Pan African Vivax and Ovale Network (PAVON) Malaria Diagnostic Competency Training: Offering Training Opportunities to Impact Malaria Elimination Strategies in Sub-Saharan Africa.

PAVON has developed a malaria microscopy competency training scheme to augment competency in malaria microscopy. Here, data accrued from training activities between 2020 and 2023 in Botswana are presented. Three trainings were done for 37 central and peripheral level technicians for a two-week period.

Knowledge access and satisfaction of pregnant women on the use of the National Health Insurance Scheme in accessing health care in the Bia East District of Ghana.

Introduction: In Ghana, access to health care is impeded mostly by financial capital. The National Health Insurance (NHIS) rolled out in 2003 was an attempt to remove cost as a barrier and help bridge this gap in health access. Despite the benefits, enrolment and use have been low.

Modelling spatiotemporal variation in under-five malaria risk in Ghana in 2016-2021.

Background: Ghana is among the top 10 highest malaria burden countries, with about 20,000 children dying annually, 25% of which were under five years. This study aimed to produce interactive web-based disease spatial maps and identify the high-burden malaria districts in Ghana.

Methods: The study used 2016-2021 data extracted from the routine health service nationally representative and comprehensive District Health Information Management System II (DHIMS2) implemented by the Ghana Health Service.

Multilevel modelling of neonatal mortality in Ghana: Does household and community levels matter?

Background: Neonatal mortality accounts for an increasing share of under-five deaths, and they are declining at a slower rate than postnatal deaths. Apparently, neonatal mortality is increasingly becoming a major public health problem in Ghana and the world over. The current study sought to analyze neonatal mortality as a function of predictor variables and to estimate and understand unobserved household and community-level residual effects on neonatal mortality to provide data driven evidence to shape informed policies and interventions aimed at reducing the neonatal mortality burden.

Joint modelling of systolic and diastolic blood pressure and its associated factors among women in Ghana: Multivariate response multilevel modelling methods.

Elevated blood pressure is the leading cause of cardiovascular diseases related mortality and a major contributor to non-communicable diseases globally, especially in sub-Saharan Africa where about 74.7 million people live with hypertension. In Ghana, hypertension is epidemic with prevalence of over 30% and experiencing continuing burden with its associated morbidity and mortality.

The efficacy of pharmacological interventions to improve cognitive and behavior symptoms in people with dementia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background And Aims: Dementia is becoming a major global public health menace in the aging population affecting 47 million people globally. Dementia has no cure and effective interventions. Treatment of dementia is a big problem.

Predictive model and determinants of odds of neonates dying within 28 days of life in Ghana.

Background: One of the priorities and important current problem in public health research globally is modeling of neonatal mortality and its risk factors in using the appropriate statistical methods. It is believed that multiple risk factors interplay to increase the risk of neonatal mortality. To understand the risk factors of neonatal mortality in Ghana, the current study carefully evaluated and compared the predictive accuracy and performance of two classification models.

Trends for Diarrhea Morbidity in the Jasikan District of Ghana: Estimates from District Level Diarrhea Surveillance Data, 2012-2016.

About 22% of childhood deaths in developing countries are attributable to diarrhea. In poor resource settings, diarrhea morbidities are correlated with poverty and socio-contextual factors. Diarrhea rates in Ghana are reported to be high, with cases estimated at 113,786 among children under-five years in 2011.

Assessing the ownership, usage and knowledge of Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) in Malaria Prevention in the Hohoe Municipality, Ghana.

Introduction: Malaria remains one of the top five killer diseases in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and its burden is skewed towards pregnant women and children under five. Insecticide Treated Bed-Net (ITN) usage is considered one of the most cost-effective, preventive interventions against malaria. This study sought to assess ownership, usage, effectiveness, knowledge, access and availability of ITNs among mothers with children under five in the Hohoe municipality.