Evaluating catastrophic health expenditures among patients with long bone fractures in Ghana's major teaching hospitals: a hospital-based analysis.

Background: In low and middle-income countries like Ghana, out-of-pocket (OOP) payments remain a significant barrier to healthcare access, often leading to catastrophic health expenditures (CHE). This study evaluates the incidence of CHE among patients treated for long bone fractures at Ghana's major teaching hospitals, providing insight into the economic burdens faced by these patients.

Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from 2,980 patients with long bone fractures treated at four major teaching hospitals in Ghana from July 2017 to July 2020.

Latent class analysis of the capacity of countries to manage diabetes and its relationship with diabetes-related deaths and healthcare costs.

Background: The prevalence of diabetes is escalating globally, underscoring the need for comprehensive evidence to inform health systems in effectively addressing this epidemic. The purpose of this study was to examine the patterns of countries' capacity to manage diabetes using latent class analysis (LCA) and to determine whether the patterns are associated with diabetes-related deaths and healthcare costs.

Methods: Eight indicators of country-level capacity were drawn from the World Health Organization Global Health Observatory dataset: the widespread availability of hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) testing, existence of diabetes registry, national diabetes management guidelines, national strategy for diabetes care, blood glucose testing, diabetic retinopathy screening, sulfonylureas, and metformin in the public health sector.

Digital health for early psychosis in Ghana: patient and caregiver needs and preferences.

In West Africa, the long-term consequences of poor early psychosis recovery include poverty, neglect, and community ostracization. To understand the potential for digital health approaches to support early psychosis care in Ghana, we conducted a survey study among early psychosis patients and their caregivers about mental health needs, technology use and access, and interest in digital mental health. Hospital staff at Accra Psychiatric Hospital reviewed hospital medical records from January 2023 - December 2023 identifying young adults (≥18 years old) who had experienced psychosis symptoms for the first time within the prior five years.

A bioactive fraction from the leaves of Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn. exhibits antiproliferative activity via cell cycle arrest at the G1/S checkpoint and initiation of apoptosis via poly [ADP-ribose] polymerase 1 (PARP1) cleavage in HeLa cells.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn. (Malvaceae) has been used in Africa traditionally to manage a variety of illnesses, including cancer.

Assessing the fungal contamination and potential impact of ochratoxigenic species on cocoa beans from cocoa-growing regions of Ghana.

Objective: This study investigated the fungal contamination profile of cocoa beans from cocoa-growing regions in Ghana, with particular emphasis on the potential impact of ochratoxigenic species.

Methods: A total of 104 fermented and dried cocoa beans were randomly collected from farmers for analysis. Fungal isolation was conducted using potato dextrose agar and malt extract agar media.

Investigating Environmental Determinants of Hookworm Transmission using GPS Tracking and Metagenomics Technologies.

To identify potential sources of hookworm infections in a Ghanaian community of endemicity that could be targeted to interrupt transmission, we tracked the movements of infected and noninfected persons to their most frequented locations. Fifty-nine participants (29 hookworm positives and 30 negatives) wore GPS trackers for 10 consecutive days. Their movement data were captured in real time and overlaid on a community grid map.

Building a near-infrared (NIR) soil spectral dataset and predictive machine learning models using a handheld NIR spectrophotometer.

This near-infrared spectral dataset consists of 2,106 diverse mineral soil samples scanned, on average, on six different units of the same low-cost commercially available handheld spectrophotometer. Most soil samples were selected from the USDA NRCS National Soil Survey Center-Kellogg Soil Survey Laboratory (NSSC-KSSL) soil archives to represent the diversity of mineral soils (0-30 cm) found in the United States, while 90 samples were selected from Ghana, Kenya, and Nigeria to represent available African soils in the same archive. All scanning was performed on dried and sieved (<2 mm) soil samples.

Revisiting the drivers of electricity consumption in designated Sub-Saharan African regions: Unraveling the role of education.

It has been established that steady supply of energy to various sectors of the economy is critical for societal growth and development. According to recent figures, barely one-third of the whole population in Sub-Saharan Africa has access to electricity, making the region the poorest in the world in terms of access to electrical power today. This stands in stark contrast to the vast energy resources that could be utilized to provide the necessary energy.

Associations between fear of COVID-19 and mental health in Ghana: A sequential mediation model.

Introduction: Although the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has ceased globally, individuals may still suffer from various psychological burdens in the post-COVID-19 era. The present observational cross-sectional study investigated how fear of COVID-19 can affect mental health through mediators including stress, perceived stigma, and preventive behaviors among young adults in Ghana.

Methods: A total of 635 participants aged between 18 and 29 years (mean age = 20.

Effects of community action on animal vaccination uptake, antimicrobial usage, and farmers' wellbeing in Ghana: study protocol for a cluster-randomized controlled trial.

Infectious animal diseases represent a major constraint to livestock productivity, food security and wellbeing in many developing countries. To mitigate these impacts, farmers frequently use antimicrobials without professional advice, potentially yielding drug residues in livestock products and the food chain, as well as resistant antimicrobial genes. Recent studies identified Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP) and Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) as the diseases most negatively affecting ruminant livestock productivity and farmers' wellbeing in Ghana.

Nutritional and antioxidative characterization, antimicrobial and sensorial stability of flaxseed powder supplemented mutton patties.

Oxidative stress and microbial growth deteriorate food quality and cause safety risks. Therefore, the present study was investigated to explore the nutritional, sensorial, anti-oxidative and anti-microbial attributes of flaxseed powder (FP) supplemented at 2-8 % (i.e.

Effective community engagement in one health research in Sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review.

Background: The one health (OH) approach, linking human, animal, and environmental health, relies on effective community engagement (CE), education, stewardship, and effective regional and global partnerships. For real impact, communities should be at the centre of research agenda setting and program implementation. This review aimed at synthesizing empirical evidence on how communities are involved in one health research.

Exploring the contribution of integrated healthcare practices to malaria control in Ghana: perspectives of medical herbalists.

Background: The integration of herbal and orthodox medicines has gained momentum in global health, ensuring improved management of infectious diseases like malaria. This study explored the experiences of medical herbalists working in Ghana's diverse ecological zones to understand the contributions of integrated healthcare to malaria control.

Methods: A phenomenological design was employed to conduct in-depth interviews with 19 purposively sampled medical herbalists.

Epidemiology of ophthalmia neonatorum: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: To elucidate the global epidemiology of Ophthalmia Neonatorum (ON), as well as its causative organisms and their antibiotic susceptibility patterns.

Methods: A systematic review of studies reporting the epidemiology of ON was performed using four electronic databases: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Medline. Data were extracted and study-specific estimates were combined using meta-analysis to obtain pooled proportions.

Caregiver acceptability of seasonal malaria chemoprevention in two districts in the Upper West region, Ghana: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Acceptability of malaria chemoprevention interventions by caregivers is crucial for overall programme success. This study assessed coverage and acceptability of Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) in selected communities in the Northern part of Ghana.

Methods: An analytical cross-sectional design was conducted from "July 23rd to August 4th, 2020-a 12-day period that covered 5 days of the first SMC implementation cycle and 7 days post-implementation.

Governance and resilience as entry points for transforming food systems in the countdown to 2030.

Due to complex interactions, changes in any one area of food systems are likely to impact-and possibly depend on-changes in other areas. Here we present the first annual monitoring update of the indicator framework proposed by the Food Systems Countdown Initiative, with new qualitative analysis elucidating interactions across indicators. Since 2000, we find that 20 of 42 indicators with time series have been trending in a desirable direction, indicating modest positive change.

Disparities in dolutegravir utilisation in children, adolescents and young adults (0-24 years) living with HIV. An analysis of the IeDEA Pediatric West African cohort.

Introduction: We describe the 24-month incidence of Dolutegravir (DTG)-containing antiretroviral treatment (ART) initiation since its introduction in 2019 in West Africa.

Methods: We included all patients aged 0-24 years on ART from nine clinics in Côte d'Ivoire (n=4), Ghana, Nigeria, Mali, Benin, and Burkina Faso. Baseline varied by clinic and was defined as date of first DTG prescription; patients were followed up until database closure/death/loss to follow-up (LTFU, no visit ≥7 months), whichever came first.

Respectful maternity care and mistreatment: Women's experiences during induction of labor and childbirth in Ghana.

Background: Most studies on respectful maternity care (RMC) and mistreatment of women have focused on intrapartum care with limited information on how women are treated during induction of labor (IOL), pre-labor phase of the maternity care continuum. Emerging multi-country evidence indicates that nearly 30% of women who undergo IOL do not consent to the procedure and constitutes a violation of their rights to optimal maternal health. This study explored women's lived experiences of respectful care and mistreatment during IOL in a tertiary setting in Ghana.

Exploring cooking fuel choices among Ghanaian women of reproductive age: A socio-economic analysis from a statistical mechanics perspective.

Access to clean and efficient cooking fuel is crucial for promoting good health, safeguarding the environment, and driving economic growth. Despite efforts to promote the adoption of cleaner alternatives, traditional solid fuels such as charcoal and firewood remain prevalent in Ghana. In this study, we utilized a statistical mechanical model as a framework to explore the statistical relationship between socio-economic factors such as educational attainment, wealth status, place of residence, and cooking fuel choices.

Synthesis of zeolite from rice husk ash and kaolinite clay for the removal of methylene blue from aqueous solution.

Zeolite was successfully synthesized using a mixture of kaolinite clay (which served as the alumina source) and rice husk ash (silica source). The aim of this work was to synthesize highly efficient zelolite to remove methyle blue dye from aqueous solution. The synthesized adsorbent was characterised using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, powder x-ray diffraction (PXRD) analysis, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and pH at the point of zero charge (pHpzc).

Mental health interventions for adolescents living with HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa: protocol for a systematic review.

Introduction: Adolescents living with HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa have heightened risk for mental health and psychosocial burden owing to their exposure to a multiplicity of adverse conditions such as stigma and discrimination. However, there is no comprehensive evidence synthesis and evaluation of the effectiveness of mental health interventions for adolescents living with HIV/AIDS in this region. We aim to conduct a systematic review to synthesise the literature on existing mental health interventions for adolescents living with HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa.

Factors influencing access, quality and utilisation of primary healthcare for patients living with hypertension in West Africa: a scoping review.

Objectives: Hypertension is one of the most prevalent non-communicable diseases in West Africa, which responds to effective primary care. This scoping review explored factors influencing primary care access, utilisation and quality for patients with hypertension in West Africa.

Design: Scoping review using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis extension for scoping reviews.

Therapeutic development to accelerate malaria control through intentional intervention layering.

The clinical development of novel vaccines, injectable therapeutics, and oral chemoprevention drugs has the potential to deliver significant advancements in the prevention of Plasmodium falciparum malaria. These innovations could support regions in accelerating malaria control, transforming existing intervention packages by supplementing interventions with imperfect effectiveness or offering an entirely new tool. However, to layer new medical tools as part of an existing programme, malaria researchers must come to an agreement on the gaps that currently limit the effectiveness of medical interventions for moderate to low transmission settings.

Potential effects of Whatsapp on maternal health services uptake during COVID-19: a cross-sectional study in Ghana.

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic period Health Care Practitioners (HCPs) were seen to facilitate healthcare delivery by using their mobile phones also known as "informal mHealth", especially in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). WhatsApp has become popular in recent years with over 380 million users. It has therefore been identified that the effective use of WhatsApp by HCP for health could positively impact it.

Work engagement, resilience and turnover intentions among nurses: a mediation analysis.

Introduction: Healthcare organizations experience difficult challenges as a result of nursing staff turnover. This is because it not only interrupts continuity of service but also its financial implications.

Aim: The purpose of the study was to find out the effects of work engagement on nurses' intentions to leave their jobs while considering resilience as a mediating factor.