Barriers to orthodox medical care of prostate cancer in Ghana.

Traditional medicine is widely used in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Ghana, where it is commonly integrated with modern orthodox medicine. This study examines the barriers that delay the pursuit of orthodox medical care for prostate cancer (PCa) in Ghana's Central region, where a blend of traditional and modern orthodox medicine exists. The preference for indigenous traditional medicine often results in late-stage presentations of PCa, adversely affecting patient outcomes.

Post-COVID-19 conditions and health effects in Africa: a scoping review.

Introduction: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has caused global devastations in social, economic and health systems of every nation, but disproportionately of nations in Africa. In addition to its grave effects on the global systems, there is continuation or development of new symptoms among individuals who have contracted the virus, with the potential to further stress the health systems on the continent. Therefore, the aim of this scoping review was to collate and summarise the existing research evidence on the prevalence and health effects of post-COVID-19 conditions in Africa.

Exploring reduction of prolonged binocular vision testing time: the agreement between the first and second thirty seconds within one minute of accommodative and vergence facility tests.

The study sought to compare the number of cycles (NOS) for the first and second thirty-seconds (FASTS) within 1 min of accommodative facility (AF) and vergence facility (VF) testing to explore possibilities of reducing testing time to 30 s. In this cross-sectional study, a multistage sample of school children (aged 8-17 years) was taken through ocular-visual screening. Eligible participants (586) underwent refraction, stereo-acuity measurement, AF testing using ± 2D lens flippers, and VF testing using 3 BI/12 BO flipper prisms.

In Vitro Evaluation of Rosemary Essential Oil: GC-MS Profiling, Antibacterial Synergy, and Biofilm Inhibition.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has become precarious, warranting investments in antimicrobial discovery. To investigate the antibacterial activity of rosemary essential oil (REO), alone and in combination with selected conventional antibiotics. REO was subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing (including minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) determination) and investigation of anti-pre-biofilm and antibiofilm activities.

Spatial Variation and Predictors of Women's Sole Autonomy in Healthcare Decision-Making in Bangladesh: A Spatial and Multilevel Analysis.

Knowing the spatial variation and predictors of women having sole autonomy over their healthcare decisions is crucial to design site-specific interventions. This study examined how women's sole autonomy over their healthcare choices varies geographically and what factors influence this autonomy among Bangladeshi women of childbearing age. Data were obtained from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) 2017-18.

The association of telomere length and religiosity: A systematic review.

Objective: Religiosity is a complex construct comprised observance, intrinsic beliefs, meditative practice, and communal elements. Religiosity has been associated with reduced mortality and improved overall health, but understanding the underlying biological associations is evolving. As increased telomere length has been associated with increased longevity, this project presents a systematic review of studies investigating the relationship between religiosity and telomere length.

Association between gene polymorphisms and glaucoma susceptibility among Africans: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: This study sought to analyze the effect of allele mutations and gene functions specific to glaucoma susceptibility among Africans.

Methods: Potentially relevant studies were retrieved from major bibliographic databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science). Data were extracted and study-specific estimates were meta-analyzed using various models to obtain pooled results.

Characterizing populations prioritized for PrEP in 19 African countries: a review of national guidance.

Introduction: While African countries have expanded access to HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) since 2015, regional targets for PrEP uptake remain unmet. Understanding which populations are prioritized for PrEP at the policy level is an important step in determining the scope of PrEP distribution across Africa and identifying gaps in programme implementation. We reviewed national guidance to characterize populations prioritized for PrEP in Africa.

Health economics of snakebite envenomation: A sub-Saharan African perspective.

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is affected by the high direct and indirect costs of snakebite envenomation. With >30% of global mortality, different economic barriers still exist, and effective strategies must be employed to avert the burden and promote quality of life. With the WHO target of reducing the number of snakebites by one-half by 2030, different aspects concerning snakebite envenomation economics must be evaluated, and potential strategies must be developed.

Factors associated with vaccine default in Southern Ghana based on data from the RTSS malaria vaccine trial in Cape Coast.

Malaria has been a severe global and public health concern for the last couple of decades. Ghana, like many other countries in sub-Saharan Africa, is most affected by the disease, with children facing dire consequences. The recent introduction of the RTS, S malaria vaccine holds great potential in reducing malaria fatalities in children.

Dimensions of well-being and social harmony of older persons in Ghana: A secondary analysis of longitudinal survey data of the 2014/15 Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health (SAGE Wave 2).

Objectives: A crucial factor in healthy ageing is age-friendly environments for older persons. The opportunities that come with getting older as well as the safety of older persons are influenced by their social surroundings and overall well-being, yet, there is a dearth of research focus on this subject. This study examined the association between dimensions of well-being and the social harmony of older persons in Ghana.

Feasibility of the use of Kangaroo mother care in the transfer of preterm and low-birth-weight infants: a two-arm nonrandomized controlled cluster feasibility study of neonatal transport in Cape Coast, Ghana.

Background: Despite progress made towards SDG 3, sub-Saharan Africa lags behind the rest of the world, accounting for over 50% of global neonatal deaths. The increased number of hospital births in the region has not reciprocated the reduction in neonatal mortality rates. Sick newborns face uncertain journeys from peripheral facilities to specialized centres arriving in suboptimal conditions, which impacts their outcomes, due partly to the scarcity of dedicated neonatal transport services.

Oxidative Stress and Cancer Risk in Schistosomiasis.

Schistosomiasis is considered one of the most devastating parasitic diseases globally, coming second only to malaria in terms of morbidity. The disease-causing parasite can inhabit the body for over a decade, leading to imbalances in the host's metabolic systems. The flukes and their eggs can illicit various immunological and metabolic complications resulting in the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS).

Understanding cervical cancer prevention in Africa: a qualitative systematic review of the role of men.

Background: Cervical cancer (CC) is a preventable noncommunicable disease if detected early through screening for precancers and appropriately managed. The causal link with high-risk human papillomavirus infection is established, making elimination possible through the WHO multipronged 90:70:90 strategy. However, practical CC elimination efforts need to address issues within the sociocultural context that can facilitate or hinder prevention strategies.

Exploration of demographic prevalence of mild cognitive impairment using Montreal cognitive assessment: A cross-sectional pilot study in the Cape Coast Metropolis, Ghana.

Background: The Global prevalence of dementia is projected to rise, particularly in low and middle-income countries like Ghana. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI), an intermediate phase between normal cognitive aging and dementia, is characterized by an objective and subjective decline in cognitive abilities. Individuals with MCI have a greater likelihood of progression to dementia.

Individual- and community-level correlates of intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy in Ghana: further analysis of the 2019 Malaria Indicator Survey.

Background: Ghana adopted the policy on Intermittent Preventive Treatment of malaria in pregnancy using Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP) in 2004. Notwithstanding the government's and other stakeholders' efforts in Ghana, optimal uptake (three or more doses of IPTp-SP) has slightly declined since 2016. The study examined the individual and community-level correlates of pregnant women who take optimal or none/partial doses (less than three doses) of IPTp-SP using the Ghana Malaria Indicator Survey (GMIS) 2019.

Integrating modern and herbal medicines in controlling malaria: experiences of orthodox healthcare providers in Ghana.

Background: In Ghana, the government has integrated herbal medicine into the formal healthcare system in response to widespread use of traditional remedies. However, empirical evidence supporting the contribution of integrated healthcare to malaria control remains limited. This study employed a phenomenological qualitative research design to explore the experiences of medical doctors and pharmacists from the coastal, forest and savannah regions of Ghana regarding the integration of modern and herbal medicine in the treatment and control of malaria.

Preschool Vision Screening and Policy: Availability, Awareness and Perceptions of Stakeholders in Selected Locations in Harare and Mashonaland East Provinces.

Background: This study aimed to determine the availability, awareness and perceptions of preschool vision screening (PSVS) and policies among stakeholders in Zimbabwe.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was carried out, and a multi-stage sampling was used to select the schools from private and public schools. The study involved stakeholders (parents/guardians, teachers, principals, proprietors/owners and administrators) and data was collected using a validated questionnaire.

Dynamics of Myopia Progression in Ghana-Evidence From Clinical Practice: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background And Aim: To investigate the pattern of progression of myopia among a Ghanaian clinical cohort.

Methods: A retrospective cohort analysis of a clinical data set of all healthy myopic participants attending a tertiary eye care center was performed. Participants' biennial refraction examinations were tracked for refractive changes 4 years after the date of the first visit.

Factors that inhibit the social involvement of children with autism: perspectives of parents in the Cape Coast metropolis.

Background: Many countries, including Ghana, continue to face challenges concerning the social involvement of persons with disabilities such as autism. This study investigated the factors that inhibit the social involvement of children with autism in the Cape Coast Metropolis.

Methods: The study was conducted in the Cape Coast metropolis.

Health Risk Assessment of Occupational Exposures of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, Phthalates, and Semi-Volatile Chlorinated Organic Compounds in Urine of Commercial Fish Smokers, Ghana.

Occupational exposure to smoke and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) poses significant health risks, especially for commercial fish smokers who are regularly exposed to high levels of smoke and particulate matter. This study aimed to evaluate the exposure levels and assess the health risks associated with PAHs, phenols, phthalates, and substituted benzenes among 155 fish smokers in Ghana. A total of 155 urine samples from fish smokers across selected coastal regions in Ghana were collected and analyzed.

Prevalence of diabetes and its associated factors in Cape Verde: an analysis of the 2020 WHO STEPS survey on non-communicable diseases risk factors.

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) represents a significant global health challenge, with its prevalence steadily rising across diverse populations. Understanding the factors associated with T2DM is crucial for effective prevention and management strategies. In Cape Verde, an archipelago nation off the coast of West Africa, the burden of T2DM is of particular concern, yet comprehensive studies investigating its determinants in this context remain sparse.

Low utilization of skilled delivery services in rural sub-Saharan Africa: a case for facility delivery improvement.

Maternal mortality remains a pressing global challenge, with sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) disproportionately affected. Despite efforts to improve access to skilled delivery services, utilization remains low, especially in rural areas. This paper synthesizes the extant literature and empirical evidence from rural Ghana to highlight the critical issue of low-skilled delivery services uptake in rural SSA.

Energy and vulnerability: Exploring the energy poverty-risky sexual behavior nexus among young women in Ghana.

While recent policy agendas have extensively addressed both energy poverty and risky sexual behavior separately, little research has explored their intersection. This pioneering study investigates the relationship between energy deprivation and risky sexual behavior in female youth. Utilizing data from the Demographic and Health Survey in Ghana and employing robust methodologies, including the Lewbel two-stage regression and alternative energy deprivation thresholds, our findings reveal an 8.