Roles of Phyllosphere Microbes in Rice Health and Productivity.

The phyllosphere, comprising the aerial portions of plants, is a vibrant ecosystem teeming with diverse microorganisms crucial for plant health and productivity. This review examines the functional roles of phyllosphere microorganisms in rice (), focusing on their importance in nutrient uptake, disease resistance, and growth promotion. The molecular mechanisms underlying these interactions are explored along with their potential applications in enhancing sustainable rice production.

Household economic burden of type-2 diabetes and hypertension comorbidity care in urban-poor Ghana: a mixed methods study.

Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) predispose households to exorbitant healthcare expenditures in health systems where there is no access to effective financial protection for healthcare. This study assessed the economic burden associated with the rising burden of type-2 diabetes (T2D) and hypertension comorbidity management, and its implications for healthcare seeking in urban Accra.

Methods: A convergent parallel mixed-methods study design was used.

Contextual awareness, response and evaluation (CARE) of diabetes in poor urban communities in Ghana: the CARE diabetes project qualitative study protocol.

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.

The contextual awareness, response and evaluation (CARE) diabetes project: study design for a quantitative survey of diabetes prevalence and non-communicable disease risk in Ga Mashie, Accra, Ghana.

Diabetes is estimated to affect between 3.3% and 8.3% of adults in Ghana, and prevalence is expected to rise.

Coverage of preventive measures and surveillance for neglected tropical diseases in hard-to-reach communities in Ghana.

Background: Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a major public health burden which mainly affects poor populations living in tropical environments and hard-to-reach areas. The study sought to examine coverage of preventive efforts, and case surveillance for NTDs in hard-to-reach communities in Ghana.

Methods: The study investigated treatment efforts for lymphatic filariasis (LF), and onchocerciasis and schistosomiasis/soil transmitted helminths (SCH/STH) at household level, in difficult-to-access communities in Ghana.

Perceptions of the roles, impact, challenges and needs of community drug distributors in the control and elimination of neglected tropical diseases in difficult-to-access communities in Ghana.

Introduction: The success of mass drug administration (MDA) campaigns to control and eliminate neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in Ghana depends, to a large extent, on the essential role community drug distributors (CDDs) play. This study aimed to investigate community's perceptions of CDDs' roles, impact of CDDs' work, challenges faced by CDDs, and views on resources required to enhance CDDs' work to sustain MDA campaigns.

Methods: A cross-sectional qualitative study employing the use of focus group discussions (FGDs) with community members and CDDs in selected NTD endemic communities together with individual interviews with district health officers (DHOs) was conducted.

Perceptions of the roles, impact, challenges and needs of community drug distributors in the control and elimination of neglected tropical diseases in difficult-to-access communities in Ghana.

The success of mass drug administration (MDA) campaigns to control and eliminate neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in Ghana depends, to a large extent, on the essential role community drug distributors (CDDs) play. This study aimed to investigate community's perceptions of CDDs' roles, impact of CDDs' work, challenges faced by CDDs and views on resources required to enhance CDDs' work to sustain MDA campaigns. : A cross-sectional qualitative study employing the use of focus group discussions (FGDs) with community members and CDDs in selected NTD endemic communities together with individual interviews with district health officers (DHOs)was conducted.

Lay knowledge of cardiovascular disease and risk factors in three communities in Accra, Ghana: a cross-sectional survey.

Objectives: Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Ghana, and urban poor communities are disproportionately affected. Research has shown that knowledge of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the first step to risk reduction. This study examines knowledge of CVD and risk factors and determinants of CVD knowledge in three urban poor communities in Accra, Ghana.

Non-communicable disease comorbidities in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa.

Background: The prevalence of chronic non-communicable disease (NCD) comorbidity in low- to middle-income countries is increasing, yet evidence on the pattern, prevalence, awareness and treatment of NCD comorbidity is inadequate.

Objectives: To investigate the prevalence, awareness, treatment and control of comorbid hypertension and diabetes, and the underlying risk factors in Mpumza, KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa (SA).

Methods: Data were gathered by the SA Human Sciences Research Council from 587 participants in KwaZulu-Natal in 2015.

Perceptions and beliefs about anaemia: A qualitative study in three agroecological regions of Ghana.

Little evidence exists concerning perceptions of anaemia in Ghanaian communities, which limits understanding of how to potentially improve health in settings with high anaemia prevalence. We explored lay perceptions of anaemia to understand local knowledge and beliefs and to provide an opportunity to inform interventions. A cross-sectional, qualitative study was conducted in selected communities in three regions of Ghana with high prevalence of anaemia.

Field efficacy of two atoxigenic biocontrol products for mitigation of aflatoxin contamination in maize and groundnut in Ghana.

Biological control is one of the recommended methods for aflatoxin mitigation. Biocontrol products must be developed, and their efficacy demonstrated before widespread use. Efficacy of two aflatoxin biocontrol products, Aflasafe GH01 and Aflasafe GH02, were evaluated in 800 maize and groundnut farmers' fields during 2015 and 2016 in the Ashanti, Brong Ahafo, Northern, Upper East, and Upper West regions of Ghana.

Psychosocial stressors among Ghanaians in rural and urban Ghana and Ghanaian migrants in Europe.

Psychosocial stressors have significant health and socio-economic impacts on individuals. We examined the prevalence and correlates of psychosocial stressors among non-migrant and migrant Ghanaians as there is limited research in these populations. The study was cross-sectional and quantitative in design.

Psychosocial factors and hypertension prevalence among Ghanaians in Ghana and Ghanaian migrants in Europe: The RODAM study.

Despite progress made to prevent and control hypertension, its prevalence has persisted in many countries. This study examined the associations between psychosocial factors and hypertension among Ghanaian non-migrants and migrants. Data were drawn from the Research on Obesity and Diabetes among African Migrants (RODAM) project.

Potential of Atoxigenic Vegetative Compatibility Groups Associated With Maize and Groundnut in Ghana as Biocontrol Agents for Aflatoxin Management.

Increasing knowledge of the deleterious health and economic impacts of aflatoxin in crop commodities has stimulated global interest in aflatoxin mitigation. Current evidence of the incidence of isolates belonging to vegetative compatibility groups (VCGs) lacking the ability to produce aflatoxins (i.e.

Knowledge and perceptions of type 2 diabetes among Ghanaian migrants in three European countries and Ghanaians in rural and urban Ghana: The RODAM qualitative study.

African migrants in Europe and continental Africans are disproportionately affected by type 2 diabetes (T2D). Both groups develop T2D at a younger age, and have higher morbidity and mortality from T2D and complications, compared to European populations. To reduce risk, and avoidable disability and premature deaths, culturally congruent and context specific interventions are required.

Prevalence of Aflatoxin Contamination in Maize and Groundnut in Ghana: Population Structure, Distribution, and Toxigenicity of the Causal Agents.

Aflatoxin contamination in maize and groundnut is perennial in Ghana with substantial health and economic burden on the population. The present study examined for the first time the prevalence of aflatoxin contamination in maize and groundnut in major producing regions across three agroecological zones (AEZs) in Ghana. Furthermore, the distribution and aflatoxin-producing potential of Aspergillus species associated with both crops were studied.

Community and individual sense of trust and psychological distress among the urban poor in Accra, Ghana.

Background: Mental health disorders present significant health challenges in populations in sub Saharan Africa especially in deprived urban poor contexts. Some studies have suggested that in collectivistic societies such as most African societies people can draw on social capital to attenuate the effect of community stressors on their mental health. Global studies suggest the effect of social capital on mental disorders such as psychological distress is mixed, and emerging studies on the psychosocial characteristics of collectivistic societies suggest that mistrust and suspicion sometimes deprive people of the benefit of social capital.

Leveraging smallholder livestock production to reduce anemia: A qualitative study of three agroecological zones in Ghana.

Livestock production and Animal-Source Foods (ASFs) like meat, milk, and eggs are excellent sources of essential micronutrients, including iron and zinc. There is evidence that encouraging increased access to and consumption of these ASFs may either positively or negatively impact anemia, or have no nutritional effects. Drawing upon first-hand experiences in Ghana, this study sought to: (1) identify the main motivations for raising livestock in Ghana; (2) describe the major barriers to consuming ASFs, especially among women of reproductive age (WRA); and (3) explore the feasibility of different livestock-centered interventions to reduce anemia.

Factors associated with treatment-seeking for malaria in urban poor communities in Accra, Ghana.

Background: In Ghana, about 3.5 million cases of malaria are recorded each year. Urban poor residents particularly have a higher risk of malaria mainly due to poor housing, low socio-economic status and poor sanitation.

Livestock ownership is associated with higher odds of anaemia among preschool-aged children, but not women of reproductive age in Ghana.

Livestock ownership may influence anaemia through complex and possibly contradictory mechanisms. In this study, we aimed to determine the association of household livestock ownership with anaemia among women aged 15-49 years and children aged 6-59 months in Ghana and to examine the contribution of animal source foods (ASFs) to consumption patterns as a potential mechanism mediating this association. We analysed data on 4,441 women and 2,735 children from the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey and 16,772 households from the Ghana Living Standards Survey Round 6.

Hypertension awareness, treatment and control in Ghana: a cross-sectional study.

This study assessed the rates of hypertension awareness, treatment and control as well as the socio-economic and demographic correlates in Ghana. This was a cross-sectional study. We used wave 1 of the World Health Organization (WHO) Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE) conducted between 2007and 2008.

Explanatory models of diabetes in urban poor communities in Accra, Ghana.

Objectives: The objective of the study was to examine explanatory models of diabetes and diabetes complications among urban poor Ghanaians living with diabetes and implications for developing secondary prevention strategies.

Design: Twenty adults with type 2 diabetes were recruited from three poor communities in Accra. Qualitative data were obtained using interviews that run between 40 and 90 minutes.

Prevalence, awareness, treatment and control of hypertension in urban poor communities in Accra, Ghana.

Background: Hypertension is a major public health problem in many sub-Saharan African countries including Ghana, but data on urban poor communities are limited. The aim of this study was therefore to assess the prevalence, awareness, management and control of hypertension among a young adult population in their reproductive ages living in urban poor communities in Accra.

Methods: Cross-sectional, population-based survey of 714 young adults in their reproductive ages (women aged 15-49 years, men aged 15-59 years) living in three urban poor suburbs of Accra, Ghana.

Determinants of aflatoxin levels in Ghanaians: sociodemographic factors, knowledge of aflatoxin and food handling and consumption practices.

Aflatoxins are among the most potent of carcinogens found in staple foods such as groundnuts, maize and other oil seeds. This study was conducted to measure the levels of aflatoxin B(1) (AFB(1)) albumin adducts in blood and aflatoxin M(1) (AFM(1)) metabolite in urine of people in a heavy peanut and maize consuming region of Ghana and to examine the association between aflatoxin levels and several socio-demographic factors and food handling and consumption practices. A cross-sectional study was conducted in four villages in the Ejura Sekyedumase district of Ghana.