Occurrence of pesticide residues and associated ecological risks assessment in water and sediment from selected dams in northern Ghana.

Pesticides are chemicals used to enhance crop production. However, their residues can persist and accumulate in various environmental settings. This study assessed the occurrence of pesticide residues and ecological risks in surface water and sediment from the Libga and Builpela dams in northern Ghana.

Protocol for pesticide residue monitoring and risk assessment on water, sediment, and fish: A case study of two selected reservoirs in Ghana.

Background: Africa is experiencing a significant surge in the use of pesticides on farms. Though the use of pesticide products on farms is increasing rapidly, the ability to monitor and regulate the practice has not kept pace. Despite their potential significance, the health and environmental impacts of the growing pesticide usage in developing nations remain inadequately comprehended and recorded.

Quality of antenatal care services received by women of reproductive age prior to delivery in selected public health facilities in the northern zone of Ghana.

Background: Over the past two decades, antenatal care (ANC) coverage has increased in most settings across low- and middle-income countries, including Ghana. However, evidence shows that there is a need to focus on both access and quality to improve maternal and newborn health outcomes. We investigated ANC quality among public healthcare facilities in the northern region of Ghana.

Correlates of Hepatitis B infection in pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in Wa Municipality, Ghana.

Despite the availability of an effective vaccine against viral hepatitis B infection, it remains prevalent, highly transmissible especially through mother-to-child, life-threatening, and a major public health challenge. A positive Hepatitis B e-Antigen (HBeAg) mother has a 90% risk of transmitting the virus to the unborn child in the perinatal period. This study sought to determine the prevalence and risk of Hepatitis B infection among pregnant women in the Wa Municipality of Ghana.

Preterm birth, low birth weight, and their co-occurrence among women with preexisting chronic diseases prior to conception: a cross-sectional analysis of postpartum women in a low-resource setting in Ghana.

Background: The incidence of chronic diseases, which are significant contributors to maternal deaths and adverse new-born outcomes, is increasing among women of reproductive age in northern Ghana. This emerging health issue raises serious concerns about the potential exacerbation of adverse birth outcomes in this setting, given that it is one of the regions in the country with a high incidence of such outcomes. We investigated the risks of preterm birth (PTB), low birth weight (LBW), and concurrent PTB and LBW among women with preexisting chronic conditions prior to conception in the Tamale Metropolis of northern Ghana.

Impact of hospital-community diabetes management intervention in Central Region, Ghana: A retrospective study.

Objective: Effective diabetes management remains suboptimal in low-resourced countries including Ghana. We determined the effectiveness of hospital-community link diabetes management intervention on glycaemic control and other outcomes.

Methods: A retrospective study design, using secondary data from the Ghana-Netherlands for Health Foundation diabetes programme.

Pregnancy outcomes before and during COVID-19 pandemic in Tamale Metropolis, Ghana: A retrospective cohort study.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic affected expectant mothers seeking maternal health services in most developing countries. Access and utilization of maternal health services including antenatal care (ANC) attendance and skilled delivery declined drastically resulting in adverse pregnancy outcomes. This study assessed pregnancy outcomes before and during COVID-19 pandemic in Tamale Metropolis, Ghana.

Population-based cross-sectional study of factors influencing full vaccination status of children aged 12- 23 months in a rural district of the Upper East Region, Ghana.

Background: Achieving universal health coverage includes ensuring that children have access to vaccines that are of high quality, safe, efficacious, and affordable. The Immunisation Agenda 2030 aims to expand services to zero-dose and incompletely vaccinated children and reduce immunisation rate disparities as a contribution to vaccination equity. This study explored the factors influencing full vaccination status among children aged 12 - 23 months in a rural district of the Upper East Region of Ghana.

Predictors of vaccination card retention in Tamale Metropolis, Ghana.

Background: The home-based vaccination card is an important health record for determining vaccination status of children during surveys, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. However, there are limited evidence on the factors that influence its retention in Ghana. We assessed the predictors of vaccination card retention in Tamale Metropolis, Ghana.

Knowledge and predictors of attitudes of hepatitis B virus infection prevention among adults in Tolon, Northern Ghana.

Introduction: Viral hepatitis is one of the major public health concerns, targeted for eradication by 2030. Though previous research has concentrated largely on pregnant women and urban areas, rural populations are reported to be greatly affected in northern Ghana. This study determined knowledge and predictors of attitudes toward hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection prevention among adults in Tolon District, Northern Ghana.

Temporal trend analysis of the HIV/AIDS burden before and after the implementation of antiretroviral therapy at the population level from 1990 to 2020 in Ghana.

Background: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has helped reduce the burden of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in the majority of countries. Its contribution to the HIV/AIDS burden in Ghana is still understudied. This study examined HIV/AIDS trends in Ghana before (1990-2004) and after (2004-2020) the implementation and expansion of ART.

Experiences of nurses on COVID-19 preventive protocols implementation in Tamale Metropolis, Ghana: A qualitative exploration.

The Coronavirus Disease, 2019 (COVID-19) disrupted healthcare delivery. Health workers, particularly nurses are key members of the interdisciplinary healthcare team. They are faced with many challenges due to the pandemic.

Utilization of growth monitoring and promotion services and undernutrition of children less than two years of age in Northern Ghana.

Background: Child undernutrition is a major public health problem and an important indicator of child's health. Adequate nutrition is critical for a child's growth and development. Growth monitoring and promotion (GMP) services is a nutrition intervention aimed at improving the nutritional status of children.

Prevalence and factors associated with the utilisation of modern contraceptive methods among married women of childbearing age in Yemen: a secondary analysis of national survey data.

Objective: Improving reproductive health requires access to effective contraception and reducing the unmet need for family planning in high-fertility countries, such as Yemen. This study investigated the utilisation of modern contraception and its associated factors among married Yemeni women aged 15-49 years.

Design And Setting: A cross-sectional study was conducted.

Exclusive breastfeeding among beneficiaries of a nutrition enhancement programme and its associated factors in Ghana.

Introduction: Despite the gains on exclusive breastfeeding (EBF), recent nationwide surveys have consistently revealed a decline in EBF rates in Ghana. The World Food Programme implemented an intervention for Enhanced Nutrition and Value Chain (ENVAC) which was based on three pillars including pregnant women, lactating women, adolescent and children under two years old being beneficiaries of the third pillar since the first 1000 days are critical for averting malnutrition. The social behavior change communication (SBCC) interventions implemented as part of this project have a potential to increase EBF among beneficiaries but this has not been measured.

Factors associated with anaemia in pregnancy: A retrospective cross-sectional study in the Bolgatanga Municipality, northern Ghana.

Background: Anaemia in pregnancy (AIP) remains a severe public health problem associated with adverse outcomes. This study assessed haemoglobin levels and the prevalence of anaemia during antenatal care (ANC) registration, at 28 weeks and 36 weeks of gestation as well as the factors associated with AIP at the different stages of pregnancy.

Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional design was implemented.

A qualitative study of health workers' perspectives on malaria case identification and management among pregnant women in Savelugu Municipality, Ghana.

Despite successes in malaria control interventions over the past two decades, malaria remains a major public health concern. Over 125 million women live in endemic areas and experience adverse pregnancy outcomes due to malaria. Understanding health workers' perspectives on malaria identification and management is important to informing policy changes on the control and eradication of the disease.

Risk of adverse newborn outcomes among women who experienced physical and psychological intimate partner abuse during pregnancy in Ghana's northern region.

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is common worldwide. However, the health effects of exposure to IPV during pregnancy are significantly more severe. We investigated the relationship between exposure to IPV during pregnancy and the risk of preterm and low birthweight births among women in Ghana's northern region.

Caregivers' use of insecticide-treated nets is associated with the use of ITNs by children under the age of five in Ghana.

Background: Malaria poses a greater risk to children under the age of five years due to its high morbidity and mortality rates. The use of Insecticide-Treated Net (ITN) has been proven to be an effective preventive intervention in the control of malaria. However, its utilisation remains low.

Bacterial infections epidemiology and factors associated with multidrug resistance in the northern region of Ghana.

Bacterial infections caused by multidrug resistant organisms are a major global threat. There is still a knowledge gap on this situation in the Northern Region of Ghana. This study determined the prevalence and resistance profile of bacterial infections.

Utilisation of antenatal care and skilled delivery services among mothers in Nanton District of Northern Ghana: a mixed-method study protocol.

Introduction: Maternal morbidity and mortality are a global phenomenon with devastating effects on low-income and middle-income countries among which sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is the hardest hit. Low utilisation of maternal health services has been recorded in recent times in the Nanton District of Ghana. This has raised concerns about the utilisation of antenatal care (ANC) and skilled delivery (SD) services in the district.

Predictors of knowledge and adherence to COVID-19 safety protocols among nurses at health facilities in Tamale Metropolis of Northern Ghana.

Background: Corona Virus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19) emerged in 2019 and caused widespread disruption to many facets of life, including healthcare. Healthcare workers, particularly nurses, became the front-line fighters against the pandemic, making it imperative to comply with recommended safety protocols. However, many nurses were infected by the virus in the Tamale Metropolis, raising concerns regarding their level of adherence to the safety protocols.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on malaria cases in health facilities in northern Ghana: a retrospective analysis of routine surveillance data.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic and its collateral damage severely impact health systems globally and risk to worsen the malaria situation in endemic countries. Malaria is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Ghana. This study aims to describe the potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on malaria cases observed in health facilities in the Northern Region of Ghana.

Frequency of exposure to the media is associated with levels of HIV-related knowledge and stigmatising attitudes among adults in Ghana.

Studies show that increased knowledge of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is achieved through exposure to mass media, which then contributes to positive attitudes and behaviours towards people living with HIV and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). This study examined the relationship between the frequency of exposure to the media and the level of HIV-related knowledge and stigmatising attitudes towards HIV and AIDS among adults in Ghana. A weighted sample of 13 484 men and women 15 to 59 years old took part in the study.

Prevalence and determinants of anaemia during third trimester of pregnancy: a retrospective cohort study of women in the northern region of Ghana.

Anemia during the third trimester of pregnancy is linked to adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. This retrospective cohort study estimated the prevalence of anemia and its determinants among third-trimester pregnant women in Ghana's northern region. We analyzed 359 pregnant women aged 18-48, drawn at random from 12 health facilities in the Tatale-Sanguli and Zabzugu districts.