Sheila Agyeiwaa Owusu, MPH, MGCPS, MBChB, BSc
SHEILA OWUSU
Nominated From: University of Michigan
Research Site: Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital
Research Area: HIV
Primary Mentor: Cheryl Moyer, PhD
Research Project
Lung function in HIV-infected children and adolescents in a teaching hospital in Ghana: A Sequential Exploratory Mixed Methods study.
The introduction of anti-retroviral therapy has remarkably improved survival among children living with HIV. As more children survive into adolescence, there is a growing burden of chronic lung disease (CLD). Understanding phenotypic manifestations could lead directly to improved practices and therapies for HIV-associated lung diseases among children and ALHIV in SSA, especially in West Africa. Our overall aim is to describe the association between radiologic manifestations of CLD, airway bacteriological profile, and pattern of pulmonary function assessments in children and adolescents perinatally infected with HIV in an HIV clinic in Ghana. We will conduct a mixed-methods sequential exploratory study. We expect these results to have potential policy impact on the National Insurance Scheme’s antibiotic formularies. These improvements in care are vital for this population, who suffer from missed diagnoses with unjust morbidity and mortality.
Research Significance
The full radiographic, microbial, and spirometric measurements will be available to improve diagnosis in this vulnerable population. We predict these initial results will lead directly to the development of tailored management for HIV-associated CLD in CALHIV in Ghana.
Publications
Mentors
