Leonard Baatiema
Biographic Data
| ID | 6332145 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Leonard Baatiema |
| GIVEN NAMES | Leonard |
| FAMILY NAME | Baatiema |
| SIGNATURE | BAATIEMA L |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Ghana |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-3286-6565 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 22 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 14 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 22 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2019 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 1 |
‘When you go to bed, and you cannot sleep … ’
Despite the critical role of smallholder farmers in promoting food and nutrition security, research suggests that their health is severely threatened by experiences of climate change events. Our study assesses smallholder farmers’ experiences and perceptions of rainfall, drought, flood, storm, and wildfire; and explores how such experiences impact food security and health. We employ the convergent mixed-method design, combining binomial regressio…
Perceptions and knowledge of diabetes in poor urban communities in Accra, Ghana
Diabetes is a major public health concern, leading to costly and life-threating complications while significantly impacting quality of life. However, limited evidence exists on how diabetes is understood in poor urban communities in Africa, including Ghana. Evidence suggests that community beliefs about disease can shape health outcomes and influence intervention strategies. This cross-sectional qualitative study assessed perceptions and knowledg…
Non-communicable diseases, psychosocial wellbeing, and quality of life in Ga Mashie, Accra, Ghana
Diabetes, hypertension and obesity were associated with reduced QoL in Ga Mashie, Ghana. Further studies are needed to understand factors that influence health-related QoL among adults with NCDs, how these change over time, and to identify potential coping mechanisms that may influence this association
Changes in food quality and habits in urban Ghana
Respondents reported a shift from home cooking and communal meals toward eating out-of-home meals. The current dietary habits reflect a hybrid of modern foods with traditional foods. Food insecurity is high, and their diets provide little protection against chronic non-communicable diseases. This limits opportunities to move towards healthy diets and improved health outcomes as envisioned in the Agenda 2030
Community perspectives on the built environment, community stress, and the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases in Accra, Ghana
The growing burden of diabetes and other non-communicable diseases in Africa demands greater understanding of the contextual drivers of risk factors, including the built environment. Cognitive Mapping (CM) is a participatory research approach that allows community members to visualise their environmental context through drawing. The maps express in visual form the situated knowledge of the environment from local perceptions of daily experiences. …
The cascade of hypertension prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control in urban-poor communities in Accra, Ghana
Hypertension is the leading modifiable risk factor for morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular diseases and poses a significant health challenge in low- and middle-income settings, including in sub-Saharan Africa. We set out to: (1) examine the prevalence, awareness, treatment and control of hypertension, and their associated factors, and (2) determine the prevalence of pre-hypertension and its associated factors in an urban poor setting in G…
Sex differences in social connectedness, health, and quality of life
Our study underscores the importance of examining sex-specific patterns in the relationships between social connectedness, QoL and health outcomes. Social connections appear to have both beneficial and non-beneficial effects, especially among women, although the magnitude of these effects was often small. This may reflect complex social dynamics shaped by cultural and traditional roles that differ by sex. Further research is needed to better unde…
To vaccinate or not to vaccinate? Experiences of Covid-19 vaccine uptake among people living with non-communicable diseases in Ghana
Following the development of a vaccine for COVID-19, the expectation was instantaneous widespread distribution and uptake to halt further spread, severe illness and deaths from the virus. However, studies show very low uptake, especially in resource-poor settings, and little is documented about the drivers of vaccine uptake in populations classified as high-risk. In this study, we explored access and uptake of COVID-19 vaccines among people livin…
Contextual awareness, response and evaluation (Care) of diabetes in poor urban communities in Ghana
Diabetes remains a major, global clinical and public health threat with consistent rises in prevalence around the world over the past four decades. Two-thirds of the projected increases in global diabetes prevalence to 2045 are expected to come from low- and middle-income countries, including those in sub-Saharan Africa. Ghana is typical of this trend. However, there are gaps in evidence regarding the appropriate development of interventions and …
The contextual awareness, response and evaluation (Care) diabetes project
Diabetes is estimated to affect between 3.3% and 8.3% of adults in Ghana, and prevalence is expected to rise. The lack of cost-effective diabetes prevention programmes designed specifically for the Ghanaian population warrants urgent attention. The Contextual Awareness, Response and Evaluation (CARE): Diabetes Project in Ghana is a mixed methods study that aims to understand diabetes in the Ga Mashie area of Accra, identify opportunities for comm…
Promoting lifestyle changes in patients with prediabetes from African-Caribbean backgrounds in the United Kingdom
OBJECTIVES: Diabetes is a non-communicable disease where the patient's glucose level in the blood is too high. Diabetes is prevalent among ethnic minority groups in the United Kingdom (UK). Type 2 diabetes is a major cause of premature mortality in England. Unfortunately, the lifestyle of these minority groups has become a barrier to diabetes healthcare treatment. The timely intervention of programmes targeting risk factors associated with diabet…
The role of Primary Health Care, primary care and hospitals in advancing Universal Health Coverage
Health system adaptions to improve care for people living with non-communicable diseases during Covid-19 in low-middle income countries
Over the past three decades, the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) increased significantly in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs), with 2019 reports showing that more than 80% of deaths in LMICs were caused by NCDs. Some studies have projected that NCDs are set to overtake communicable/infectious diseases as the main public health threats in LMICs after [...]
Powers, engagements and resultant influences over the design and implementation of medicine pricing policies in Ghana
INTRODUCTION: Universal availability and affordability of essential medicines are determined by effective design and implementation of relevant policies, typically involving multiple stakeholders. This paper examined stakeholder engagements, powers and resultant influences over design and implementation of four medicines pricing policies in Ghana: Health Commodity Supply Chain Master Plan, framework contracting for high demand medicines, Value Ad…
Scoping review of community health participatory research projects in Ghana
BACKGROUND: Community health participation is an essential tool in health research and management where community members, researchers and other relevant stakeholders contribute to the decision-making processes. Though community participation processes can be complex and challenging, evidence from previous studies have reported significant value of engaging with community in community health projects. OBJECTIVE: To identify the nature and extent …
Perceptions of community members on contextual factors driving cardiovascular disease behavioural risk in Ghana
This study showed that successful implementation of CVD interventions in Ghana needs to address the perceptions of community members on factors driving CVD behavioural risk factors. Future policies and interventions should be developed based on these contextual factors taking into consideration the age, sex and ethnic variations especially with interventions seeking to address CVD risk factors at the primary health care level. These findings shou…
Covid-19, chronic conditions and structural poverty
In the African region COVID-19 infection and death rates are increasing (writing in May 2020), most deaths have occurred among individuals with chronic conditions, and poor communities face higher risks of infection and socio-economic insecurities. We assessed the psychosocial needs of a chronic illness support group in Accra, Ghana, within the context of their broader community. The community lives in structural poverty and has a complex burden …
Improving the quality of care for people who had a stroke in a low‐/middle‐income country
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Efforts to improve the adoption of evidence-based interventions for optimal patient outcomes in low-/middle-income countries (LMICs) are persistently hampered by a plethora of barriers. Yet, little is known about strategies to address such barriers to improve quality stroke care. This study seeks to explore health professionals' views on strategies to improve quality stroke care for people who had a stroke in a LMIC. MET…
An ecological approach to understanding stroke experience and access to rehabilitation services in Ghana
Despite a growing burden of stroke in low-middle-income countries, research on patient's experiences and access to rehabilitation services remains limited. This study explores the experiences of stroke patients in relation to access and use of stroke rehabilitation services, coping strategies and strategies to improve care in Ghana. A cross-sectional study was conducted. A total of 136 adult stroke patients hospitalised and subsequently discharge…
Risky sexual behaviour and contraceptive use in contexts of displacement
In this time of global migration crises, addressing disparities in knowledge and access to contraception as well as high risk sexual behaviours in refugee situations is important for reducing inequalities in reproductive health outcomes and ensuring both universal health coverage and global health justice. Sex and contraception education and counselling, self-efficacy training, and skills acquisition are needed to help young refugee women negotia…
Childhood obesity in urban Ghana
Higher parental (father) educational attainment and frequent consumption of fizzy drinks per week may increase obesity risks among in-school children aged 5-16 years in the Metropolitan district of Ghana. However, regular exercise (playing sport at least 3 times per week) and having 8 or more hours of sleep per day could lower obesity risks in the same population. Age and sex-appropriate community and school-based interventions are needed to prom…
The impacts of decentralization on health system equity, efficiency and resilience
One constant refrain in evaluations and reviews of decentralization is that the results are mixed. But given that decentralization is a complex intervention or phenomenon, what is more important is to generate evidence to inform implementation strategies. We therefore synthesized evidence from the literature to understand why, how and under what circumstances decentralization influences health system equity, efficiency and resilience. In doing th…
The impacts of decentralization on health system equity, efficiency and resilience
One constant refrain in evaluations and reviews of decentralization is that the results are mixed. But given that decentralization is a complex intervention or phenomenon, what is more important is to generate evidence to inform implementation strategies. We therefore synthesized evidence from the literature to understand why, how and under what circumstances decentralization influences health system equity, efficiency and resilience. In doing th…
Risky sexual behaviour and contraceptive use in contexts of displacement
In this time of global migration crises, addressing disparities in knowledge and access to contraception as well as high risk sexual behaviours in refugee situations is important for reducing inequalities in reproductive health outcomes and ensuring both universal health coverage and global health justice. Sex and contraception education and counselling, self-efficacy training, and skills acquisition are needed to help young refugee women negotia…
Childhood obesity in urban Ghana
Higher parental (father) educational attainment and frequent consumption of fizzy drinks per week may increase obesity risks among in-school children aged 5-16 years in the Metropolitan district of Ghana. However, regular exercise (playing sport at least 3 times per week) and having 8 or more hours of sleep per day could lower obesity risks in the same population. Age and sex-appropriate community and school-based interventions are needed to prom…
The impacts of decentralization on health system equity, efficiency and resilience
One constant refrain in evaluations and reviews of decentralization is that the results are mixed. But given that decentralization is a complex intervention or phenomenon, what is more important is to generate evidence to inform implementation strategies. We therefore synthesized evidence from the literature to understand why, how and under what circumstances decentralization influences health system equity, efficiency and resilience. In doing th…
Improving the quality of care for people who had a stroke in a low‐/middle‐income country
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Efforts to improve the adoption of evidence-based interventions for optimal patient outcomes in low-/middle-income countries (LMICs) are persistently hampered by a plethora of barriers. Yet, little is known about strategies to address such barriers to improve quality stroke care. This study seeks to explore health professionals' views on strategies to improve quality stroke care for people who had a stroke in a LMIC. MET…
An ecological approach to understanding stroke experience and access to rehabilitation services in Ghana
Despite a growing burden of stroke in low-middle-income countries, research on patient's experiences and access to rehabilitation services remains limited. This study explores the experiences of stroke patients in relation to access and use of stroke rehabilitation services, coping strategies and strategies to improve care in Ghana. A cross-sectional study was conducted. A total of 136 adult stroke patients hospitalised and subsequently discharge…
Covid-19, chronic conditions and structural poverty
In the African region COVID-19 infection and death rates are increasing (writing in May 2020), most deaths have occurred among individuals with chronic conditions, and poor communities face higher risks of infection and socio-economic insecurities. We assessed the psychosocial needs of a chronic illness support group in Accra, Ghana, within the context of their broader community. The community lives in structural poverty and has a complex burden …
Powers, engagements and resultant influences over the design and implementation of medicine pricing policies in Ghana
INTRODUCTION: Universal availability and affordability of essential medicines are determined by effective design and implementation of relevant policies, typically involving multiple stakeholders. This paper examined stakeholder engagements, powers and resultant influences over design and implementation of four medicines pricing policies in Ghana: Health Commodity Supply Chain Master Plan, framework contracting for high demand medicines, Value Ad…
Scoping review of community health participatory research projects in Ghana
BACKGROUND: Community health participation is an essential tool in health research and management where community members, researchers and other relevant stakeholders contribute to the decision-making processes. Though community participation processes can be complex and challenging, evidence from previous studies have reported significant value of engaging with community in community health projects. OBJECTIVE: To identify the nature and extent …
Perceptions of community members on contextual factors driving cardiovascular disease behavioural risk in Ghana
This study showed that successful implementation of CVD interventions in Ghana needs to address the perceptions of community members on factors driving CVD behavioural risk factors. Future policies and interventions should be developed based on these contextual factors taking into consideration the age, sex and ethnic variations especially with interventions seeking to address CVD risk factors at the primary health care level. These findings shou…
The role of Primary Health Care, primary care and hospitals in advancing Universal Health Coverage
Health system adaptions to improve care for people living with non-communicable diseases during Covid-19 in low-middle income countries
Over the past three decades, the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) increased significantly in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs), with 2019 reports showing that more than 80% of deaths in LMICs were caused by NCDs. Some studies have projected that NCDs are set to overtake communicable/infectious diseases as the main public health threats in LMICs after [...]
To vaccinate or not to vaccinate? Experiences of Covid-19 vaccine uptake among people living with non-communicable diseases in Ghana
Following the development of a vaccine for COVID-19, the expectation was instantaneous widespread distribution and uptake to halt further spread, severe illness and deaths from the virus. However, studies show very low uptake, especially in resource-poor settings, and little is documented about the drivers of vaccine uptake in populations classified as high-risk. In this study, we explored access and uptake of COVID-19 vaccines among people livin…
Contextual awareness, response and evaluation (Care) of diabetes in poor urban communities in Ghana
Diabetes remains a major, global clinical and public health threat with consistent rises in prevalence around the world over the past four decades. Two-thirds of the projected increases in global diabetes prevalence to 2045 are expected to come from low- and middle-income countries, including those in sub-Saharan Africa. Ghana is typical of this trend. However, there are gaps in evidence regarding the appropriate development of interventions and …
The contextual awareness, response and evaluation (Care) diabetes project
Diabetes is estimated to affect between 3.3% and 8.3% of adults in Ghana, and prevalence is expected to rise. The lack of cost-effective diabetes prevention programmes designed specifically for the Ghanaian population warrants urgent attention. The Contextual Awareness, Response and Evaluation (CARE): Diabetes Project in Ghana is a mixed methods study that aims to understand diabetes in the Ga Mashie area of Accra, identify opportunities for comm…
Promoting lifestyle changes in patients with prediabetes from African-Caribbean backgrounds in the United Kingdom
OBJECTIVES: Diabetes is a non-communicable disease where the patient's glucose level in the blood is too high. Diabetes is prevalent among ethnic minority groups in the United Kingdom (UK). Type 2 diabetes is a major cause of premature mortality in England. Unfortunately, the lifestyle of these minority groups has become a barrier to diabetes healthcare treatment. The timely intervention of programmes targeting risk factors associated with diabet…
Perceptions and knowledge of diabetes in poor urban communities in Accra, Ghana
Diabetes is a major public health concern, leading to costly and life-threating complications while significantly impacting quality of life. However, limited evidence exists on how diabetes is understood in poor urban communities in Africa, including Ghana. Evidence suggests that community beliefs about disease can shape health outcomes and influence intervention strategies. This cross-sectional qualitative study assessed perceptions and knowledg…
Non-communicable diseases, psychosocial wellbeing, and quality of life in Ga Mashie, Accra, Ghana
Diabetes, hypertension and obesity were associated with reduced QoL in Ga Mashie, Ghana. Further studies are needed to understand factors that influence health-related QoL among adults with NCDs, how these change over time, and to identify potential coping mechanisms that may influence this association
Changes in food quality and habits in urban Ghana
Respondents reported a shift from home cooking and communal meals toward eating out-of-home meals. The current dietary habits reflect a hybrid of modern foods with traditional foods. Food insecurity is high, and their diets provide little protection against chronic non-communicable diseases. This limits opportunities to move towards healthy diets and improved health outcomes as envisioned in the Agenda 2030
Community perspectives on the built environment, community stress, and the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases in Accra, Ghana
The growing burden of diabetes and other non-communicable diseases in Africa demands greater understanding of the contextual drivers of risk factors, including the built environment. Cognitive Mapping (CM) is a participatory research approach that allows community members to visualise their environmental context through drawing. The maps express in visual form the situated knowledge of the environment from local perceptions of daily experiences. …
The cascade of hypertension prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control in urban-poor communities in Accra, Ghana
Hypertension is the leading modifiable risk factor for morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular diseases and poses a significant health challenge in low- and middle-income settings, including in sub-Saharan Africa. We set out to: (1) examine the prevalence, awareness, treatment and control of hypertension, and their associated factors, and (2) determine the prevalence of pre-hypertension and its associated factors in an urban poor setting in G…
Sex differences in social connectedness, health, and quality of life
Our study underscores the importance of examining sex-specific patterns in the relationships between social connectedness, QoL and health outcomes. Social connections appear to have both beneficial and non-beneficial effects, especially among women, although the magnitude of these effects was often small. This may reflect complex social dynamics shaped by cultural and traditional roles that differ by sex. Further research is needed to better unde…
‘When you go to bed, and you cannot sleep … ’
Despite the critical role of smallholder farmers in promoting food and nutrition security, research suggests that their health is severely threatened by experiences of climate change events. Our study assesses smallholder farmers’ experiences and perceptions of rainfall, drought, flood, storm, and wildfire; and explores how such experiences impact food security and health. We employ the convergent mixed-method design, combining binomial regressio…
Medicine (15 works) · Public health (13 works) · Environmental health (12 works) · Nursing (9 works) · Political science (9 works) · Biostatistics (7 works) · Health care (7 works) · Economic growth (6 works) · Diabetes Management and Education (5 works) · Diabetes mellitus (5 works)