Knowledge, Attitudes, Myth, and Perceptions towards COVID-19 Vaccine among typical educated SubSaharan Africa: A Web-Based Survey

The covid-19 pandemic is a major health challenge for society and health workers globally. The study sought to determine the effect of perception, attitudes, and myths on vaccine acceptance in residents in West African countries. This cross-sectional study of 1170 respondents was conducted while maintaining social distancing measures in sub-Sahara Africa. Data was collected using a validated self-administered questionnaire via social media platforms. Data gathered were analysed using SPSS version 25.0 for windows. Of 1170 responses received, 59.5%, 51.8%, 70.8%, and 39.5% were from respondents between 30–39 years, males, from English-speaking countries, and had a college degree or above. Respondents had good knowledge (96.999%) of the COVID-19 vaccine, and information about the vaccine was mainly through social media/ internet (55.6%) and media houses (23.8%). The overall results show that the majority of the respondents, 96.80% were aware of the Vaccine through social media. However, the findings from covariates show that myth and perception, gender, educational qualification, and employment status have a significant impact (p<0.05) on COVID-19 vaccine acceptance. The study suggests that people in Sub-Saharan Africa need to be reassured of the importance of vaccinations through proper information dissemination. Thus, information highlighted a need for Stakeholders and Policymakers to contribute to holding an optimistic attitude and perception free of devoid of misconceptions circulating on social media towards vaccine acceptance

Knowledge, Attitudes, Myth, and Perceptions towards COVID-19 Vaccine among typical educated SubSaharan Africa: A Web-Based Survey

The covid-19 pandemic is a major health challenge for society and health workers globally. The study sought to determine the effect of perception, attitudes, and myths on vaccine acceptance in residents in West African countries. This cross-sectional study of 1170 respondents was conducted while maintaining social distancing measures in sub-Sahara Africa. Data was collected using a validated self-administered questionnaire via social media platforms. Data gathered were analysed using SPSS version 25.0 for windows. Of 1170 responses received, 59.5%, 51.8%, 70.8%, and 39.5% were from respondents between 30–39 years, males, from English-speaking countries, and had a college degree or above. Respondents had good knowledge (96.999%) of the COVID-19 vaccine, and information about the vaccine was mainly through social media/ internet (55.6%) and media houses (23.8%). The overall results show that the majority of the respondents, 96.80% were aware of the Vaccine through social media. However, the findings from covariates show that myth and perception, gender, educational qualification, and employment status have a significant impact (p<0.05) on COVID-19 vaccine acceptance. The study suggests that people in Sub-Saharan Africa need to be reassured of the importance of vaccinations through proper information dissemination. Thus, information highlighted a need for Stakeholders and Policymakers to contribute to holding an optimistic attitude and perception free of devoid of misconceptions circulating on social media towards vaccine acceptance

Mixed reactions of Africa regional stock markets to COVID-19 pandemic: events study analysis

COVID-19 has caused severe disruptions in global economic activities, and its impacts on stock markets cannot be overemphasized. The study employs market model and event study approach with four events (WHO announcement of COVID-19 as a global health emergency, confirmed infections, confirmed deaths, and vaccination) to examine the reactions of four African regional blocs’ markets to the pandemic from September 1, 2019, to August 31, 2021, to estimate the average abnormal returns of each regional bloc. On the day of the WHO announcement, we document insignificant negative average abnormal returns in the Northern bloc. We also document significant negative average abnormal returns for infections in all but the Northern bloc on the event day. The Western bloc generated the highest significant negative average abnormal return (-43 per cent) on the day COVID-19 death was confirmed on the continent. We finally document insignificant average abnormal returns from weeks 1 to 20 after the first vaccination in the Northern and Eastern blocs. The study recommends that investors, portfolio managers, and speculators not panic during similar pandemics since they can generate significant abnormal returns and diversify their investment holdings across the four regional blocs in Africa, as demonstrated by the COVID-19 pandemic

Hospital-based Surveillance for Pediatric Bacterial Meningitis in the Era of the 13-Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine in Ghana.

BACKGROUND: Global surveillance for vaccine preventable invasive bacterial diseases has been set up by the World Health Organization to provide disease burden data to support decisions on introducing pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV). We present data from 2010 to 2016 collected at the 2 sentinel sites in Ghana. METHODS: Data were collected from children <5 years of age presenting at the 2 major teaching hospitals with clinical signs of meningitis. Cerebrospinal fluid specimens were collected and tested first at the sentinel site laboratory with conventional microbiology methods and subsequently with molecular analysis, at the World Health Organization Regional Reference Laboratory housed at the Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia, for identification of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Neisseria meningitidis, the 3 most common bacteria causing meningitis. RESULTS: There were 4008 suspected cases of meningitis during the surveillance period, of which 31 (0.8%) were laboratory confirmed. Suspected meningitis cases decreased from 923 in 2010 to 219 in 2016. Of 3817 patients with available outcome data, 226 (5.9%) died. S. pneumoniae was the most common bacterial pathogen, accounting for 68.5% of confirmed cases (50 of 73). H. influenzae and N. meningitidis accounted for 6.8% (5 of 73) and 21.9% (16 of 73), respectively. The proportion of pneumococcal vaccine serotypes causing meningitis decreased from 81.3% (13 of 16) before the introduction of 13-valent PCV (2010-2012) to 40.0% (8 of 20) after its introduction (2013-2016). CONCLUSIONS: Cases of suspected meningitis decreased among children <5 years of age between 2010 and 2016, with declines in the proportion of vaccine-type pneumococcal meningitis after the introduction of 13-valent PCV in Ghana

Development of Graphene Nano-Platelet Ink for High Voltage Flexible Dye Sensitized Solar Cells with Cobalt Complex Electrolytes

Graphene nanoparticles have been subject to intensive investigation as a replacement for platinum as the catalyst in dye sensitized solar cells (DSCs), but few of these investigations examine the application for flexible cells with deposition processes suitable for industrial fabrication. This work introduces a transparent water based graphene ink that can be dried rapidly at less than 110 ºC making it particularly suitable for roll to roll deposition on plastic substrates. This ink has application as a catalyst for dye sensitized solar cells utilizing cobalt complex electrolytes with efficiency of over 6 % and a Voc of 0.89 V at 1 sun demonstrated. A flexible DSC with a printed catalyst and cobalt redox mediator is reported, with efficiency of over 6.0 % and Voc of 0.6 V at 800 lux

Catalytic abatement of CO species from incomplete combustion of solid fuels used in domestic cooking

This study reveals a first time approach to catalytic based interventions primarily on indoor air pollution emanating from commercial and household solid fuel burning in a region in Nigeria. An intensive survey of the temperatures at different locations in the common stoves used for cooking was conducted so as to ascertain temperatures suitable for catalyst efficiency and stability. Furthermore, cobalt and iron based catalysts were prepared using ultra stable Y type zeolite as supports. The synthesized catalysts were characterized for its physico-chemical properties. The catalytic efficiency of the supported catalysts was tested using simulated exhaust gases in a fix bed reactor. The study further explored real time testing of the catalyzed ceramic monolith using two different wood species. First, the best catalyst in terms of simulated exhaust testing was selected. Consequently, a small layer of zeolite Y was deposited at 3% of the monolith weight to enhance the subsequent adhesion of the best catalyst powder to the structured monolith. Then to catalyze the zeolite Y wash-coated monolith with the cobalt precursor, the dip coating technique was used. From the results, the average values of temperatures observed from the surveyed cook stoves using wood and plant residue as fuel were confirmed to be in the range of 203–425 °C which is considered suitable for catalysts activity. The Co/ZY catalyst showed approximately 100% CO conversion (T100) at 250 °C for initial CO concentration of 1000 ppm, making it the most effective, while T100 was increased to 275 °C and 325 °C for Fe/ZY and Co-Fe/ZY catalyst respectively at an exhaust residence time of 20000 h−1. The catalytic converter in real time testing for CO abatement performed well for both wood species. Only minor differences have been noticed

Performance of the African stock market amid COVID-19 global health crisis: empirical analysis using four events

The study employs the market model and event study approach with four events to examine the performance of the African stock market amid COVID-19 global health crisis. We use daily stock market data from 14 African countries (as a proxy for the African market) spanning September 2019 to June 2021 and COVID-19 data to estimate average abnormal returns for Africa. The results show significant positive average abnormal returns in Africa when the WHO announced COVID-19 as a global health epidemic. The events of infections and deaths generated significant negative average abnormal returns while the event of vaccination did not generate any significant average abnormal returns in the market. In as much as pandemics are unpredictable, the African market quickly recovers as depicted by COVID-19; therefore, we recommend to investors, speculators, and portfolio managers not to quickly exit the continent during pandemics

Assesssing Herbal Medical Practitioners in Professional Qualifying Examination in Ghana, a Model

About 70% of Ghanaians depend on Alternative health practice for their primary health care needs. Hence, there is the need to streamline and regulate these practices. Graduates from the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (K.N.U.S.T), Kumasi-Ghana were assessed by the Professional Qualifying Examination Board of the Traditional Medicine Practice Council (TMPC), Ghana, after two years of internship training. A model of assessment took into consideration, the scope of the university training, internship and the primary health care needs of the society