Recent advances in examining the factors influencing the efficacy of biocides against Listeria monocytogenes biofilms in the food industry: A systematic review.

Controlling Listeria monocytogenes and its associated biofilms in the food industry requires various disinfection techniques, including physical, chemical, and biological treatments. Biocides, owing to their ease of use, cost-effectiveness, dissolvability in water, and efficacy against a wide range of microorganisms, are frequently selected options. Nonetheless, concerns have been raised about their efficacy in controlling L.

A study to evaluate WASH interventions and risk factors of diarrhoea among children under five years, Anloga district, Ghana: A research protocol.

Introduction: Good Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) practices, introduction of Rotavirus vaccination, zinc supplementation and improved nutrition have contributed significantly to the reduction of diarrhoea morbidity and mortality globally by 50%. In spite of these gains, diarrhoea still remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children under-five. Causes of diarrhoea are multifaceted with many factors such as seasonality, behaviour, pathogenicity, epidemiology, etc.

Predictors of quality of life of TB/HIV co-infected patients in the Northern region of Ghana.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) and human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) co-morbidity continues to be a serious worldwide health issue, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. Studies on the quality of life (QOL) of TB/HIV co-infected patients guide stakeholders on the delivery of patient-centred healthcare. This study evaluated QOL of TB/HIV co-infected individuals and its contributing factors.

Computer self-efficacy and ICT integration in education: Structural relationship and mediating effects.

Students become more actively involved in their studies when teachers integrate ICT into their lessons. Since computer self-efficacy is positively related to the integration of technology in education, improving pre-service teachers' computer self-efficacy could increase their intention to use technology. The present study explores the association between computer self-efficacy (basic technology skills, advanced technology skills, and technology for pedagogy) and pre-service teachers' intentions to use technology (traditional use of technology and constructivist use of technology).

Effectiveness of adjunct telephone-based postnatal care on maternal and infant illness in the Greater Accra Region, Ghana: a randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: Globally, postnatal care (PNC) is fraught with challenges. Despite high PNC coverages in Ghana's Greater Accra Region (GAR), maternal and newborn health outcomes are of great concern. In 2017, neonatal and post-neonatal mortality rates in GAR were 19 and 13 per 1000 live births respectively despite PNC coverages of 93% for at least one PNC and 87.

Predictors of placental malaria in Upper West Regional Hospital-Ghana.

Background: Placental malaria (PM) poses life-threatening complications to pregnant women as they are at increased risk of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality associated with malaria. This study examined the factors associated with placental malaria in the Upper West Regional Hospital (UWR).

Methods: A cross-sectional hospital-based study was carried out among pregnant women delivering at Upper West Regional Hospital.

High frequency of the Duffy-negative genotype and absence of Plasmodium vivax infections in Ghana.

Background: Recent studies from different malaria-endemic regions including western Africa have now shown that Plasmodium vivax can infect red blood cells (RBCs) and cause clinical disease in Duffy-negative people, though the Duffy-negative phenotype was thought to confer complete refractoriness against blood invasion with P. vivax. The actual prevalence of P.

Compliance with the WHO strategy of test, treat and track for malaria control at Bosomtwi District in Ghana.

Background: We reviewed malaria morbidity data to assess compliance to malaria T3 strategy in Bosomtwi District, Ashanti Region, Ghana.

Design: The study was descriptive secondary data analysis.

Setting: Bosomtwi District.

Progress towards eliminating tuberculosis in Ga West Municipality, Ghana: analysis of tuberculosis surveillance data, 2017.

Objective: To assess the progress made towards the actualization of the 80% reduction in incident cases, monitor trends and to assess the quality of GWM TB surveillance data from 2012 to 2016.

Design: The study was descriptive secondary data analysis.

Data Source: Tuberculosis cases recorded in the District Health Information Management Systems (DHIMS) and municipal TB registers.

Evaluation of viral haemorrhagic fever surveillance system with focus on Ebola virus disease, Bawku municipality- Upper East Region, Ghana, 2011-2015.

Background: We evaluated the Viral haemorrhagic fever (VHF) surveillance system from 2011 to 2015 in the Bawku Municipality, Upper East region, Ghana to determine whether the goals of the surveillance system are being met and to assess the performance of the system attributes.

Design: Descriptive secondary data analysis.

Setting: Bawku Municipality.

Factors associated with culture proven neonatal sepsis in the Ho municipality 2016.

Introduction: Neonatal Sepsis (NNS) is a public health problem which causes death or disability unless appropriate antibiotic treatment is given promptly. Globally, sepsis is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in neonates despite recent progress in health care delivery. We assessed the factors associated with culture proven sepsis among neonates in the Ho Municipality, Ghana.

Antimicrobial resistance and molecular detection of extended spectrum β-lactamase producing Escherichia coli isolates from raw meat in Greater Accra region, Ghana.

Background: Typically, raw meat can be contaminated with antibiotic resistant pathogens at unhygienic slaughter and sale points. Consumption of meat contaminated with antibiotic resistant E. coli is associated with grave health care consequences.

Capacity building for implementation research: a methodology for advancing health research and practice.

Background: Implementation research is increasingly being recognised as an important discipline seeking to maximise the benefits of evidence-based interventions. Although capacity-building efforts are ongoing, there has been limited attention on the contextual and health system peculiarities in low- and middle-income countries. Moreover, given the challenges encountered during the implementation of health interventions, the field of implementation research requires a creative attempt to build expertise for health researchers and practitioners simultaneously.

Poor mental health of livestock farmers in Africa: a mixed methods case study from Ghana.

Background: Agriculture represents the mainstay of African economies and livestock products are essential to the human population's nutritional needs. However, in many developing countries, including Ghana, livestock production fails to meet demand due to population growth and negative effects of climate change. One of the challenges to production is livestock loss affecting farmers.

Self-Collected Specimens Revealed a Higher Vaccine- and Non-Vaccine-Type Human Papillomavirus Prevalences in a Cross-Sectional Study in Akuse.

Background: Population-specific epidemiologic data on human Papillomavirus infection, which are limited in most of the SubSaharan African countries, are necessary for effective cervical cancer prevention. This study aimed to generate population-specific data on human Papillomavirus infections, and determine which of these, self-collected and provider-collected specimens, gives a higher estimate of the prevalence of human Papillomaviruses, including vaccine and non-vaccine-type human Papillomavirus.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, following a questionnaire-based collection of epidemiological data, self-, and provider-collected specimens, obtained from women 15-65 years of age, were analysed for human Papillomavirus types by a nested-multiplex polymerase chain reaction, and for cervical lesions by Pap testing.

Evaluation of Buruli Ulcer Disease Surveillance System in the Ga West Municipality, Ghana, 2011-2015.

Background: Buruli ulcer (BU) is one of the most neglected tropical diseases caused by . infection may manifest initially as a pre-ulcerative nodule, a plaque, or oedema which breaks down to form characteristic ulcers with undermined edges. The Ga West Municipality is an endemic area for Buruli ulcer, and we evaluated the BU surveillance system to determine whether the system is meeting its objectives and to assess its attributes.

Psychological working conditions and predictors of occupational stress among nurses, Salaga Government Hospital, Ghana, 2016.

Introduction: Occupational stress is a recognized health problem among nurses. Globally, its prevalence varies between 9.2% and 68.

Poliovirus neutralizing antibody levels among individuals in three regions of Ghana.

Introduction: Ghana was declared polio-free in 2015 after the last polio case in 2008. We determined the poliovirus neutralizing antibody levels among individuals to identify possible immunity gaps.

Methods: A cross-sectional, hospital-based study was undertaken in Northern, Ashanti and Greater Accra regions of Ghana.

Sustainability of a field epidemiology and laboratory training programme: the Ghanaian story.

Introduction: Field Epidemiology Training Programmes (FETPs) are functional ways of strengthening epidemiology, surveillance and outbreak response capacity in countries. However, sustainability of FETPs is a major challenge facing most countries especially in Africa. The Ghana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program (GFELTP) started in 2007 in the University of Ghana School of Public Health as a solution to gaps in the public health workforce.

Obstetric determinants of preterm delivery in a regional hospital, Accra, Ghana 2016.

Background: Globally, prematurity is a major determinant of morbidity and mortality contributing 30-40% of neonatal mortality. The consequences of preterm deliveries are enormous with developmental and childhood complications as well as high economic and psycho-social burden on the parents (family) and society. Some risk factors include ever having preterm delivery, multiple births and some medical conditions like sexually transmitted infection and urinary tract infections but these have not been ascertained in our study area.

Poliovirus antibody levels and lameness among individuals in three regions of Ghana.

: Ghana recorded the last case of poliomyelitis caused by wild poliovirus in 2008 and the country was declared polio-free in 2015. Polio-neutralizing-antibody levels in the population of three geographically representative regions of Ghana was determined, to identify possible immunity gaps. : Cross-sectional, hospital (1-70 years old) and school (primary, 1-15 years old)-based studies were undertaken in three regions in 2016.

Outbreak of scabies among preschool children, Accra, Ghana, 2017.

Background: Scabies occurs worldwide with a prevalence between 0.3 and 46.0%.

Determinants of low birth weight in neonates born in three hospitals in Brong Ahafo region, Ghana, 2016- an unmatched case-control study.

Background: Each year, about 20 million Low Birth Weight (LBW) babies are born with very high proportion (96.5%) occuring in developing countries. In the last decade, the incidence of LBW in Ghana has not declined.