Tropical oils consumption and health: a scoping review to inform the development of guidelines in tropical regions.

Background: Tropical oils such as palm and coconut oils are renowned for their high saturated fat content and culinary versatility. However, their consumption has sparked debate regarding their health benefits and production concerns. The purpose of this review was to map existing evidence on the health benefits and challenges associated with the consumption of tropical oils.

Ownership and usage of insecticide-treated nets in Ghana: a scoping review of facilitators and barriers.

Background: Insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) are pivotal tools for malaria prevention in endemic regions like Ghana. Understanding the protective factors and barriers influencing ITN ownership and usage is crucial for designing effective interventions. A scoping review was conducted to identify studies exploring protective factors and barriers related to ITN ownership and usage.

Acute lower respiratory infections among children under five in Sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review of prevalence and risk factors.

Background: Acute lower respiratory tract infections (ALRTIs) among children under five are still the leading cause of mortality among this group of children in low and middle-income countries (LMICs), especially countries in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This scoping review aims to map evidence on prevalence and risk factors associated with ALRTIs among children under 5 years to inform interventions, policies and future studies.

Methods: A thorough search was conducted via four main databases (PubMed, JSTOR, Web of Science and Central).

Effect of iron fortification on anaemia and risk of malaria among Ghanaian pre-school children with haemoglobinopathies and different ABO blood groups.

Background: Haemoglobinopathies such as sickle cell disorder and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency as well as differences in ABO blood groups have been shown to influence the risk of malaria and/or anaemia in malaria-endemic areas. This study assessed the effect of adding MNP containing iron to home-made weaning meals on anaemia and the risk of malaria in Ghanaian pre-school children with haemoglobinopathies and different ABO blood groups.

Methods: This study was a double-blind, randomly clustered trial conducted within six months among infants and young children aged 6 to 35 months in rural Ghana (775 clusters, n = 860).

Malaria amongst children under five in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review of prevalence, risk factors and preventive interventions.

Introduction: Africa has a higher burden of malaria-related cases and deaths globally. Children under five accounted for over two-thirds of all malaria deaths in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This scoping review aims to map evidence of the prevalence, contextual factors and health education interventions of malaria amongst children under 5 years (UN5) in SSA.

"I don't want to have anything to do with someone suspected of COVID-19": a genuine infection avoidance interest or inappropriate concerns related to stigma?

Background: Human existence is being challenged by an outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2 that began in Wuhan, China in December 2019. Efforts to avoid the spread of COVID-19 are undermined by the appearance of disease-associated avoidance of infected persons due to reasons such as social stigma and discrimination.

Objective: This study seeks to investigate avoidance and discrimination against persons suspected of COVID-19 to help fight the pandemic in a predominantly rural setting in Ghana.

Prevalence and factors associated with serious injuries and aggressive behaviours among in-school adolescents in Panama.

Introduction: Injuries during adolescence cause lifelong harm and death. Our study used a nationally representative sample to examine the prevalence and risk factors associated with serious injuries among in-school adolescents in Panama.

Methods: We analysed Panama's 2018 Global School-Based Student Health Survey data using SPSS.

Challenges and lessons learned during the planning and early implementation of the RTS,S/AS01 malaria vaccine in three regions of Ghana: a qualitative study.

Background: In 2019, the RTS,S/AS01 malaria vaccine was introduced on a pilot basis in six regions of Ghana by the Ministry of Health/Ghana Health Service as part of the WHO-coordinated Malaria Vaccine Implementation Programme (MVIP). This is the first time a malaria vaccination programme has been implemented in any country. This paper describes the challenges faced, and lessons learned, during the planning and early implementation of the RTS,S/AS01 vaccine in three out of the six regions that implemented the programme in Ghana.

Impact of IgG response to malaria-specific antigens and immunity against malaria in pre-school children in Ghana. A cluster randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Iron fortification and micronutrient initiatives, specifically, vitamin A, and zinc supplementation are the most cost-effective developmental strategies against malnutrition and health emergencies in pre-school children. Iron-deficiency among pre-school children have been documented, however, studies evaluating the impact of immunoglobulin G (IgG) isotype responses among iron-fortified pre-school children in malaria endemic communities has not been assessed. We evaluated the impact of iron fortification on the IgG responses to GLURP R0, GLURP R2 and MSP3 FVO malaria-specific antigens among pre-school children in malaria endemic areas.

Impact of iron fortification on anaemia and iron deficiency among pre-school children living in Rural Ghana.

Anaemia in young sub-Saharan African children may be due to the double burden of malaria and iron deficiency. Primary analysis of a double-blind, cluster randomized trial of iron containing micronutrient powder supplementation in Ghanaian children aged 6 to 35 months found no difference in malaria risk between intervention and placebo groups. Here, we performed a secondary analysis of the trial data to assess the impact of long-term prophylactic iron fortificant on the risk of iron deficiency and anaemia in trial subjects.

Health service provider education and/or training in infant male circumcision to improve short- and long-term morbidity outcomes: A systematic review.

Aim: To systematically review the effectiveness of education and/or training for traditional (informal) and formal health service providers in infant male circumcision on morbidity or mortality outcomes.

Methods: We searched Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Global Health, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects and clinical trial registries in all languages from January 1985 to June 2018. Our primary outcomes were all-cause morbidity and all-cause mortality.

Effectiveness of population based risk reduction programs for risky sexual behavior among young people in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review protocol.

The objective of this review is to synthesize the best available evidence on the effectiveness of population based (public health) risk reduction interventions (programs and services) on sexual risk taking among young people (aged 10 to 24 years old) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).The specific review questions are.

Healthcare seeking patterns of families of infants with circumcision-related morbidities from two population-based cohort studies in Ghana.

Objective: This study assessed healthcare seeking patterns of families of infants with circumcision-related morbidities and families of infants with acute illnesses in rural Ghana.

Design: Two population-based cohort studies.

Setting: Brong Ahafo Region of central rural Ghana.

The influence of socioeconomic factors on choice of infant male circumcision provider in rural Ghana; a community level population based study.

Background: The influence of socio-economic determinants on choice of infant male circumcision provider is not known in areas with high population coverage such as rural Africa. The overall aim of this study was to determine the key socio-economic factors which influence the choice of infant male circumcision provider in rural Ghana.

Methods: The study investigated the effect of family income, distance to health facility, and cost of the circumcision on choice of infant male circumcision provider in rural Ghana.

A cohort study of low birth weight and health outcomes in the first year of life, Ghana.

Objective: To investigate the effect of birth weight on infant mortality, illness and care seeking in rural Ghana.

Methods: Using randomized controlled trial data, we compared infants weighing 2.00-2.

Determinants of morbidity associated with infant male circumcision: community-level population-based study in rural Ghana.

Objective: Male circumcision services have expanded throughout Africa as part of a long-term HIV prevention strategy. We assessed the effect of type of service provider (formal and informal) and hygiene practices on circumcision-related morbidities in rural Ghana.

Methods: Population-based, cross-sectional study conducted between May and December 2012 involving 2850 circumcised infant males aged under 12 weeks.

Neonatal vaccination of low birthweight infants in Ghana.

Objectives: Global vaccination policy advocates for identifying and targeting groups who are underserved by vaccination to increase equity and uptake. We investigated whether birth weight and other factors are determinants of neonatal BCG vaccination in order to identify infants underserved by vaccination.

Methods: We used logistic regression to calculate adjusted ORs (AORs) for the association between birth weight (categorised as non-low birth weight (NLBW) (≥2.

Increasing access to care for sick newborns: evidence from the Ghana Newhints cluster-randomised controlled trial.

Objectives: To evaluate the impact of Newhints community-based surveillance volunteer (CBSV) assessments and referrals on access to care for sick newborns and on existing inequities in access.

Design: We evaluated a prospective cohort nested within the Newhints cluster-randomised controlled trial.

Setting: Community-based intervention involving more than 750 000, predominantly rural, population in seven contiguous districts in the Brong-Ahafo Region, Ghana.

Vaccination timing of low-birth-weight infants in rural Ghana: a population-based, prospective cohort study.

Objective: To investigate delays in first and third dose diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP1 and DTP3) vaccination in low-birth-weight infants in Ghana, and the associated determinants.

Methods: We used data from a large, population-based vitamin A trial in 2010-2013, with 22 955 enrolled infants. We measured vaccination rate and maternal and infant characteristics and compared three categories of low-birth-weight infants (2.

Health service provider education and/or training in infant male circumcision to improve short- and long-term morbidity outcomes: protocol for systematic review.

Background: There has been an expansion of circumcision services in Africa as part of a long-term HIV prevention strategy. However, the effect of infant male circumcision on morbidity and mortality still remains unclear. Acute morbidities associated with circumcision include pain, bleeding, swelling, infection, tetanus or inadequate skin removal.

Effect of early neonatal vitamin A supplementation on mortality during infancy in Ghana (Neovita): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Results of randomised controlled trials of newborn (age 1-3 days) vitamin A supplementation have been inconclusive. The WHO is coordinating three large randomised trials in Ghana, India, and Tanzania (Neovita trials). We present the findings of the Neovita trial in Ghana.

Evaluating the implementation of community volunteer assessment and referral of sick babies: lessons learned from the Ghana Newhints home visits cluster randomized controlled trial.

A World Health Organization (WHO)/United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) (2009) joint statement recommended home visits by community-based agents as a strategy to improve newborn survival, based on promising results from Asia. This article presents detailed evaluation of community volunteer assessment and referral implemented within the Ghana Newhints home visits cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT). It highlights the lessons learned to inform implementation/scale-up of this model in similar settings.

Effect of the Newhints home-visits intervention on neonatal mortality rate and care practices in Ghana: a cluster randomised controlled trial.

Background: In 2009, on the basis of promising evidence from trials in south Asia, WHO and UNICEF issued a joint statement about home visits as a strategy to improve newborn survival. In the Newhints trial, we aimed to test this home-visits strategy in sub-Saharan Africa by assessing the effect on all-cause neonatal mortality rate (NMR) and essential newborn-care practices.

Methods: The Newhints cluster randomised trial was undertaken in 98 zones in seven districts in the Brong Ahafo Region, Ghana.