Factors associated with male acceptance of modern contraceptive methods. A descriptive cross-sectional study in a peri-urban municipality.

Background: Male knowledge and acceptance of modern contraceptive use play a significant role in uptake. This study assessed the factors associated with male acceptance of modern contraceptive methods in Ho Municipality.

Methods: A cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach was employed.

Postnatal experiences of teenage mothers in selected communities in Central Region, Ghana: a phenomenological study.

Background: Teenage childbirth is an issue of social and public health concern in Ghana, with high prevalence in some regions, including the Central Region. There is a dire need to understand the experiences of teenagers beyond pregnancies to facilitate comprehensive sexual and reproductive health information and service provision. We explored the postnatal experiences of teenage mothers in five communities in the Central Region of Ghana.

Extreme migratory connectivity and apparent mirroring of non-breeding grounds conditions in a severely declining breeding population of an Afro-Palearctic migratory bird.

Understanding the distribution of breeding populations of migratory animals in the non-breeding period (migratory connectivity) is important for understanding their response to environmental change. High connectivity (low non-breeding population dispersion) may lower resilience to climate change and increase vulnerability to habitat loss within their range. Very high levels of connectivity are reportedly rare, but this conclusion may be limited by methodology.

Confirmatory mapping for lymphatic filariasis in districts previously considered non-endemic in Ghana.

Objectives: Lymphatic filariasis (LF) elimination efforts in Ghana have been ongoing since 2001, achieving substantial progress through mass drug administration (MDA). However, despite significant advances, LF transmission persists in certain areas. Some districts previously classified as non-endemic have reported lymphedema and hydrocele cases, raising concerns about LF endemicity.

Natural Product Identification and Molecular Docking Studies of Leishmania Major Pteridine Reductase Inhibitors.

: Pteridine reductase 1 (PTR1) has been one of the prime targets for discovering novel antileishmanial therapeutics in the fight against Leishmaniasis. This enzyme catalyzes the NADPH-dependent reduction of pterins to their tetrahydro forms. While chemotherapy remains the primary treatment, its effectiveness is constrained by drug resistance, unfavorable side effects, and substantial associated costs.

Isolation and Bioactivity of Natural Products from sp. MA37.

The isolation and characterization of bioactive metabolites from species continue to represent a vital area of research, given their potential in natural product drug discovery. In this study, we characterize a new siderophore called legonoxamine I, together with a known compound, streptimidone, from the talented soil bacterium sp. MA37, using chromatographic techniques and spectroscopic analysis.

Functional Responses of the Warehouse Pirate Bug (Reuter) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) on a Diet of (Pearman) (Psocodea: Liposcelididae).

Psocids are difficult to manage using grain protectants and phosphine hence research on non-chemical control methods. This study evaluated the effectiveness of (Reuter) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) at managing (Pearman) (Psocodea: Liposcelididae). The functional responses of adult♀ and nymphs of on a diet of nymphs, adult♂, and adult♀ of were determined under laboratory conditions at 28 ± 1 °C, 63 ± 5% RH, and a 0:24 (L:D) photoperiod.

Emergence of Carbapenem-Resistant Harboring Isolated from River Water in Ghana.

, known for carrying the gene and linked to various diseases, is widely distributed. However, its prevalence in Ghana is unknown, mainly due to misidentification or inadequate research. In this study, for the first time, we characterized from Densu river water in Ghana.

Using a Hand-Held Icterometer to Screen for Neonatal Jaundice: Validation, Feasibility, and Acceptability of the Bili-Ruler in Kumasi, Ghana.

Background: Neonatal jaundice (NNJ) remains a leading cause of newborn mortality in much of sub-Saharan Africa. We sought to examine the validity of using a hand-held icterometer as a screening tool to determine which newborns need further assessment. Additionally, we sought to assess the feasibility of its use among mothers.

Can Cryptogonimids of the Same Genus Influence Each Other's Level of Genetic Variation?

Trematodes of the genus are parasites that are common in East and Southeast Asia. These parasites are known to infect fish, thus impacting aquaculture significantly. An introspection into the dynamics of infection of these parasites has revealed possible co-infection in shared hosts.

Validation of the Arabic Version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory-HSS Among Tunisian Medical Residents (A-MBI-MR): Factor Structure, Construct Validity, Reliability, and Gender Invariance.

: Burnout is a major problem for physical and mental health of medical residents. The key for maintaining well-being and quality of care of residents is the assessing tool. The study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) among Tunisian medical residents by assessing its factor structure, construct validity, reliability, and gender invariance.

Effects of naked neck and frizzle genes on growth and egg-laying performance of chickens in the tropics in an era of climate change.

In regions characterized by tropical and subtropical climates, the elevated ambient temperatures exert adverse effects on both broiler and laying chickens, impacting their growth and egg production performance. To mitigate the challenges posed by heat stress, genetic strategies aimed at reducing feather coverage have gained prominence in hot climate areas. Among these approaches, the naked neck (Na) and frizzle (F) genes have emerged as particularly noteworthy.

Genotype x environment interaction effect on grain yield of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) in Deciduous forest and Sudan savanna ecologies of Ghana.

Cowpea is deemed as a food security crop due to its ability to produce significant yields under conditions where other staples fail. Its resilience in harsh environments; such as drought, heat and marginal soils; along with its nitrogen-fixing capabilities and suitability as livestock feed make cowpea a preferred choice in many farming systems across sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Despite its importance, Cowpea yields in farmers' fields remain suboptimal, primarily due to biotic and abiotic factors and the use of either unimproved varieties or improved varieties that are not well-suited to local conditions.

Insulin therapy adherence and its associated factors among diabetic patients in a Ghanaian primary care hospital.

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a global health problem. Adherence to intensive insulin therapy is necessary to achieve better glycemic control in types 1 and 2 DM. This study aimed to evaluate the extent of adherence to insulin therapy, its predictors and to identify barriers to its adherence.

Female genital mutilation among children in Ethiopia: A time-to-event analysis of age at circumcision.

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) has become a global health concern. It is a deeply entrenched harmful practice involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia for non-medical reasons. To inform effective policymaking and raise awareness about FGM's health risks, understanding socioeconomic and demographic factors influencing the timing of girls' circumcision is crucial.

Yaws in Africa: Past, Present and Future.

Yaws is an infectious, neglected tropical disease that affects the skin of many children and adolescents who live in poor, rural, low-income communities in humid, tropical areas of Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands. Yaws is currently endemic in at least 15 countries, but adequate surveillance data are lacking. In line with the WHO's effort to improve early detection, diagnosis, and proper management leading to the eventual eradication of yaws, this article reviews the existing literature on yaws in Africa to highlight the epidemiological pattern, genetic variability, diagnosis modalities, treatment, and control strategies, the challenges and prospects for yaws eradication.

Feasibility study on fingerprinting organic and conventional mango fruits, chips, and juice using portable near-infrared spectroscopy.

This research examined the distinction between organic and conventional mango fruits, chips, and juice using portable near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy. A comprehensive analysis was conducted on a sample of 100 mangoes (comprising 50 organic and 50 conventional) utilising a portable NIR spectrometer that spans a wavelength range from 900 to 1700 nm. The mangoes were assessed in their entirety and their juice and chip forms.

Machine learning and molecular dynamics simulations predict potential TGR5 agonists for type 2 diabetes treatment.

Introduction: Treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2D) remains a significant challenge because of its multifactorial nature and complex metabolic pathways. There is growing interest in finding new therapeutic targets that could lead to safer and more effective treatment options. Takeda G protein-coupled receptor 5 (TGR5) is a promising antidiabetic target that plays a key role in metabolic regulation, especially in glucose homeostasis and energy expenditure.

Knowledge of the ovulatory cycle and its determinants among adolescent females in Ghana.

Background: Good knowledge about the ovulatory cycle plays an important role in reducing unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortions among adolescent females. However, in Ghana, knowledge of the ovulatory cycle among adolescent females is not well studied. Thus, this study sought to assess adolescent females' knowledge regarding the ovulatory cycle and its determinants in Ghana.

Minimally invasive management of hidradenitis suppurativa using a 1470 nm diode laser: a step-by-step description of our technique.

Background: The management of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) requires a multidisciplinary approach to ensure sustainable treatment results, especially in the advanced stages. Traditionally, deroofing and wide excision represented commonly employed surgical techniques. Due to the recurrent nature of HS, tissue preservation should be a relevant aspect of surgical management.

Metabolic resistance to pyrethroids with possible involvement of non-coding ribonucleic acids in Anopheles funestus, the major malaria vector in western Kenya.

Background: The resurgence of Anopheles funestus, a dominant vector of human malaria in western Kenya was partly attributed to insecticide resistance. However, evidence on the molecular basis of pyrethroid resistance in western Kenya is limited. Here, we reported metabolic resistance mechanisms and demonstrated that multiple non-coding Ribonucleic Acids (ncRNAs) could play a potential role in An.

A cross-country network analysis of disease infodemics: Looking through the lens of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Infodemics surrounding pandemics and epidemics have persisted for centuries and continue to impede efforts to promote high vaccination coverage. We explored the complex interplay between COVID-19 vaccination attitudes and COVID-19-related infodemics across Germany, Ghana, India, and New Zealand using the novel network analysis. We conducted an online cross-sectional survey and recruited 1822 participants from the general populations of India (n = 411), New Zealand (n = 413), Ghana (n = 523), and Germany (n = 413) to complete COVID-19 infodemic measures and demographics questions.