Factors influencing individual vaccine preferences for COVID-19 in the Sunyani Municipality, Ghana: An observational study using discrete choice experiment analysis.

Background And Aims: There has been hesitancy among people with regard to accepting vaccines, especially that of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). This hesitancy is aggravated by the different vaccine alternatives available and what one considers before choosing a particular vaccine. The aim of this article was to investigate some driving factors that can influence an individual's COVID-19 vaccine preference in the presence of other alternatives, using some specific vaccine characteristics.

assessment of crude oil degradation by and isolated from the coast of Ghana.

This study was aimed at using microcosm experiments to assess crude oil degradation efficiency of and isolated along Ghana's coast. Uncontaminated seawater from selected locations along the coast was used to isolate bacterial species by employing enrichment culture procedures with crude oil as the only carbon source. The isolates were identified by means of the extended direct colony transfer method of the Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Time of Flight Mass Spectroscopy (MALDI-TOF MS), as , and .

Acceptance of and Adherence to a Four-Dose RTS,S/AS01 Schedule: Findings from a Longitudinal Qualitative Evaluation Study for the Malaria Vaccine Implementation Programme.

Background: The WHO recommended the use of the RTS,S/AS01 malaria vaccine (RTS,S) based on a pilot evaluation in routine use in Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi. A longitudinal qualitative study was conducted to examine facilitators and barriers to uptake of a 4-dose RTS,S schedule.

Methods: A cohort of 198 caregivers of RTS,S-eligible children from communities where RTS,S was provided through the pilot were interviewed three times over a ≈22-month, 4-dose schedule.

Public relations strategies employed by the Ghana Health Service to address COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy: a qualitative inquiry.

Background: Strategies for developing and advancing good public relations can be recognized in nearly all fields of life without making an exception for the healthcare industry. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, matters of public health have gathered more force. The importance of effective public relations for improving healthcare is highlighted by the position that immediate access to reliable health information should be the hallmark of a just society.

Isolation and characterization of crude-oil-dependent bacteria from the coast of Ghana using oxford nanopore sequencing.

The utilization and improper use of crude oil can have irreparable damage on the environment and human populations. This study sought to isolate hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria from 1% v/v pristine seawater and 1% v/v crude oil using enrichment culture techniques. Whole genome sequencing of DNA using the Oxford Nanopore sequencing technique with Fastq WIMP as the workflow at 3% abundance was undertaken.

Manganese, Iron, Lead, and Zinc Levels and Haematological Profile among Welders in Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai District, Ghana.

Welders are exposed to metal ions or oxides through direct contact at occupational sites or indirectly through uptake from contaminated dust or air. This study was a case-control study designed to assess the levels of some heavy metals and the hematological profile of welders (cases) as compared to nonwelders (controls) from Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai District of Ghana, comparatively to determine whether their values are within acceptable international range. A quantitative-based survey using structured questionnaires was used to collect demographic data from purposively selected welders ( = 40) and nonwelders ( = 40) from the study area.

Factors associated with noncompliance to diabetes medication in a rapidly urbanizing region in Ghana: a mixed-methods study.

Unlabelled: Failure to achieve adequate glycemic control can lead to debilitating complications for diabetics. Strict compliance to prescribed diet, lifestyle, and medication can prevent complications.

Methods: In order to examine factors accompanying noncompliance behavior to diabetes medication in a rapidly urbanizing region of Ghana, a mixed approach was adopted.

Conceptual Behaviour Underpinning the Occurrence of Nonfaecal Matter in Faecal Sludge in Some Urban Communities, Ghana.

Faecal sludge (FS) management is pertinent to the achievement of sustainable development goal 6.2 around the world; yet it is constrained by urbanisation challenges, waste management complexities, and defective attitudes. These deny communities of the plausible supply of resources from FS.

Antimicrobial and coagulation potential of seed powder coupled with sand filtration for treatment of bath wastewater from public senior high schools in Ghana.

The use of natural plant extracts for treatment of water in some parts of the world has been recorded throughout human history. An example is the use of in water purification due to its coagulation properties. However, the efficiency of the treatment systems largely depends on the design of the system and its operation.

Biting rates and relative abundance of Simulium flies under different climatic conditions in an onchocerciasis endemic community in Ghana.

Background: Knowledge of the relative abundance and biting rates of riverine blackflies (vectors of onchocerciasis) is essential as these entomological indices affect transmission of the disease. However, transmission patterns vary from one ecological zone to another and this may be due to differences in species of blackfly vectors and the climatic conditions in the area. This study investigated the effects of climate variability on the relative abundance and biting rates of blackflies in the Tanfiano community (Nkoranza North District, Bono East Region, Ghana).

Medical Waste-Sorting and Management Practices in Five Hospitals in Ghana.

Hospital waste management in Ghana faces the risk of cross-contamination from the lack of thorough sorting of the waste at the points of generation, codisposal of hazardous and nonhazardous waste types, and use of open-fire pits and substandard incinerators for burning infectious waste. This has increased the potential for the spread of infections and chemical pollutants. A cross-sectional study was conducted in five hospitals in Ghana to assess behavioral patterns on waste sorting and the effectiveness of hospital waste management in Ghana.

Ellucidating the incidence and the prevalence of spp infection in riparian communities of the Bui dam.

The flow rate of rivers are affected when modifications are made for the benefit of mankind. Some man-made alterations carried out include dam construction. The aim of this study was to investigate the health impact of the Bui dam with respect to the prevalence and awareness level of schistosomiasis in a typical damming environment.

Prevalence of onchocerciasis and associated clinical manifestations in selected hypoendemic communities in Ghana following long-term administration of ivermectin.

Background: Onchocerciasis is a neglected tropical disease which is still of immense major public health concern in several areas of Africa and the Americas. The disease manifests either as ocular or as dermal onchocerciasis with several symptoms including itching, nodules, skin thickening, visual impairment and blindness. Ivermectin has been an efficient microfilaricide against the causative agent of the disease (Onchocerca volvulus) but reports from some areas in Africa suggest the development of resistance to this drug.

A Perspective Analysis of Dams and Water Quality: The Bui Power Project on the Black Volta, Ghana.

Large dams play an important role in promoting economic and social development in many countries. However, the construction of such dams can have a detrimental effect on the environment. The aim of this study was to investigate perceptions of drinking water quality among inhabitants of selected communities within the Bui Dam environs.

The Search for an Efficient Black Fly Trap for Xenomonitoring of Onchocerciasis.

Onchocerciasis is a neglected tropical disease that has plagued mankind for decades with pathologies that involve the eyes and the skin. The WHO and the global health community have earmarked the disease for global elimination by 2045. However, as control programmes shift focus from reduction of the burden of the disease to elimination, new tools and strategies may be needed to meet targets.