Predictive model for genital tract infections among men and women in Ghana: An application of LASSO penalized cross-validation regression model.

To enhance the capacity for early and effective management of genital tract infections at primary and secondary levels of the healthcare system, we developed a prediction model, validated internally to help predict individual risk of self-reported genital tract infections (sGTIs) at the community level in Ghana. The study involved 32973 men and women aged 15-49 years from three rounds of the Ghana Demographic Health Survey, from 2003 to 2014. The outcomes were sGTIs.

Correction: Hygienic disposal of stools and risk of diarrheal episodes among children aged under two years: Evidence from the Ghana Demographic Health Survey, 2003-2014.

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

Women, water and access: inscribing gender power in and through a place.

This paper explores the socio-cultural and gender-based dynamics associated with place values, and their implications for women's access to water through case studies of upland and riverine communities in southern Nigeria. We used a range of fieldwork methods including public meetings, focus group discussions, in-depth interviews, keen observations, key informants and other secondary sources. Our findings show that drinking water sources are a part of the many forms of visible material structures that embody and generate automatic reproduction of gender-based beliefs, attitudes, feelings and practices.

Co-occurrence of non-communicable disease risk factors among adolescents in Jos, Nigeria.

Background: The co-occurrence and clustering of risk factors for non-communicable disease (NCD) is a global public health concern.

Aim: This study aimed to assess the co-occurrence and clustering of risk factors for NCDs among in-school and out-of-school adolescents in Jos North Local Government Area, Plateau State, Nigeria.

Setting: Secondary schools and markets in Jos North Local Government Area.

Enterobacteriaceae isolates from clinical and household tap water samples: antibiotic resistance, screening for extended-spectrum, metallo- and ampC-beta-lactamases, and detection of and in Uyo, Nigeria.

Introduction: Infections caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria, extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL), metallo-β-lactamase (MBL) and AmpC-β-lactamase (AmpC-βL)-producers are increasing globally. This study identified bacteria in clinical and tap water samples and determined the prevalence of MDR, and β-lactamase enzymes and genes.

Methods: Isolates were identified by the Vitek 2 (bioMérieux, France) automated system.

Undiagnosed uterus didelphys with unicavitary twin gestation in a district hospital in Ghana: a case report.

Uterus didelphys is a congenital anomaly of the female reproductive tract which arises from the abnormal fusion of the Mullerian ducts. We present, the first case to the best of our knowledge, of uterus didelphys with a unicavitary twin gestation to be documented in Ghana, a low-middle income country. A 24-year-old woman, gravida 3, para 0+2 miscarriages, was seen and admitted to our maternity ward due to elevated blood pressure with ++ proteinuria at 36 weeks of gestation.

Evaluation of the Ghana Heart Initiative - Design and Rationale of a Pragmatic Mixed-Methods Study from Diverse Perspectives: A Study Protocol.

Background: Rigorous evaluations of health system interventions to strengthen hypertension and cardiovascular disease (CVD) care remain scarce in sub-Saharan Africa. This study aims to evaluate the reach, effectiveness, adoption / acceptability, implementation fidelity, cost, and sustainability of the Ghana Heart Initiative (GHI), a multicomponent supply-side intervention to improve cardiovascular health in Ghana.

Methods: This study adopts a mixed- and multi-methods design comparing the effects of the GHI in 42 intervention health facilities (i.

Contrasting Hygiene-Related Gastrointestinal Infections and Stress-Related Diseases at a Primary Health Care Facility within a Sub-Saharan African City: Before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: With the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2, protocols such as social distancing and upscaling of hygiene practices were implemented to limit the spread of the disease. Meanwhile, along with COVID-19 came stress due to restrictions on movement, trade and transport, and closure of schools, among others.

Aim: This study compared the prevalence of hygiene-related gastrointestinal infections and stress-related diseases before (March 2019-February 2020) and during (March 2020-February 2021) the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hygienic disposal of stools and risk of diarrheal episodes among children aged under two years: Evidence from the Ghana Demographic Health Survey, 2003-2014.

Background: Most childhood diarrheal illnesses are a result of the faeco-oral transmission of infected food, water, and unclean fingers. The present paper was conducted to estimate the prevalence of hygienic disposal of stools (HDS) and its associated factors, and further quantify the impact of HDS on diarrheal diseases among children under two years.

Methods: A cross-sectional design was used to evaluate three rounds of the Ghana Demographic Health Survey (GDHS) from 2003-2014 involving 4869 women with children aged under two years.

Use of reusable menstrual management materials and associated factors among women of reproductive age in Ghana: analysis of the 2017/18 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey.

Background: The use of unsafe materials to collect menstrual blood predisposes women and girls to infections. There is a paucity of literature on the utilization of reusable menstrual materials in sub-Saharan Africa. This study examined factors associated with the use of reusable menstrual management materials among women of reproductive age in Ghana.

Prevalence of pneumonia by chest x-ray, associated demographic characteristics and health risk factors among COVID-19 patients in Ghana.

Objective: The study was conducted to determine the prevalence of radiologically diagnosed pneumonia among COVID-19 patients and associated factors.

Design Setting And Participants: A retrospective manual data extraction of 275 medical records of COVID-19 patients was conducted at two COVID-19 national treatment centres in Accra from March to May 2020. All patients had a chest x-ray done.

Dynamics in Morbidity Markers and Cytological Observations Made in Urine of -Infected Children: Pre- and Post-Praziquantel Treatment in an Endemic Setting.

Background: Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by helminths of the genus . Morbidity markers and cytological observations such as squamous metaplastic cells, inflammatory cells, and hyperkeratotic cells in the urine of -infected children may suggest disease severity. They may also help predict severe forms of clinical presentation, such as bladder cancer in later years, among infected ones who miss out on early detection and treatment.

Preliminary Investigation into -like Piroplasms (/) among Cattle, Dogs and Humans in A Malaria-Endemic, Resource-Limited Sub-Saharan African City.

and are protozoan parasites belonging to the order piroplasmida, transmitted by hard ticks, and can cause diseases known as piroplasmosis. Human infections are usually asymptomatic, except in immuno-compromised persons who present malaria-like symptoms. Moreover, microscopically, the morphologies of and can resemble that of the malaria parasite, .

Disposal habits and microbial load of solid medical waste in sub-district healthcare facilities and households in Yilo-Krobo municipality, Ghana.

The study aimed to assess disposal practices and quantify the microbial load present in SMW from ten sub-district level healthcare facilities and 385 households in Yilo Krobo municipality, Ghana. Disposal of solid medical waste (SMW) was assessed by questionnaire-based surveys, unstructured interviews and field observations. Microbiological analysis identified species and counts of bacteria present in SMW from both sources.

Unravelling the Perspectives of Day and Night Traders in Selected Markets within a Sub-Saharan African City with a Malaria Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Survey.

Background: Malaria is still endemic in sub-Saharan Africa, with a high disease burden. Misconceptions about malaria contribute to poor attitudes and practices, further increasing the burden in endemic countries. Studies have examined the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of malaria among different populations.

Sex differences and factors associated with disability among Ghana's workforce: a nationally stratified cross-sectional study.

Objective: This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of disability and associated factors and further quantify the associated sex differential among Ghana's workforce aged 15+ years.

Design: A nationally stratified cross-sectional study.

Setting: Ghana.

Prevalence, socio-demographic and environmental determinants of asthma in 4621 Ghanaian adults: Evidence from Wave 2 of the World Health Organization's study on global AGEing and adult health.

Background: A previous multi-site study involving lower- and middle-income countries demonstrated that asthma in older adults is associated with long-term exposure to particulate matter, male gender and smoking. However, variations may occur within individual countries, which are relevant to inform health promoting policies as populations live longer. The present study estimates asthma prevalence and examines the sociodemographic characteristics and environmental determinants associated with asthma in older adults in Ghana.

Teenage pregnancy and experience of physical violence among women aged 15-19 years in five African countries: Analysis of complex survey data.

Background: Pregnant teenage women are prime targets of violence against women perpetrated by intimate partners, family members, and miscreants in their neighborhoods. This study estimated the prevalence of Teenage pregnancy (TP) and Physical Violence (PV) and further assessed the relationship between TP and PV in five Low-and-Middle-Income Countries (LMICs).

Methods: The study was conducted among five LIMCs (Burkina Faso, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, and Tanzania) using data from the most recent Demographic and Health Surveys conducted in these countries.

Assessment of knowledge and quality of essential newborn care practices in La Dade Kotopon Municipality, Ghana.

Majority of neonatal deaths in developing countries have been associated with inappropriate or poorly practiced newborn care, specifically safe cord care, optimal thermal care and early initiation and practice of exclusive breastfeeding. There is limited information about the quality of these essential newborn care practices in Accra, Ghana. The main objective of this study was to assess the knowledge about and quality of essential newborn care practices (ENC) and determine related factors in La Dade Kotopon Municipal Assembly, Accra, Ghana.

Prevalence and risk factors associated with non-traffic related injury in the older population in Ghana: Wave 2 of the WHO Study on Global AGEing and adult health (SAGE).

Injuries are a significant cause of hospitalization in the older population, leading to a decline in physical activity and greater dependence on others. Compared to traffic related injury, relatively fewer studies have been conducted on non-traffic related injury in the older population in Ghana. This analysis provides a nationwide baseline prevalence and associated factors of non-traffic related injuries among older adults in Ghana.

Correction to: Factors associated with late presentation of cervical cancer cases at a district hospital: a retrospective study.

It has been highlighted, that the original article [1] contained errors in Fig. 1. On the 3rd level, the first box should read "Records with any required information = 157" and the second box should read "Records without any required information = 0".

Factors associated with late presentation of cervical cancer cases at a district hospital: a retrospective study.

Background: Cervical cancer is the leading and most common female cancer among women in Ghana. Although there are screening methods to detect premalignant lesions for treatment, screening coverage in Ghana is 2.8% and late presentation of cases complicates treatment efforts.

Solid medical waste: a cross sectional study of household disposal practices and reported harm in Southern Ghana.

Background: Solid medical waste (SMW) in households is perceived to pose minimal risks to the public compared to SMW generated from healthcare facilities. While waste from healthcare facilities is subject to recommended safety measures to minimize risks to human health and the environment, similar waste in households is often untreated and co-mingled with household waste which ends up in landfills and open dumps in many African countries. In Ghana, the management of this potentially hazardous waste stream at household and community level has not been widely reported.

Health Risks Associated with Oil Pollution in the Niger Delta, Nigeria.

Background: Although there is considerable public concern about the environmental impacts of oil pollution in the Niger Delta of Nigeria, actual evidence on the pathological and psychological effects in the health of local communities is minimally known. We sought to associate the perspective measures of exposure to oil pollution with health outcomes (inventory of health symptoms and functional capacity limitations) and determine how emotional reactions to environmental risks moderate these health outcomes.

Method: The study was conducted with 600 participants selected from five local government areas in Akwa Ibom State where oil pollution is rampant.