Utility of Extraction-Free SARS-CoV-2 Detection by RT-qPCR for COVID-19 Testing in a Resource-Limited Setting.

The COVID-19 epidemic had a profound impact on global health and the economy and Ghana was no exception to its far-reaching consequences. Regarding detection of the causative agent-the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), reverse-transcription-qPCR (RT-qPCR) is widely recognized as a very sensitive and reliable diagnostic technique used globally. There are, however, high operational costs in acquiring test kits, equipment, and accessories for RT-qPCR testing, which pose significant challenges in resource-limited settings.

Prevalence and associated factors of occupational injuries in an industrial city in Ghana.

Background: Workers are exposed to workplace hazards which increase their risk of occupational injury. Data on occupational injuries and associated factors are important for planning and informing national policy regarding workplace health and safety. This study sought to estimate the prevalence and factors associated with occupational injuries among workers in an industrial city in Ghana.

Effects of a community-level intervention on maternal health care utilization in a resource-poor setting of Northern Ghana.

Background: This study aimed to assess the effects of health education and community-level participatory interventions at the community level and the use of community maternal health promoters on the utilization of maternal health care services in poor rural settings of northern Ghana.

Methods: A randomized controlled survey design was conducted from June 2019 to July 2020 in two rural districts of northern Ghana. A multistage cluster sampling technique was used to select the participants.

Prevalence and determinants of occupational injuries among emergency medical technicians in Northern Ghana.

Background: Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) are the primary providers of prehospital emergency medical services. The operations of EMTs increase their risks of being exposed to occupational injuries. However, there is a paucity of data on the prevalence of occupational injuries among EMTs in sub-Saharan Africa.

Did Ghana Do Enough? A Scientometric Analysis of COVID-19 Research Output from Ghana within the African Context.

The COVID-19 pandemic has generated worldwide research efforts to provide knowledge about the disease. Yet little is known about how Ghana contributed to this critical knowledge production. This scientometric analysis was conducted to ascertain Ghana's COVID-19 research output within the African context to gain understanding and identify potential future directions.

On-site personal protective equipment signage and use by road construction workers in Ghana: a comparative study of foreign- and locally-owned companies.

Background: Road construction work has specific risks and safety issues which have not been adequately addressed in most low- and middle-income countries, especially Africa. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of personal protective equipment (PPE) use during road construction activities by workers in foreign- owned against locally-owned road construction companies in Ghana.

Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional survey was undertaken during January - March, 2020 to study 389 road construction workers who were actively working on site.

Predictors of Seat-Belt Use among Bus Passengers in Ghana: An Application of the Theory of Planned Behaviour and Health Belief Model.

Background: Seat-belt use is effective in preventing traffic fatalities and injuries yet its use is not universal. This study sought to determine the predictors of self-reported seat-belt use among bus passengers in Ghana based on the theory of planned behaviour and health belief model.

Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional study design with 633 randomly selected intercity bus passengers was conducted using a structured questionnaire in Kumasi, Ghana.

Road Traffic and Other Unintentional Injuries Among Travelers to Developing Countries.

Injuries result in nearly 6 million deaths and incur 52 million disability-adjusted life-years annually, making up 15% of the global disease burden. More than 90% of this burden occurs in low- and middle-income countries. Given this burden, it is not unexpected that injuries are the leading cause of death among travelers to low- and middle-income countries, namely, from road traffic crashes and drowning.

Reporting on road traffic injury: content analysis of injuries and prevention opportunities in Ghanaian newspapers.

In order to analyse traffic injury reporting in Ghanaian newspapers and identify opportunities for improving road safety, the content of 240 articles on road traffic injury was reviewed from 2005 to 2006 editions of two state-owned and two privately owned newspapers. The articles comprised reports on vehicle crashes (37%), commentaries (33%), informational pieces (12%), reports on pedestrian injury (10%), and editorials (8%). There was little coverage of pedestrian injuries, which account for half of the traffic fatalities in Ghana, but only 22% of newspaper reports.