HoD

Dr. Mary Ani-Amponsah

Senior Lecturer

Contact Info Email: mani-amponsah@ug.edu.gh

About

Dr. Mary Ani-Amponsah is a senior faculty member and Head of the Maternal and Child Health Department, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana. She holds a Doctoral degree in Nursing from the University of Alberta, Canada, with a focus on quality newborn care in rural and low-resource settings. Mary has about 25 years’ work experience in maternal and newborn health with expertise in lactation management. She has extensive work experience in e-learning, blended learning, and educational technology management in the health sciences. She is the Country Representative for Council of International Neonatal Nurses (COINN) - Ghana, and a member of the neonatal faculty at the Ghana College of Nurses and Midwives (GCNM).  Mary has published widely in peer-reviewed journals and engaged extensively in maternal/newborn/child research grants and projects with support from SSHRC, CHIR, USAID, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and other bodies. She has worked in consultancy and technical reviewer positions with several local and international health agencies. Mary is passionate about newborn health, student support, and young faculty mentoring. She is an award recipient of the ‘Talented Woman of African Descent’ in the February Black History Month - Alliance Jeunesse-Famille de l'Alberta Society (AJFAS), Canada (https://ajfas.ca/en/), 2022. Mary is a Queen Elizabeth Scholar, an International Scholar Laureate, and holds a Lifetime Honorary Award from Golden Key International for Excellence - https://goldenkey.org/ 

Education and Qualification

PhD, RN, FGCNM, FWACN

Research Areas

  1. Newborn health care (newborn orphan care, health care access and delivery, health systems, referrals, family support).
  2. Capacity building of family and frontline health care workers in quality newborn care delivery.
  3. Maternal health care.
  4. Child migration and youth health.

Research Projects

Grant Won 

  1. Collaborator (Jan 2022 – 2027). Empowering Next-generation Researchers In perinatal and Child Health (ENRICH). CIHR Training grant - Health Research Training Platform (HRTP) Pilot, Human Development, Child and Youth Health pool. CAD $2,400,000. Nominated Principal Applicant: Susan Samuel. Principal Applicants: Brendan Andrade, Mandy Archibald, Eric Benchimol, Catherine Birken, Roger Chafe, Nils Chaillet, Jop Jans, Richard Keijzer, Alexandra King, Malcolm King, Piush Mandhane, Naveen Poonai, Timothy Regnault, Bukola Salami, Jennifer Stinson, Claudia Tersigni, Ron Thomson, Catharine Walsh, Lesley Wiart Prichard, Jill Zwicker.
  2. Co – Investigator (June 2024 – 2026).  Understanding witchcraft beliefs and practices in transnational spaces: Exploring the case of children in Ghana and among African newcomers in Canada. Principal Investigator: Richter, S.,; Frishkopf, M.  Issahaku, P., Javis, K., Mahama, E.S., Petrucka, P.   Spence, C., Vallianatos, H., Adjorlolo, S., Ani-Amponsah, M.,  V. Yahong, C. Saba.  SSHRC Insight development grant $74, 456.
  3. Co-Principal Investigator (Jan 2022 – Dec. 2022). African Child Migration Vulnerability and Marginalization.  Worldwide Universities Network (WUN) Grant – RDF, £5,000. Principal Investigator: Prof. Stephen Kwankye – Regional Institute of Population Studies, University of Ghana, Collaborator – Prof. Bukola Salami – University of Alberta, Canada.   
  4. Co – Investigator (2021 – 2023). Research supervision and mentoring practices: Ensuring support and building resilience of doctoral researchers during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. WUN Grant – Grant RDF £9,900 (Maastricht, Limburg, NL). Principal Investigator -  Prof. Mindel van de Laar, Maastricht Graduate School of Governance UNU-MERIT, The Netherland. https://www.merit.unu.edu/wun-project/; https://wun.ac.uk/research-supervision-and-mentoring-practices-for-doctoral-researchers-during-the-covid-19-pandemic-and-beyond/ 
  5.  Co – Investigator (2020).  African Child Migration in Circumstances of Vulnerability: Developing a Research Network. Funding Agency: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Canada. Planned Partnership Development Grant (PDG) - $15, 000. Principal Investigator – Prof. Bukola Salami; Health and Immigration Policies and Practices Research Program, University of Alberta, Canada. Partners: University of Ghana, University of Alberta, University of Massachusetts, University of Ibadan (Nigeria), Centre for the Right to Health, Nigeria. 
  6. Co – Investigator (2019 – 2022). African Child Migration in Circumstances of Vulnerability: Developing a  Research Network. Funding Agency: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council            (SSHRC) Canada.         Partnership Development Grant (PDG) - Award # 890-2018-0096 - $200,000.   Principal Investigator –  Prof.       Bukola Salami; Health and Immigration Policies and Practices Research   Program, University of            Alberta,                        Canada. Partners: University of Ghana, University of Alberta,           University of     Massachusetts, University of      Ibadan (Nigeria), Centre for the Right to Health, Nigeria.       https://apps.ualberta.ca/directory/person/oladunni;http://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/results-      resultats/recipientsrecipiendaires/2018/partnership_development_grants_2018-      subventions_developpement_parteneriat_2018eng.aspx 
  7. Co – Investigator (2019 – 2021). African Child Nutrition and Food Security in the Context of Migration and Displacement.  Principal Investigator – Tina Lavin, Research Associate, School of Population and Global Health, UWA. Funding Agency: Worldwide University (WUN). Partners: University of Ghana, University of Alberta, University of Massachusetts, University of Ibadan (Nigeria), University of Pretoria, Curtin University, Telethon Kids Institute, Australia, Centre for the Right to Health, Nigeria. Award $10,000. http://aaun.edu.au/research-development/prdf-2019/ https://www.afrec.uwa.edu.au/copy-of-advisory-board 
  8. Co – Investigator (2020 – 2021). Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Programming for Women with Obstetric- Fistula-Induced Incontinence in Ghana. Principal Investigator – Dr. Samuel Adjorlolo. Humanitarian Innovation Fund – £58,000 (British Pounds).  https://www.elrha.org/project/exploring-the-wash-needs-of-women-with-incontinence-due-to-obstetric-fistula/ 
  9. Collaborator (2019 – 2021). WUN Health Humanities initiative: towards the development of the patient-centered and compassionate Health Professional through education Professor Sandra Carr. Division of Health Professions Education. The University of Western Australia Contact phone +61 8 64886892 Contact email Sandra.carr@uwa.edu.au. WUN partners University name 1. Maastricht University 2. University of Alberta 3. Sydney University 4. University of Cape Town Lead collaborator name Assistant Professor Anna Harris Professor Pamela Brett Maclean Dr Claire Hooker Professor Stephen Reid. Durham University: Professor Jane MacNaughton (external advisor). Funds: £8, 230.
  10. Co-Researcher and Coordinator (2018 – 2021).  Smart Sclera Screening of Neonatal Jaundice in Ghana Detecting Jaundice in African newborns (DJAN) Research Project. Multi-site study in Ghana; Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; Saving Lives at Birth. University College London, United Kingdom and University of Ghana collaboration. http://detect-jaundice.com/about/; http://detect-jaundice.com/ http://detectjaundice.com/about/  - Smartphone Imaging Group (SIG) on Neonatal Jaundice. Dr Judith   Meek; Professor   Nikki Robertson;  Dr Sara Hillman; Professor Narendra Aladangady;  Dr Christabel Enweronu-Laryea;  Dr Nana Brako; Dr Genevieve Insaidoo; Mr. Peter Andrew; Dr Raj Mookerjee Prof. Andrew Davenport; Dr Ranjan Rajendram https://www.ucl.ac.uk/medical-physics-biomedicalengineering/research/research-groups/biomedical-optics-research-laboratory-borl/smartphone-imaging-groupsig 
  11. Co - Investigator (2018 – 2019). African Child and Youth Wellbeing in the Context of Migration and Displacement - The Worldwide Universities Network; University of Alberta and University of Ghana, Canada Collaboration. Grant Awarded - £10, 000 (British Pounds).https://wun.ac.uk/wun/research/view/african-child-and-youth-wellbeing-in-the-context-of-migration-anddisplacement; https://wun.ac.uk/wun/research/view/african-child-and-youth-wellbeing-in-the-context-ofmigration-and-displacement; https://wun.ac.uk/wun/members/view/university-ghana 

 

Publications

  1. Ani-Amponsah, M., Richter, S., Osei, E.A., Asamoah Ampofo, E., Annan, E., Anim‑Boamah, O., Asiedua, E., Adiza Mumuni, A. (2024). Midwives' preserving newborn lives: Rural birthing experiences in Ghana - Insights from midwives. Discover Public Health. 21, 222. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12982-024-00353-0 
  2. Agbenohevi, U. D., Ani-Amponsah, M*., Donkor, E., Klutse, K. D., Appiah, E., Agbenu, I., Annan, E. & Ali-Mustapha, S. (2024). Midwives’ attitudes, motivations, and barriers to neonatal resuscitation in a tertiary hospital, Ghana: A qualitative inquiry. Journal of Neonatal Nursing. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnn.2024.06.011
  3. Dina Brenda Adu, Ani-Amponsah, M*., & Emma Annan, “How can a male too want to do this work?” Exploring the challenges faced by male midwives in Ghana’s midwifery and newborn care practice. Journal of Advocacy, Research and Education (accepted for publication – 30th October, 2024). 
  4. Annan, E., Boamah, M., Ani-Amponsah, M*., & Dina B Adu. Nurses' perspectives on factors influencing the use of chlorhexidine in newborn infants in a tertiary hospital, Ghana.  Nursing Children and Young people. Manuscript ID: NCYP1541R2 (accepted for publication – 12th November,2024). 
  5. Anim-Boamah, O., Ani-Amponsah, M., Laari, L., & Aziato, L. (2024). Pharmacological management of invasive procedural pain in children: Facilitators and barriers. Douleurs: Évaluation-Diagnostic-Traitement, 25(1), 1-10.
  6. Maduforo, A. N., Taylor, M., Ani-Amponsah, M., Ishola, A., Datta, R., & Salami, B. O. (2024). Climate mobility and migrant health in West Africa: past norms, current challenges, and future projections. Regional Environmental Change, 24(3), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-024-02271-y
  7. Adombire, S., Baiden, D., Puts, M., Puchalski Ritchie, L. M., Ani-Amponsah, M., & Cranley, L. (2024). Knowledge, skills, attitudes, beliefs, and implementation of evidence-based practice among nurses in low- and middle-income countries: A scoping review. Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing, 00, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1111/wvn.12734 
  8. Gooding C, Musa S, Lavin T, Sibeko L, Ndikom CM, Iwuagwu S, Ani-Amponsah M, Maduforo A.N, Salami B. (2024). Nutritional challenges among African refugee and internally displaced children: a comprehensive scoping review. Children, 11(3):318. https://doi.org/10.3390/children11030318 
  9. Lanyo, T. N., Adjei, C. A., & Ani-Amponsah, M. (2024). Informational and practical needs of expectant mothers with chronic Hepatitis B in Ghana. SAGE open nursing, 10, 23779608241255183. https://doi.org/10.1177/23779608241255183
  10. Osei, E. A., Garti, I., Ani-Amponsah, M., Frimpong, E., Toure, H. A., Kappiah, J. B., Menka, M. A., & Kontoh, S. (2024). Adjustment and coping in spousal caregivers of cervical cancer patients in Ghana: A qualitative phenomenological study. Medicine, 103(27), e38807. https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000038807
  11. Eduku, S., Annan, E., & Ani-Amponsah, M. (2024). Maternal social support and resilience in caring for preterm newborns at the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU): A qualitative study. Heliyon, 10(14), e34731. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e34731 

2023

  1. Ani-Amponsah, M., Richter, S., Adam, M. A. H., Osei, E. A., Mustapha, M., & Oti-Boadi, E. (2023). Hot fomentation of newborn fontanelles as an indigenous practice in Ghana: implications for policy and integrated community-based health care in Covid-19 pandemic and beyond. International Journal for Equity in Health, 22(1), 37. 
  2. Abisola Awotunde, Ani-Amponsah, M., Emmanuel Ajala, Ayorinde Ojo, Olumide Adeleke, Timothy Awotunde, David Olaolorun. Factors Influencing Maternal Satisfaction with Labour Care Services in Nigeria: A Qualitative Study. African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine, 15(1), 1-7.
  3. Adjorlolo, S., Ani-Amponsah, M., Hammond, E., & Nyame, M. E. P. (2023). Obstetric fistula-induced incontinence and WASH programming in humanitarian settings: agenda for research, innovation, and practice. Journal of International Humanitarian Action, 8(1), 1-8.https://doi.org/10.1186/s41018-022-00133-y
  4. Pwavra, J. B., Donkor, E. S., Ani-Amponsah, M., & Konlan, K. D. (2023). Practice of paediatric triage among nurses in human-resource-constrained setting: A cross-sectional study in the Tamale metropolis of Ghana. International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences, 18, 100516. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijans.2022.100516 

Click the link for more publications: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=kKcarR8AAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao

 

Courses Taught

PhD Program

NURS 701 – PhD Nursing Seminar (2024)

NURS 702 – Advance Qualitative Research Methods (2021 - 2022).

 NURS 703 – Philosophical Perspectives in Nursing (January, 2021 to present) - PhD  Nursing/Course Coordinator

NURS 704 – Theory Development in Nursing (2021 to present). PhD Nursing/Course Coordinator

NURS 710 – Nursing Seminar - Research Proposal (2021-2023).

Master’s Programme (Taught) 

MIDW 608 - Curriculum Development and Teaching in Midwifery (2022 - present).

NURS 603 - Theoretical Foundations for Advanced Nursing (2016 to 2023).

NURS 604 - Curriculum Development in Nursing (2017 -2022).

NURS 632 - Qualitative Research Methodology (2019 - 2022).

NURS 638 - Critical Issues in Maternal and Child Health (2019).

NURS 602 - Issues in Nursing and Health Care Delivery (2011).

NURS 620 – Nursing Seminar (2021 – 2022).

PAED 601 - Advanced Neonatology (2019 to present).

PAED 605 - Paediatric Health Assessment (2019 to 2022).

PAED 608 - Management of Medical Conditions in Children (2020 - present).

PAED 609 - Paediatric Nursing Clinical Practicum 1I (2019 - 2022).

PAED 610 - Paediatric Nursing Clinical Practicum I (2020 - present).

PAED 612 - Management of Surgical Conditions in Children (2020 - present).

Undergraduate Courses

MIDW 311 – Neonatology (2021 to present) 

NURS 241 - Foetal and Child Development (September - December, 2016 - 2019).

NURS 242 - Medical and Surgical Conditions of the Newborn and the Child (2017- 2019).

NURS 272 – Paediatric Nursing (2020 to present).

NURS 342: Medical and Surgical Conditions in Childhood (2016 - 2019).

PAED 301 – Community Paediatric Nursing (2022).

PAED 304 – Nursing Children with Special Needs (October , 2021).

PAED 306 – Paediatric Nursing Practical II (October, 2021-2022).

PAED 411 - Paediatric Nursing