COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake and Associated Factors Among Persons With Disabilities in Ghana's Ashanti Region.

Background: Persons with disabilities (PWD) are often marginalized and face barriers to accessing health services. This study aimed to examine the COVID-19 vaccine uptake and its predictors among PWDs in the Ashanti region of Ghana, where about 17% of the population has some form of disability.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 402 PWDs in two districts of the Ashanti Region of Ghana from December 2021 to March 2022.

"Nothing about us, without us": stakeholders perceptions on strategies to improve persons with disabilities' sexual and reproductive health outcomes in Ghana.

Background: Persons with disabilities (PwDs) experience various adverse sexual and reproductive health (SRH) outcomes. However, there is a paucity of evidence on the strategies to improve their SRH outcomes. This study, therefore, used a pluralistic approach to explore PwDs and healthcare providers' (HPs) perspectives on how to improve the SRH of PwDs in Ghana.

A systematic review of medical practitioners' retention and application of basic sciences to clinical practice.

Background: Medical education offers the foundational base for future healthcare professionals, with basic sciences playing a pivotal role in providing essential knowledge and skills for clinical practice. However, the long-term retention and application of this knowledge in clinical practice remain a significant challenge. This systematic review synthesised global evidence from diverse studies on the short / long-term retention and clinical application of basic sciences among medical doctors.

Sex-related inequalities in current cigarette smoking among adolescents in Africa.

Introduction: Risky behaviours, including tobacco use, are highly prevalent among adolescents worldwide. Although these behaviours are largely influenced by various sociodemographic factors, including sex, there is a paucity of regionally representative literature on the sex-related inequalities in cigarette smoking among adolescents in Africa. This study examined the sex-based disparities in current cigarette smoking among adolescents aged 13-15 years in Africa.

Individual and community-level determinants of quality antenatal care in six South Asian countries.

Maternal health is a global public health concern. The paucity of antenatal care (ANC) during pregnancy is directly associated with maternal mortality. This study assessed the individual and community-level determinants of quality  ANC in six South-Asian countries.

Spatial distribution and factors associated with high completed fertility among women aged 40-49 years in Ghana: evidence from the 2022 Ghana Demographic Health Survey.

Background: High completed fertility among married and cohabiting women has profound consequences, including straining resources, increasing healthcare challenges, and contributing to educational and gender inequalities. This study examined the factors associated with high completed fertility among married and cohabiting women aged 40-49 years in Ghana.

Methods: Data for the study was sourced from the 2022 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS).

Association between women's empowerment and fertility preferences in Ghana.

As Ghana has embraced the concept of women's empowerment as a vital tool for sustainable development, it has become crucial to evaluate the role that women's empowerment plays in the fertility preferences of married and cohabiting women in the country. The study's objective was to examine the association between women's empowerment, the ideal number of children and women's ability to have their desired number of children. This cross-sectional study used data from the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey.

Can women empowerment boost dietary diversity among children aged 6-23 months in sub-Saharan Africa?

Background: The empowerment of women has implications on the health and dietary needs of children. Using the survey-based women's empowerment index (SWPER), we examined the association between women's empowerment and dietary diversity among children aged 6-23 months in sub-Saharan Africa.

Methods: Data from the Demographic and Health Surveys of 21 countries were utilized.

Socioeconomic and residence-based inequalities in adolescent fertility in 39 African countries.

Introduction: Despite the advancement in sexual and reproductive healthcare services and several public health measures aimed at controlling fertility rates, countries in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) still experience higher adolescent fertility rates than other low-and middle-income countries. This study examined the disparities in adolescent fertility in 39 countries in SSA, focusing on socioeconomic and residence-based dimensions.

Methods: This study involved a secondary analysis of data obtained from 39 recent Demographic and Health Surveys conducted in SSA.

Sexual lives and reproductive health outcomes among persons with disabilities: a mixed-methods study in two districts of Ghana.

Introduction: People with disabilities (PwDs) constitute a large and diverse group within the global population, however, their sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs are often neglected, particularly in low-and middle-income countries. This may result in adverse outcomes, such as sexually transmitted infections (STIs), unintended pregnancies, and experience of interpersonal violence (IV). This study aimed to assess the factors that influence the sexual lives of PwDs in two districts of Ghana.

Female genital mutilation and safer sex negotiation among women in sexual unions in sub-Saharan Africa: Analysis of demographic and health survey data.

Background: The practice of female genital mutilation is associated with harmful social norms promoting violence against girls and women. Various studies have been conducted to examine the prevalence of female genital mutilation and its associated factors. However, there has been limited studies conducted to assess the association between female genital mutilation and markers of women's autonomy, such as their ability to negotiate for safer sex.

Socio-cultural beliefs and perceptions influencing diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer among women in Ghana: a systematic review.

Background: Breast cancer is currently the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Ghana and the leading cause of cancer mortality among women. Few published empirical evidence exist on cultural beliefs and perceptions about breast cancer diagnosis and treatment in Ghana. This systematic review sought to map evidence on the socio-cultural beliefs and perceptions influencing the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer among Ghanaian women.

Association between knowledge and use of contraceptive among women of reproductive age in sub-Saharan Africa.

Background And Aims: The use of contraceptives has been considered relevant in reducing unintended pregnancies in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). However, despite evidence of knowledge of contraceptives, their use remains low in SSA. This study examined the association between knowledge of contraceptive methods and the use of contraceptives in SSA.

Association between the survey-based women's empowerment index (SWPER) and intimate partner violence in sub-Saharan Africa.

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is high among women of reproductive age in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). However, empowering women enables them to confront and mitigate IPV. In this study, we examined the association between the survey-based women's empowerment index (SWPER) and IPV in SSA.

Self-reported sexual coercion among in-school young people with disabilities in Ghana.

Background: Sexual coercion is one of the major public health concerns globally. This is even more worrying among young people with disabilities (YPWDs). This study assessed the prevalence and factors associated with sexual coercion among in-school young people with disabilities in Ghana.

Access to quality contraceptive counselling among adolescent girls and young women in sub-Saharan Africa.

Background: Improving women's access to and use of modern contraceptives is a key global strategy for improving the sexual and reproductive health of women. However, the use of modern contraceptives among adolescent girls and young women in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) remains relatively low, despite the numerous interventions to increase patronage. This study examined adolescent girls and young women's receipt of quality contraceptive counselling and its associated factors in SSA.

Residence-based inequalities in overweight/obesity in sub-Saharan Africa: a multivariate non-linear decomposition analysis.

Background: Overweight/obesity remains a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases and their associated morbidities and mortalities. Yet, limited studies have comprehensively examined factors contributing to the rural-urban disparities in overweight/obesity among women in sub-Saharan Africa. Thus, our study sought to decompose the rural-urban disparities in overweight/obesity among women in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) using nationally representative datasets.

Alcohol use among in-school adolescents in Sierra Leone.

Objective: To examine the prevalence of alcohol use and its associated factors among in-school adolescents in Sierra Leone.

Design: Data for the study was sourced from the 2017 Sierra Leone Global School-Based Student Health Survey, a nationally representative survey conducted among in-school adolescents aged 10-19 years using a multistage sampling methodology. Percentages were used to present the prevalence of alcohol use among in-school adolescents.

Self-reported sexually transmitted infections among men and women in Papua New Guinea: A cross-sectional study.

Background And Aims: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) pose a considerable concern for global healthcare systems. We examined the prevalence and correlates of self-reported STIs (SR-STIs) among men and women in Papua New Guinea.

Methods: A total of 7,195 women and 4,069 men from Papua New Guinea who participated in the 2016-2018 Demographic and Health Survey were included in this study.

Female genital mutilation/cutting among girls aged 0-14: evidence from the 2018 Mali Demographic and Health Survey data.

Background: Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) is considered a social norm in many African societies, with varying prevalence among countries. Mali is one of the eight countries with very high prevalence of FGM/C in Africa. This study assessed the individual and contextual factors associated with female FGM/C among girls aged 0-14 years in Mali.