards child and maternal mortality targets of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 4 5. The main aim this study to describe the prevalence determinants essential new newborn care practices Lawra District Ghana.

10.1186/s12887-018-1145-4 article EN cc-by BMC Pediatrics 2018-05-24

Although recommended infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices have been found to be protective against undernutrition in some settings, there is no finality yet due inconsistencies the literature. A cross-sectional survey of 581 mother-child pairs was conducted northern Ghana June 2018. The association between IYCF indicators (stunting wasting) were assessed. descriptive analysis showed that 66.4% children (6–23 months) introduced complementary a timely manner, 69.4% met minimum meal...

10.3390/nu12092565 article EN Nutrients 2020-08-24

Abstract Childhood undernutrition coupled with poor feeding practices continues to be public health problems in many parts of the world and efforts address them remain elusive. We tested hypothesis that women who are exposed radio health/nutrition education will demonstrate greater nutrition knowledge, positive attitudes towards preventive better dietary diversity for improved child growth. used a two-arm, quasi-experimental, non-equivalent comparison group design pre- post-test observations...

10.1017/jns.2021.35 article EN cc-by-nc-nd Journal of Nutritional Science 2021-01-01

There is little information regarding factors that determine dietary diversity among pregnant women in Ghana. The present study, therefore, sought to assess the independent predictors of and its relationship with nutritional status Northern Region study was an analytical cross-sectional survey involving 423 different stages gestation. 24-h recall method used minimum for (MDD-W), assessed using mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) measurements. Binary logistic regression performed association...

10.1017/jns.2021.6 article EN cc-by-nc-nd Journal of Nutritional Science 2021-01-01

Abstract There is limited information on the magnitude and determinants of household food insecurity (HFI) how it relates to nutritional status pregnant women in Northern Ghana. The magnitude, HFI, were evaluated Africa RISING West project intervention communities prevalence moderate severe hunger was 25.9% (95% CI: 19.0, 34.3) 6.8% 4.2, 10.9) respectively. independent predictors maternal thinness region residence, gestational age age. Compared first trimester, third trimester 2.2 times more...

10.1002/fsn3.506 article EN cc-by Food Science & Nutrition 2017-08-27

Objectives The relationships between carbohydrate intake and risk of obesity have been widely investigated. However, there are limited data on the associations their relative proportions quality contained in same diet obesity, especially low-income middle-income countries. aim this study was to assess relationship an overall Carbohydrate Quality Index (CQI) general abdominal women. Setting participants In cross-sectional study, from 277 women Ghana were analysed. Dietary information obtained...

10.1136/bmjopen-2019-033038 article EN cc-by-nc BMJ Open 2019-12-01

Abstract Childhood stunting remains a global public health concern. Little has been documented on the effect of women's decision-making autonomy child growth in settings where at household and community levels is largely dominated by men. To assess relationship between maternal growth, we analysed data from cross-sectional study 422 mothers their youngest aged 6–24 months Bawku West District Ghana. The dimensions measured were power, freedom mobility financial autonomy. We then compared how...

10.1017/jns.2020.30 article EN cc-by-nc-nd Journal of Nutritional Science 2020-01-01

In this study, we investigated the relationship between agricultural biodiversity and dietary diversity of children whether factors such as economic access may affect relationship. This paper is based on data collected in a baseline cross-sectional survey November 2013.The study population comprising 1200 mother-child pairs was selected using two-stage cluster sampling. Dietary defined number food groups consumed 24 h prior to assessment. The crop livestock species produced farm used measure...

10.1080/16546628.2017.1391668 article EN cc-by Food & Nutrition Research 2017-01-01

Objectives To assess birth preparedness and complication readiness (BPACR) associated factors among mothers who had given in the past 12 months prior to study. Design An analytical cross-sectional Setting The study was carried out rural areas of Kassena-Nankana district located Upper East Region Ghana. Participants population comprised 600 postpartum women delivered within last Primary outcome measure primary BPACR. Results prevalence BPACR recently very low as less than 15% were able...

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-042906 article EN cc-by-nc BMJ Open 2021-03-01

Poor quality and inadequate of antenatal care (ANC) visits during pregnancy may increase the risk preventable adverse outcomes. We tested hypothesis that adequacy ANC utilization combined with services will reduce low birth weight (LBW) preterm delivery (P T D) in Tamale metropolis Ghana.

10.1080/07853890.2023.2197294 article EN cc-by Annals of Medicine 2023-04-24

<title>Abstract</title> HIV disproportionately affects African refugee male sex workers (ARMSWs) in Italy, who face individual, structural and systemic barriers to prevention care services. self-testing (HIVST) offers a promising strategy improve testing access, yet awareness remains understudied this population. This study examines HIVST associated factors among ARMSWs inform targeted interventions. A mixed-methods sequential exploratory design was employed, combining quantitative surveys...

10.21203/rs.3.rs-6383201/v1 preprint EN Research Square (Research Square) 2025-04-09

<title>Abstract</title> Marginalized populations such as African refugee male sex workers (ARMSWs) in Italy face systemic barriers to HIV testing, including stigma, privacy concerns, and structural inequities. Despite the potential of self-testing (HIVST) overcome these barriers, limited research exists on its acceptability among ARMSWs. This study examines HIVST willingness associated factors ARMSWs inform targeted interventions A mixed-methods sequential exploratory design was employed,...

10.21203/rs.3.rs-6421791/v1 preprint EN Research Square (Research Square) 2025-04-14

Background: Although the length of gestation has been shown to have an effect on pregnancy outcomes including birth weight, information regarding its postnatal growth children is scanty. The aim this study was assess potential factors affecting duration gestation, and how it associates with under two years. Methods: This analytical health facility-based, cross-sectional study. A systematic random sampling technique used, select mother–child pairs who sought services from child welfare clinic...

10.1101/2025.05.01.25326790 preprint EN cc-by medRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) 2025-05-02
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