The RIING Project Profiles


Dr. Lucy Brakohiapa	Area of interest: Infant feeding and specifically in HIV and infant feeding

Research interest

Monitor messages on available infant feeding options given by counselors
Monitor mothers’ comprehension of the messages given them on infant feeding options during counselling sessions
Document feeding patterns adopted by HIV positive mothers after counseling and their effect on mother-to-child-transmission of HIV/AIDS
Document problems faced by mothers
Research into problems encountered during weaning
Document available support for HIV positive mothers and their infants their effect on the progression of the disease

Previous Research

Member of a team of researchers who investigated the effect of prolonged breastfeeding on the nutritional status of infants in 1987
Observed and documented rejection of weaning foods in infants aged between three and twelve months in two rural communities in Ghana in 1990
Investigated the effect of feeding some Ghanaian staples on the Glycemic indices of both diabetics and non-diabetics in 1990
Studied the effect of reduction in discomfort (in the form of burping and regular change of wet/soiled napkins) on crying, breastmilk intake and duration of sleep in infants aged one month
Documentation of feeding patterns adopted by HIV positive mothers, feeding practice, morbidity and nutritional status of HIV positive mothers and their babies, in the Manya Krobo District.

17th July 1943

Born at Akim Oda, Ghana

1958-1964

Attended the Aburi Girls’ Secondary School. Obtained the West African “Ordinary Level” School Certificate in 1962 and the “Advanced Level” Certificate in 1964

1965-1966

Studied German language at the Karl-Marx University, Leipzig and started a degree course in medicine at the same University

1966

Was transferred from the German Democratic Republic to the Federal Republic of Germany by the Ghana Government

1966-1971

Studied Nutrition Biochemistry, majoring in Nutrition at the Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Federal Republic of Germany and obtained an MSc. degree in “Haushalt und Ernaehrung Wissenschaften” (i.e. Home Economics and Nutrition) in 1971

1975-1979

Worked as Assistant Nutrition Officer at the then laboratory for the Nutrition Unit, Ministry of Health, Korle-Bu

1979-1992

Was engaged as a Research Assistant at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Legon. Assisted in many of the ongoing projects on maternal and infant feeding in the Nutrition Unit. Initiated and carried out some projects on infant feeding and glycemic indices of some Ghanaian foods Supervised work of National Service personnel attached to the Unit.

1992-1999

Worked on a PH.D dissertation in Applied Nutrition at the Nutrition and Food Science Department of the University of Ghana, Legon-Accra. Researched into factors that affect food intake of infants adversely in some selected communities in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana

March 2001

Was awarded a PhD degree in Nutrition at the University of Ghana, Legon-Accra

December 2001-

Member of a team of researchers carrying out Nevirapine trail test, for prevention of mother-to-child-transmission of HIV/AIDS in HIV positive mothers. Offers nutrition counselling to lactating HIV positive mothers and support them in the choice of infant feeding. Helps in the training of counselors in breastfeeding counselling and HIV and Infant feeding counseling.

2002-2003

Co supervised M Phil work of a student (Miss Gloria Odei) from the University of Oslo, titled “HIV infected mother’s choice and perceptions of feeding options for their infants in Atua and Agormanya in the Manya Krobo District of Ghana: A qualitative study”

2003

Member of the RIING (Research to Improve of infant nutrition and growth) project, a corroborative research between the Iowa State University, USA, Nutrition and Food Science Department, University of Ghana, the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Legon, the Reproductive Health Unit and the Nutrition Unit of the Ghana Health Service

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