Correction: Reaching adolescents with health services: Systematic development of an adolescent health check-ups and wellbeing programme in Ghana (Y-Check, Ghana).

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Impact of iron supplementation among anemic voluntary first-time blood donors: Results from the BLOODSAFE pilot trial in Ghana.

Introduction: In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), an adequate supply of safe blood for transfusion is a major developmental challenge. In Ghana, deferral from blood donation for anemia accounts for nearly half of the ineligible blood donors. We conducted a longitudinal two-arm parallel-group non-inferiority trial to test if iron supplementation among blood donors with iron deficiency (ID) or anemia could increase their hemoglobin levels to near those without ID or anemia.

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.

Reaching adolescents with health services: Systematic development of an adolescent health check-ups and wellbeing programme in Ghana (Y-Check, Ghana).

Background: Routine health check-ups may improve adolescent health, but global guidelines are lacking. Phase 1 of the WHO-coordinated Y-Check Research Programme involved three African cities to co-produce a programme of adolescent health check-ups. We describe a systematic approach to developing a routine adolescent health check-ups and wellbeing programme (Y-Check) to contribute evidence on whether adolescent health check-ups should be part of routine health services in Ghana.

The future of public health doctoral education in Africa: transforming higher education institutions to enhance research and practice.

The African Union and the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a Call to Action in 2022 for Africa's New Public Health Order that underscored the need for increased capacity in the public health workforce. Additional domestic and global investments in public health workforce development are central to achieving the aspirations of Agenda 2063 of the African Union, which aims to build and accelerate the implementation of continental frameworks for equitable, people-centred growth and development. Recognising the crucial role of higher education and research, we assessed the capabilities of public health doctoral training in schools and programmes of public health in Africa across three conceptual components: instructional, institutional, and external.

Implementation and effectiveness outcomes of Community Health Advocacy Teams to improve long-lasting insecticide net distribution and use in six districts in Ghana: A one-group pre-post-test study.

Malaria remains a leading cause of illness and death especially among children and pregnant women in Ghana. Despite the efforts made by the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), including distribution of Long-Lasting Insecticide Nets (LLINs) to households through periodic Point Mass Distribution (PMD) campaigns and continuous channels (antenatal, schools and postnatal), there is a gap between access and use of LLINs in Ghana. An effective and functional community-based group that would seek to improve the effectiveness of LLIN distribution before, during, after PMD Campaigns and continuous distribution at the community level could help address this gap.

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.

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.

Pilot implementation of community health advocacy teams to improve the effectiveness of long-lasting insecticide net distribution through both campaigns and continuous channels in Ghana: a qualitative study of opportunities and barriers to implementation.

Introduction: In Ghana, the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) distributes long-lasting insecticide net (LLIN) to households for free through the periodic point mass distribution (PMD) campaign and continuous distribution to populations most vulnerable to malaria. It is known that the existence of effective and functional community-based groups could influence positive behaviours regarding health interventions promoted through health campaigns. However, there is no evidence of functional community-based groups that aim to improve the effectiveness of LLIN distribution campaigns by transitioning into primary healthcare delivery.

Revolutionizing the Public Health Workforce-A Policy Brief in Retrospect of the World Congress on Public Health Rome 2020.

The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically illustrates the consequences of inadequate prioritization of the Public Health Workforce (PHW). This Policy Brief introduces a following the plenary session entitled "Revolutionising the Public Health Workforce (PHW) as Agents of Change" as part of the 2020 World Congress on Public Health. In order to revolutionize the PHW, five long-term key approaches are proposed: 1.

Factors affecting trust in clinical trials conduct: Views of stakeholders from a qualitative study in Ghana.

Evidence exists that scientists' dehumanization and exploitation of people in the name of science led to suspicion and mistrust in clinical trials conduct. In Ghana, there are equally signs of public distrust in the conduct of biomedical research. Typical examples are the unsuccessful conduct of the Ebola vaccine trial and the initial refusal of parents to allow their children to receive the recently piloted malaria vaccine in Ghana.

Correlates of absenteeism at work, school and social activities during menstruation: Evidence from the 2017/2018 Ghana Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey.

Background: Menstruation is a biological process which is crucial for human reproduction. Menstruation is a source of absenteeism, yet the subject matter has not been well explored. This study aimed to assess the correlates of absenteeism at school, work and social activities during menstruation among Ghanaian women of reproductive age.

Creating interventions to transition long-lasting insecticide net distribution in Ghana.

Objective: Mass long-lasting insecticide net (LLIN) distribution campaigns are rolled out, as a part of the Ghana Malaria Strategic plan (2021-2025) which seeks to protect at least 80% of the population at risk with effective malaria prevention interventions. Although the mass LLIN distribution campaign indicates a comprehensive stakeholder engagement approach, it does not systematically transition into the basic primary healthcare structures within the Ghana Health Services. This paper presents the process and outcome of creating an innovative social intervention, which focuses on community mobilisation and capacity building of community health officers.

Health-seeking behaviour and cost of fever treatment to households in a malaria-endemic setting of northern Ghana: a cross-sectional study.

Objectives: To examine the health-seeking behaviour and cost of fever treatment to households in Ghana.

Design: Cross-sectional household survey conducted between July and September 2015.

Setting: Kassena-Nankana East and West districts in Upper East region of Ghana.

Adapting a skills-based stroke prevention intervention for communities in Ghana: a qualitative study.

Background: Stroke is a major cause of death in Ghana. Evidence-based interventions for stroke prevention have been successful in the US; however, in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), such interventions are scarce. The "Discharge Education Strategies for Reduction of Vascular Events" (DESERVE) intervention led to a 10-mmHg reduction in systolic blood pressure (SBP) among Hispanic survivors of mild/moderate stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA) at 1-year follow-up.

Determinants of intention to return to donate blood among first-time blood donors in Ghana.

Objective: This study seeks to identify factors that are predictive of intention to return to donate blood among first-time blood donors.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 505 first-time blood donors, selected from blood donation sessions across three regions in Ghana. Data were obtained on their intention to donate blood in the next four months, factors that would influence this decision.

The influence of culture on open defaecation in some basic schools in selected districts in Ghana: A preliminary study.

Open defaecation has remained a major public and environmental health concern which has gained global attention. This study explored cultural factors including superstition, taboo, norms and values influencing open defaecation behaviour among basic school pupils in the Eastern and Volta Regions all within Southern Ghana. Self-reported data were collected from 400 pupils using structured questionnaire and focus group discussions.

Health insurance coverage, type of payment for health insurance, and reasons for not being insured under the National Health Insurance Scheme in Ghana.

Background: Ghana's National Health Insurance Scheme has improved access to care, although equity and sustainability issues remain. This study examined health insurance coverage, type of payment for health insurance and reasons for being uninsured under the National Health Insurance Scheme in Ghana.

Methods: The 2014 Ghana Demographic Health Survey datasets with information for 9396 women and 3855 men were analyzed.

Understanding the gap between access and use: a qualitative study on barriers and facilitators to insecticide-treated net use in Ghana.

Background: Mass and continuous distribution channels have significantly increased access to insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) in Ghana since 2000. Despite these gains, a large gap remains between ITN access and use.

Methods: A qualitative research study was carried out to explore the individual and contextual factors influencing ITN use among those with access in three sites in Ghana.

Acceptability and implementation challenges of smartphone-based training of community health nurses for visual inspection with acetic acid in Ghana: mHealth and cervical cancer screening.

Objective: To explore acceptability and feasibility of smartphone-based training of low-level to mid-level health professionals in cervical cancer screening using visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA)/cervicography.

Design: In 2015, we applied a qualitative descriptive approach and conducted semi-structured interviews and focus groups to assess the perceptions and experiences of community health nurses (CHNs) (n=15) who performed smartphone-based VIA, patients undergoing VIA/cryotherapy (n=21) and nurse supervisor and the expert reviewer (n=2).

Setting: Community health centres (CHCs) in Accra, Ghana.

Adherence to Dihydroartemisinin-Piperaquine Treatment among Patients with Uncomplicated Malaria in Northern Ghana.

Treatment adherence has been described as the process whereby patients take medications, follow diet, and effect other lifestyle changes that relate to agreed recommendations from healthcare providers. The determinants of such treatment adherence include patient, the health condition, therapy type, socioeconomic conditions, and the healthcare system. The study examined adherence in malaria patients treated with dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine in routine clinical care in northern Ghana.