The association between exposure to a radio campaign on nutrition and mothers' nutrition- and health-related attitudes and minimal acceptable diet of children 6-36 months old: a quasi-experimental trial.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a radio campaign involving serial 10-minute drama episodes, 10-minute on air discussion of each episode by trained community health workers and 30-minute phone-ins from listeners in improving mothers' nutrition- and health-related attitudes (HNRAs) and children's minimum acceptable diet (MAD).

Design: A two-arm quasi-experimental trial with a pre-post design was used to quantify the effect of a radio campaign on nutrition before and immediately after the 6-month intervention. Difference-in-difference (DID) analysis was performed to assess the intervention's effect.

Quality assessment of medicines in selected resource-limited primary healthcare facilities using low- to medium-cost field testing digital technologies.

Background: Digital technologies can assess the quality of medicines in resource-challenged health facilities in a timely manner and ensure effective healthcare.

Objectives: This study assessed the quality of some non-communicable disease medicines, antimalarials, antibiotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and hematinics in selected healthcare facilities as part of their (potential) participation in a digital pharmaceutical supply chain management system (Med4All).

Methods: All the sampled medicines were screened using TruScan analyzer and GPHF-minilab, that is low-medium field technologies.

Community beliefs and practices about diabetes and their implications for the prevention and management of diabetes in Southeast Ghana.

Background: Diabetes is a major public health issue, and over half a billion people are estimated to be living with diabetes, with 6.7 million deaths reported in 2021. The global diabetes burden has been recognised and included in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to achieve a zero increase in diabetes cases and reduce one-third of premature diabetes deaths by 2030.

Determinants of antiretroviral therapy adherence among people living with HIV in a poor urban setting in Ghana: a hospital-based cross-sectional study.

Background: Without a cure, antiretroviral therapy (ART) continues to be the primary mode of managing HIV, transforming it from a formerly lethal disease to a less severe one. Adherence to ART can be impacted by several factors, including poor quality of care.

Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional study design was used to assess the factors that influence adherence to ART among adults receiving care at two health facilities in Accra.

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.

Factors influencing medication adherence in co-morbid hypertension and diabetes patients: A scoping review.

Introduction: Interest in medication adherence has expanded significantly, especially in relation to the management of hypertension or diabetes in recent years. A scoping review that focuses on medication adherence in the co-morbidity of hypertension and diabetes provides crucial guidance for effective management of these interrelated diseases.

Aim: To conduct a scoping review of factors associated with medication adherence among individuals with co-morbid hypertension and diabetes.

Assessing health-related quality of life and clinical outcomes of patients with diabetes accessing healthcare in two public hospitals in south-eastern Ghana: a cross-sectional descriptive study.

Background: Diabetes is a significant contributor to kidney failure, heart attack, strokes, lower limb amputation, blindness, and other complications that negatively impact health-related quality of life (HRQOL). This study assessed the HRQOL and clinical outcomes of patients with diabetes accessing healthcare in south-eastern Ghana.

Methods: This was a hospital-based cross-sectional descriptive study conducted in the Ho Municipal and Ho Teaching Hospitals in Ghana among patients with type 2 diabetes who were seeking healthcare at both hospitals for at least 12 months.

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.

Factors associated with glycaemic control among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Ho, Ghana: A cross-sectional study.

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the status of glycaemic control and associated factors among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus patients.

Methods: This was a hospital-based cross-sectional descriptive study of 326 patients with type 2 diabetes at the Ho Municipal and Teaching Hospitals. The adequate sample size was calculated using Yamane formula N/1 + Ne, with 95 % confidence interval, 5 % margin of error and 10 % non-response rate and a sample size of 326 was determined.

Coping strategies among adolescents and young adults living with HIV/AIDS in Accra-Ghana.

Background: Living with HIV/AIDS is remarkably stressful and has an adverse effect on one's physical and mental health. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the introduction of highly active anti-retroviral therapy has led to an increased number of children with perinatal acquired HIV who are living into adolescence and adulthood. Developing strategies to cope with HIV becomes imperative, especially among these adolescents.

Contamination of herbal medicinal products in low-and-middle-income countries: A systematic review.

The use of herbal medicinal products (HMPs) has grown significantly across low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs). Consequently, the safety of these products due to contamination is a significant public health concern. This systematic review aimed to determine the prevalence, types, and levels of contaminants in HMPs from LMICs.

The mediating role of quality of life on depression and medication adherence among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A cross-sectional study.

Background And Aim: Patients living with diabetes mellitus have a high burden of psychological distress such as depression and anxiety as well as impaired quality of life, which may negatively impact their adherence to medications, glucose control, and health-related costs.This study assessed the impact of quality of life and depression on medication adherence among patients with type 2 diabetes (type 2 diabetes mellitus [T2DM]) in a tertiary care setting in Ghana.

Methods: The study was a cross-sectional study involving 238 patients with diabetes aged 18 years and above.

Medicated-related burden and adherence in patients with co-morbid type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension.

Background: Medication adherence is an integral component in the management of patients with co-morbid type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and hypertension. However due to their combined conditions, there is likelihood of polypharmacy and medication-related burden, which could negatively impact adherence to therapy. This study aimed to assess the perceived medication-related burden among patients with co-morbid T2DM and hypertension and to evaluate the association between the perceived burden and adherence to medication therapy.

Determinants of blood pressure and blood glucose control in patients with co-morbid hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus in Ghana: A hospital-based cross-sectional study.

Hypertension and diabetes are major risk factors for cardiovascular diseases and optimal control of blood pressure (BP) and blood glucose are associated with reduced cardiovascular disease events. This study, therefore, sought to estimate the prevalence and associated factors of controlled BP and blood glucose levels among patients diagnosed with both hypertension and Type 2- diabetes mellitus (T2DM). A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted in a primary health setting in Ghana among patients 18 years and older diagnosed with both hypertension and T2DM.

Hesitancy towards COVID-19 vaccination: The role of personality traits, anti-vaccine attitudes and illness perception.

There is an increased need for COVID-19 vaccination since the world is gradually returning to normal. Current evidence supports vaccination activity more towards viral suppression than COVID-19 prevention. This has led to divergent views regarding vaccination which may influence anti-vaccine attitudes and vaccine hesitancy.

Coping strategies and resilience among patients with hypertension in Ghana.

Background: Hypertension is associated with high morbidity and mortality and this has been linked to poor treatment and control rates. To optimize drug treatment, patient-centered strategies such as coping, resilience, and adherence to medication may improve control rates and decrease the morbidity and mortality associated with hypertension. This study, therefore, assessed coping skills and resilience among patients with hypertension in Ghana.

Implementation of Medicines Pricing Policies in Ghana: The Interplay of Policy Content, Actors' Participation, and Context.

Background: Implementing medicines pricing policy effectively is important for ensuring equitable access to essential medicines and ultimately achieving universal health coverage. However, published analyses of policy implementations are scarce from low- and middleincome countries. This paper contributes to bridging this knowledge gap by reporting analysis of implementation of two medicines pricing policies in Ghana: value-added tax (VAT) exemptions and framework contracting (FC) for selected medicines.

Biopsychosocial analysis of antibiotic use for the prevention or management of COVID-19 infections: A scoping review.

Background: The novelty and complexity of the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in various coping mechanisms adopted by individuals as a means of averting the perceived fatalities of the pandemic. The use of antibiotics in the management of COVID-19 is clinically recommended under specific conditions. However, there are increasing trends of non-adherence to the recommended criteria resulting in the unwarranted use of antibiotics as an adaptative approach to the ongoing pandemic.

Implementation of medicines pricing policies in sub-Saharan Africa: systematic review.

Background: High medicine prices contribute to increasing cost of healthcare worldwide. Many patients with limited resources in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are confronted with out-of-pocket charges, constraining their access to medicines. Different medicine pricing policies are implemented to improve affordability and availability; however, evidence on the experiences of implementations of these policies in SSA settings appears limited.