Urban Noise Pollution in Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, Ghana: Implications for Public Health and Quality of Life.

This study focused on urban noise pollution in the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, Ghana, examining its implications for public health and quality of life. Five submetropolitan areas: Subin, Bantama, Manhyia North, Manhyia South and Nhyiaeso were selected to represent different neighbourhood types: commercial, residential and mixed-use zones. Ambient noise levels were monitored using a JD-801A sound level meter.

Sexual activity and contraceptive use among adolescents: A descriptive survey in a Ghanaian municipality.

Contraceptive use is essential for reducing unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among adolescents. Sexual activity during adolescence, particularly in developing countries, remains a major public health concern with significant implications for reproductive health. Adolescents aged 10-19 undergo significant hormonal changes that contribute to heightened sexual drive and an increased likelihood of early sexual activity.

Determinants of motorcycle-related head injuries among children and youth: an unmatched case-control study in northern Ghana.

Background: Motorcycles are a major source of road traffic injuries, with a preponderance of head injuries (HIs), especially among children and young adults. The reported prevalence of HI among children and young adults ranges between 17% and 67%. This study examined the determinants of motorcycle-related HIs among children and youth in northern Ghana.

Effect of a ginger-spiced millet-soya drink and breastfeeding education on prolactin levels and breast milk volumes in postpartum mothers in northern Ghana: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Exclusive breastfeeding is essential for optimal infant nutrition and health, yet many mothers experience concerns about insufficient milk supply. This study investigated the effects of a ginger-spiced millet-soya drink (Zim-So drink), selected for its rich content of phytoestrogens and cultural use as a galactagogue and breastfeeding education on breast milk volumes and prolactin levels to enhance breastfeeding experiences among postpartum mothers in Tamale, Northern Ghana.

Method: A randomized-controlled intervention study was conducted, with 75 participants randomly assigned to three groups: Zim-So drink (n = 25), breastfeeding education (n = 25), or control (n = 25).

Prevalence and predictors of caesarean deliveries at the Tamale teaching hospital in Northern Ghana.

Background: Modern medicine has significantly transformed the process of childbirth among women. The preferred mode of childbirth has become of global interest to many researchers due to the steady rise in recent caesarean section (CS) rates. While CS is often viewed as a life-saving intervention, it is associated with both immediate and long-term complications for the mother, newborn, and future pregnancies.

Are they looking for support? Mental health and trauma awareness as predictors of mental health help-seeking behaviour among young adults and adolescents in Bangladesh, Egypt, Ghana and the United Arab Emirates.

Background: Mental health is increasingly recognized worldwide as a significant public health challenge. However, progress in developing interventions to address mental health burdens, particularly in non-Western countries, has been remarkably slow. This stagnation may be attributed to limited research on the underlying causes of mental health issues, such as trauma, as well as a lack of awareness regarding mental health disorders and help-seeking behaviours.

Coupled Transport and Reaction Modeling of Sorbent Particle Size Effects in Nonisothermal Packed-Bed CO Adsorption.

Recent studies have shown that solid sorbents offer a promising route for post-combustion CO capture. This potential remains uncertain because the influence of particle size on the capture efficiency and reactor performance has not been fully characterized. Here, we developed a two-dimensional CFD Eulerian-Eulerian model, validated it against experimental data, and applied it to simulate CO capture in a packed-bed reactor filled with spherical particles of 0.

Low prevalence but high resistance of Extended Spectrum Beta-lactamase producing isolated from Hospitals in the Ashanti Region of Ghana.

Background: Antibiotic resistance continues to be a threat to public health worldwide, with its associated increased healthcare costs and loss of human lives. Despite the increasing reports of multi-drug resistant (MDR) (), its prevalence and resistance patterns remain under-reported in several developing countries, including Ghana.

Objectives: This study hence sought to investigate the prevalence and resistance patterns of isolates from five selected hospitals in the Ashanti region of Ghana.

Prevalence and Predictors of Mother-to-Child Transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) among HIV-exposed Infants.

Background And Objective: There is a global effort to eliminate new human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections among children. However, mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV, which accounts for nearly all pediatric infections, remains disproportionately high in Africa, including Ghana. This study aims to determine the prevalence and identify the key predictors of MTCT of HIV among HIV-exposed infants in the Ashanti Region of Ghana.

Predictors of academic referrals among nursing and midwifery students: quantitative insights from Ghana.

Introduction: Academic referrals represent a significant challenge in nursing and midwifery education as they indicate student performance and retention weaknesses. However, the factors contributing to academic referrals have been underexplored, hampering efforts to develop effective interventions to support at-risk students.

Objective: The study examined the demographic, academic, and institutional factors associated with academic referrals among nursing and midwifery students.

'The new geriatric giants': how do loneliness and social isolation contribute to probable depression in older adults?

Social isolation and loneliness have been linked to adverse health outcomes such as depression in old age. However, limited data exist on the association of loneliness and social isolation with probable depression (PD) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), while psychosocial mediators are largely unknown. This study investigates the individual and joint associations of social isolation and loneliness with PD among older adults in Ghana.

Global Disparities in Access and Utilization of Dialysis - Africa, the Disadvantaged Continent.

As the burden of CKD continues to increase globally, there remains huge disparities in CKD management and access to treatment in Africa. This review highlights disparities in access and utilization of dialysis in Africa, comparing this with other regions as well as global median values. In-centre hemodialysis is available in all countries in Africa; however, there are significant gaps in its access and utilization across countries.

Subtilisin-like Domain-Containing Protein (PfSDP), a Cross-Stage Antigen, Elicits Short-Lived Antibody Response Following Natural Infection with .

With the increasing detection of artemisinin resistance to front-line antimalarials in Africa and notwithstanding the planned roll-out of RTS'S and R21 in Africa, the search for new vaccines with high efficacy remains an imperative. Towards this endeavour, we performed in silico screening to identify gametocyte stage genes that could be targets of protection or diagnosis. Through the analysis we identified a gene, Pf3D7_1105800, coding for a subtilisin-like domain-containing protein (PfSDP) and thus dubbed the gene .

First-trimester uterine rupture in a scarred uterus: a case report.

First-trimester uterine rupture is a rare but potentially fatal complication of pregnancy. It usually presents a diagnostic challenge because intrauterine gestation may still be visible on ultrasound even after uterine rupture with associated hemoperitoneum. The typical signs of uterine rupture, including abdominal tenderness, hemoperitoneum, and hemodynamic instability, become the guiding principle when considering a decision on emergency laparotomy.

Detection of a hydrogen sulfide-negative Typhimurium from cattle feces in a cross-sectional study of cow-calf herds in the Southeastern United States.

Introduction: Cattle are well-recognized reservoirs of ; however, reports of atypical hydrogen sulfide (HS)-negative strains from bovine sources remain scarce. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the antimicrobial resistance profiles and epidemiology of among rural cow-calf herds in Alabama, United States, with a particular focus on isolating emerging HS-negative variants.

Method: Between April and May 2024, a total of 311 fecal samples were collected from cattle across 18 farm operations in six counties.

Performance of novel digital real-time PCR for detection of SARS-CoV-2, respiratory syncytial viruses, and influenza viruses in Ghana.

Unlabelled: Digital PCR (dPCR) systems offer high sensitivity and reproducibility without requiring external control standards. However, their performance against real-time reverse transcription-PCR (rRT-PCR) for detecting respiratory viruses remains unexplored in Ghana. We therefore evaluated the performance of a novel dPCR, Lab-On-An-Array (LOAA), for the detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and influenza viruses type A (Flu A) and B (Flu B).

Modeling the differential effect of prescribed fire on multi-vector tick-borne tularemia disease.

Tularemia is a zoonotic disease caused by Francisella tularensis bacteria, a gram-negative coccobacillus-shaped bacterium. There are multiple transmission routes of the infection to humans such as consumption of contaminated food or water, handling of infected animals or bites from haematophagous arthropods (such as ticks, deer flies, or mosquitoes). In this study, we focus on transmission via the bites of ticks and developed a deterministic model of ordinary and impulsive differential equations to gain insight about the differential effect of prescribed fire on Dermacentor variabilis and Amblyomma americanum ticks and the prevalence of tularemina.

Next-generation sequencing reveals viral aetiologies of encephalitis in Ghana: a prospective cross-sectional study.

In Ghana, cerebrospinal fluid polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is the primary diagnostic tool for viral encephalitis. However, its application remains limited, and diagnosis is predominantly syndromic. Current data on encephalitis in Ghana are sparse and often restricted to sporadic cases, with improved PCR diagnostics elucidating some aetiological agents but leaving approximately 60% of cases undiagnosed.

Work-related stress and sleep problems among small-scale miners in Ghana: The role of psychological factors.

Objectives: Sleep problems (SP) are prevalent among small-scale miners, yet little is known about their psychological and occupational determinants. We examined the association between work-related stress (WRS) and SP among small-scale miners in Ghana and explored the mediating roles of anxiety and depression in this association.

Methods: In this community-based cross-sectional study, data were collected from 664 miners in Obuasi,Ghana.

Pathfinder studies: a novel tool for process mapping data-driven health research to build global research capacity.

Background: There is vast global inequality regarding where health research happens, who leads the research, and who benefits from the evidence. Globally, wealthier nations drive and influence data-driven research and how it is structured institutionally. Key barriers to high-quality research being undertaken in and led by low-resource settings are well reported.

Anti-IBD activity of Eleusine indica through inhibition of TNF-alpha and p38 MAPK expression.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a relapsing-remitting gastrointestinal disorder characterized by chronic mucosal inflammation and dysregulated immune responses to gut microorganisms. Despite the many advancements in its management, current treatments are often limited by their adverse effects, high cost, and incomplete remission. Eleusine indica, a medicinal plant used in folkloric medicine, is known for its anti-inflammatory properties.

Foveal Identification and Development in Prematurity-Implications on Zone Localization and Nutritional Supplementation.

Purpose: Accurate identification of retinal Zone I in retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is critical for treatment decisions and prognosis. Current definitions rely on identifying the macular center, limited by absence of the foveal light reflex (FLR) early in screening. Understanding factors influencing FLR development could improve zone localization and guide nutritional interventions.

Evaluation of multisectoral interprofessional collaboration for non-communicable disease management within a municipal setting: a mixed methods study.

Background: Strengthening multisectoral collaboration is essential for NCD prevention and control. In Ghana, the healthcare system often experiences inefficiencies due to fragmented care pathways and limited patient engagement. In this study, we assessed the collaboration and level of satisfaction on collaboration between healthcare professionals (HCPs) in hospital settings and Community pharmacists (CPs) in community pharmacies in the management of Diabetic/hypertensive (DM/HPT) patients in Ghana.