Incidence, trend and distribution of transport-related injuries reported to health facilities in the Volta Region of Ghana, 2019 to 2023.

Background: Transport injuries are a global public health concern, causing 1.35 million deaths and over 20 million non-fatal injuries annually. Low- and middle-income countries, particularly countries in Africa, are experiencing an increase in fatalities.

Determinants of glycemic control among persons living with type 2 diabetes mellitus attending a district hospital in Ghana.

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a growing public health emergency with prevalence in sub-Sahara Africa expected to experience the highest increase by 2045. Glycemic control is central to diabetes management, but it is influenced by various factors. This study determines the level of glycemic control and the associated individual factors among type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients.

Cancer Care Terminology in African Languages.

Importance: Effective communication between patients and health care teams is essential in the health care setting for delivering optimal cancer care and increasing cancer awareness. While the significance of communication in health care is widely acknowledged, the topic is largely understudied within African settings.

Objective: To assess how the medical language of cancer and oncology translates into African languages and what these translations mean within their cultural context.

Impact of Point-of-Care Rapid Diagnostic Tests on Antibiotic Prescription Among Patients Aged <18 Years in Primary Healthcare Settings in 2 Peri-Urban Districts in Ghana: Randomized Controlled Trial Results.

Background: Inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions are a known driver of antimicrobial resistance in settings with limited diagnostic capacity. This study aimed to assess the impact of diagnostic algorithms incorporating rapid diagnostic tests on clinical outcomes and antibiotic prescriptions compared with standard-of-care practices, of acute febrile illness cases at outpatient clinics in Shai-Osudoku and Prampram districts in Ghana.

Methods: This was an open-label, centrally randomized controlled trial in 4 health facilities.

Using routine healthcare data to determine the factors associated with hospital length of stay for hypertensive inpatients in Ghana, 2012-2017.

Objective: Hospitalisation for hypertension continues to rise in Ghana. It has been revealed that in Ghana, patients hospitalised for hypertension spend between 1 and 91 days on admission. This study therefore sought to estimate the hospital length of stay (LoS) of hypertensive patients and individual or health-related factors that may influence the hospitalisation duration in Ghana.

The contribution of smoking and smokeless tobacco to oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma risk in the African oesophageal cancer corridor: Results from the ESCCAPE multicentre case-control studies.

Tobacco use is a well-established risk factor for oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) but the extent of its contribution to the disease burden in the African oesophageal cancer corridor has not been comprehensively elucidated, including by type of tobacco use. We investigated the contribution of tobacco use (smoking and smokeless) to ESCC in Tanzania, Malawi and Kenya. Hospital-based ESCC case-control studies were conducted in the three countries.

Describing and Modeling the Burden of Hospitalization of Patients With Neoplasms in Ghana Using Routine Health Data for 2012-2017.

Purpose: The increasing cancer burden calls for reliable data on current and future associated hospitalizations to enable health care resource planning, especially in low- and middle-income countries. We provide nationwide estimates of the current and future burden of hospitalization because of neoplasms in Ghana.

Methods: We conducted secondary data (2012-2017) analysis using nationwide routine administrative inpatient health data from the Ghana Health Service.

A very-hot food and beverage thermal exposure index and esophageal cancer risk in Malawi and Tanzania: findings from the ESCCAPE case-control studies.

Background: Consumption of very-hot beverages/food is a probable carcinogen. In East Africa, we investigated esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) risk in relation to four thermal exposure metrics separately and in a combined score.

Methods: From the ESCCAPE case-control studies in Blantyre, Malawi (2017-20) and Kilimanjaro, Tanzania (2015-19), we used logistic regression models adjusted for country, age, sex, alcohol and tobacco, to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for self-reported thermal exposures whilst consuming tea, coffee and/or porridge.

Barriers to tuberculosis case finding in primary and secondary health facilities in Ghana: perceptions, experiences and practices of healthcare workers.

Background: Ghana's national tuberculosis (TB) prevalence survey conducted in 2013 showed higher than expected TB prevalence indicating that many people with TB were not being identified and treated. Responding to this, we assessed barriers to TB case finding from the perspective, experiences and practices of healthcare workers (HCWs) in rural and urban health facilities in the Volta region, Ghana.

Methods: We conducted structured clinic observations and in-depth interviews with 12 HCWs (including five trained in TB case detection) in four rural health facilities and a municipal hospital.

Trends in hospitalization of patients with diabetes mellitus in Ghana from 2012 to 2017 with predictions to 2032.

Background: This study explores sociodemographic and health factors associated with hospitalizing diabetes mellitus (DM) patients and estimates the number of future hospitalizations for DM in Ghana.

Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis using nationally representative patient hospitalization data provided by the Ghana Health Service and projected population counts from the Ghana Statistical Service. Data were stratified by year, age, sex and region.

Sociodemographic factors associated with time to discharge for hospitalised patients with asthma and asthma exacerbation using the Ghana Health Service District Information Management System 2 (DHIMS-2) database, 2012-2017.

Objective: Data on asthma hospitalisations are a useful source of patient morbidity information. In Ghana, the length of stay (LoS) and sociodemographic factors of patients hospitalised for asthma and its exacerbation are understudied. We aimed to investigate the time to discharge and assessed factors associated with length of hospital stays of asthmatics in Ghana.

Time trends, sociodemographic and health factors associated with discharge and length of stay of hospitalised patients with sickle cell disease in Ghana: a retrospective analysis of national routine health database.

Objective: Patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) are prone to multiple episodes resulting in frequent hospital visits. We determined the time trends, sociodemographic and health factors associated with length of stay (LoS) for patients with SCD in Ghana.

Design, Participants, Setting: We retrospectively analysed SCD hospitalisation records of 22 680 patients from a nationwide database of the Ghana Health Service from 2012 to 2017.

Geophagia and risk of squamous cell esophageal cancer in the African esophageal cancer corridor: Findings from the ESCCAPE multicountry case-control studies.

Geophagia, the intentional practice of consuming soil, occurs across the African esophageal cancer corridor, particularly during pregnancy. We investigated whether this practice is linked to endemic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in this region. We conducted ESCC case-control studies in Tanzania, Malawi and Kenya.

Missed opportunities for tuberculosis investigation in a municipal hospital in Ghana: evidence from patient exit interviews.

Background: We assessed coverage of symptom screening and sputum testing for tuberculosis (TB) in hospital outpatient clinics in Ghana.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study, we enrolled adults (≥18 years) exiting the clinics reporting ≥1 TB symptom (cough, fever, night sweats or weight loss). Participants reporting a cough ≥2 weeks or a cough of any duration plus ≥2 other TB symptoms (per national criteria) and those self-reporting HIV-positive status were asked to give sputum for testing with Xpert MTB/RIF.

Where are patients missed in the tuberculosis diagnostic cascade? A prospective cohort study in Ghana.

Background: Ghana's national prevalence survey showed higher than expected tuberculosis (TB) prevalence, indicating that many people with TB are not identified and treated. This study aimed to identify gaps in the TB diagnostic cascade prior to starting treatment.

Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted in urban and rural health facilities in south-east Ghana.

Effectiveness of two community-based strategies on disease knowledge and health behaviour regarding malaria, diarrhoea and pneumonia in Ghana.

Background: Ghana has developed two community-based strategies that aim to increase access to quality treatment for malaria, diarrhoea and suspected pneumonia, and to improve household and family practices: integrated Community Case Management (iCCM) and Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS). The objective of the study was to assess the effectiveness of iCCM and CHPS on disease knowledge and health behaviour regarding malaria, diarrhoea and pneumonia.

Methods: A household survey was conducted two and eight years after implementation of iCCM in the Volta and Northern Regions of Ghana respectively, and more than ten years of CHPS implementation in both regions.

Cost-effectiveness of rotavirus vaccination in Ghana: Examining impacts from 2012 to 2031.

Background: Diarrhea causes about 10% of all deaths in children under five years globally, with rotavirus causing about 40% of all diarrhea deaths. Ghana introduced rotavirus vaccination as part of routine immunization in 2012 and it has been shown to be effective in reducing disease burden in children under five years. Ghana's transition from low to lower-middle income status in 2010 implies fewer resources from Gavi as well as other major global financing mechanisms.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of the national implementation of integrated community case management and community-based health planning and services in Ghana for the treatment of malaria, diarrhoea and pneumonia.

Background: Ghana has developed two main community-based strategies that aim to increase access to quality treatment for malaria, diarrhoea and suspected pneumonia: the integrated community case management (iCCM) and the community-based health planning and services (CHPS). The aim of the study was to assess the cost-effectiveness of these strategies under programme conditions.

Methods: A cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted.

Integrated community case management and community-based health planning and services: a cross sectional study on the effectiveness of the national implementation for the treatment of malaria, diarrhoea and pneumonia.

Background: Ghana has developed two main community-based strategies that aim to increase access to quality treatment for malaria, diarrhoea and pneumonia: the Home-based Care (HBC) and the Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS). The objective was to assess the effectiveness of HBC and CHPS on utilization, appropriate treatment given and users' satisfaction for the treatment of malaria, diarrhoea and pneumonia.

Methods: A household survey was conducted 2 and 8 years after implementation of HBC in the Volta and Northern Regions of Ghana, respectively.

A comparative study on the availability of modern contraceptives in public and private health facilities in a peri-urban community in Ghana.

Background: Sub-Saharan Africa reports low use of family planning methods and high unmet need. Availability of these methods is one of the major barriers to contraceptive use in the region. This study determined the availability of modern contraceptives and perceived factors affecting this in health facilities in the Ga East municipality of Ghana.

Cause-specific childhood mortality in Africa and Asia: evidence from INDEPTH health and demographic surveillance system sites.

Background: Childhood mortality, particularly in the first 5 years of life, is a major global concern and the target of Millennium Development Goal 4. Although the majority of childhood deaths occur in Africa and Asia, these are also the regions where such deaths are least likely to be registered. The INDEPTH Network works to alleviate this problem by collating detailed individual data from defined Health and Demographic Surveillance sites.