Policies and programs to prevent child maltreatment and promote family wellness in Ghana

This study examined policies and programs to prevent child maltreatment and promote family wellness in Ghana. In the thesis, I discussed values that guide child-care in Ghana, the daily realities of children and families, and policies and programs to promote family wellness and prevent child maltreatment. Lastly, I looked at the climate for prevention and early intervention. I presented recommendations under each of these sections. In the first part of the literature review, I examined some definitions of child maltreatment, the prevalence rate, etiology, and consequences of maltreatment. In the second part, I reviewed some policies and programs to prevent child maltreatment in the industrialized world. In the third section, I gave a brief account on Ghana and its people and then analyzed child maltreatment in the African/Ghanaian context. I investigated some child-rearing practices of African society, causes of child maltreatment in Ghana, and lastly, delineated policies and programs instituted and implemented to prevent child maltreatment and promote family wellness in Ghana. This qualitative study used interviews to elicit response from participants, which allowed them to express their views in a vivid manner. The results indicate that Ghanaians love children and cherish them but due to economic hardships and other issues, these values are being relegated to the background. It was found that child maltreatment is rife in Ghana and that there are some policies and programs to prevent it However, these policies and programs have been plagued with problems. In the discussion section, I integrated the available literature with the results. I organized them according to the five main categories of the results: values, context of the problem, policies, programs, and climate for prevention. Lastly, I made practical suggestions and recommendations under each of the categories for serious consideration to prevent child maltreatment and promote family wellness in Ghana

Single Spine, Double Spine or Multiple Spine: Solving Labour Conflicts and Making Public Sector Jobs More Rewarding in Ghana

The governments of Ghana and public sector workers have  since the country’s independence, well over fifty years ago, been  embroiled in a protracted fisticuff all in their quest for a rewarding  compensation package that will adequately recompense the latter  for the physical and mental efforts they exert at their various places  of work. The road to finding a lasting solution to this brawl has been  tortuous, bumpy and chequered.  Commissions upon commissions have been instituted to among other  issues, advise the government on the effective ways of rewarding the  country’s labour to stem the tide of labour agitations for an enhanced,  equitable and rewarding compensation regime, but this single laudable  objective has never been attained.  Incessant strikes, threats of strikes and storms of protests continue  to greet every government that assumes political power in Ghana.  Hardly a year goes passed without a group of labour unions issuing  such threats or embarking upon work stoppage either to demonstrate  their dissatisfaction with government’s lackadaisical attitude to the  implementation of one public sector salary regime or to demand for  enhanced remuneration package.  The real solution to this age-long problem continues to elude the  country. The single-spine pay policy (SSPP), which was touted to be a  panacea for the craved for rewarding compensation by Ghana labour  has failed to suffice to whet the appetite of public sector workers. So,  where do we turn next?  This paper traces various attempts both past and present governments  have made to find a lasting solution to the protracted labour agitations  for enhanced remuneration for a comprehensive, equitable and  rewarding compensation package for the public sector workers in  Ghana. It enquires into other possible measures of solving the matrices  of confronting the onslaught in the labour front to stem the tide of  agitations over wages and salaries. The data was obtained from both  primary and secondary sources. The primary data comprises of reports  by commissions and committees set up to review wages and salaries  for the country’s public sector which is supported with information  from existing literature on the subject.

Varietal Adoption and Economics of Rice Production in Ejura-Sekyedumase and Atebubu-Amantin Municipalities of Ghana

In this paper, we analyse the factors that drive the adoption and non-adoption of the New Rice for Africa as well as compare the costs and returns associated with such decisions in the Ejura-Sekyedumase and Atebubu-Amantin Municipalities of Ghana. A structured questionnaire was administered to 216 smallholder rice farmers who were sampled through a three-stage stratified sampling approach. Data analyses were conducted using descriptive statistics, the Chi-square test, Kendall’s coefficient of concordance, the independent sample t-test, and the gross margin analysis. The results show that the adoption of the improved rice variety was driven by its higher yield advantage and early maturity as well as good taste and aroma. However, the non-availability of the improved seed, lack and/or inadequate information, and delays in input supply restrained the farmers from adopting the improved rice variety. The production of the improved rice variety was labour and capital intensive given its higher cost of production compared with the unimproved rice varieties. The adopters reported a significantly higher cost of production and gross margin than did the non-adopters. The results demonstrate the need to integrate technology promotional activities with an effective input supply system to facilitate the adoption of improved rice varieties. Keywords: Adopters, non-adopters, NERICA, cost, returns, gross margin

Phytochemical and Mineral Analysis of 12 Cultivated Oyster Mushrooms (Pleurotus Species)

Phytochemical analysis was conducted on methanolic extracts of 4 oyster mushrooms species (Pleurotus pulmonarius, P. ostreatus, P. sapidus and P. citrinopileatus) made up of 12 different strains. The study was carried out to determine the contents of total phenol and flavonoids, beta carotene and lycopene, antioxidant properties and concentrations of mineral elements and heavy metals in the macrofungi methanolic extracts. Total phenolic contents ranged from 1.48 µg GAE/g to 3.58 µg of GAE/g with a mean of 2.5 µg of GAE/g and 0.36 coefficient of variation. The 12 strains were statistically different from each other. Total flavonoid content varied from 0.20 µg of RE/g to 2.03 µg of RE/g of dry weight of extracts with a grand mean of 0.85 µg of RE/g and 9.89 coefficient of variation. There was significant difference among the 12 mushroom strains (P<0.001). Beta carotene content varied from 0.60 to 11.46 µg/g and that of lycopene varied from 0.04 to 4.28 µg/g. The IC50 values ranged between 43.21 µg/ml and 52.03 µg/ml, the inhibition of DPPH radical by P. sapidus strain PSC-1 and P. ostreatus strain POA-5 exhibited the highest activity. Significant difference was observed among the strains. Mg content varied from 660.0 mg/kg to 1993.7 mg/kg, Fe content ranged from 349.0 mg/kg to 1374.0 mg/kg and could not be detected in P. ostreatus strain POA-7.  Ca content ranged from 22.0 mg/kg to 415.3 mg/kg, Mn content varied from 10.7 mg/ kg to 48.3 mg/kg and was below detection in the six strains of P. pulmonarius strain PPA-2, P. ostreatus strain POA-5, P. ostreatus strain POA-6, P. ostreatus strain POA-7, P. ostreatus strain POA-10 and P. ostreatus strain POA-13. Cu content ranged from 15.3 mg/kg to 23.7 mg/kg but below detection in two strains P. ostreatus strain POA-6 and P. ostreatus strain POA-10. Zn content varied from 189.7 mg/kg to 411.3 mg/kg. Ni content varied from 175 mg/kg to 296.7 mg/kg, Cd content ranged between 57.7 mg/kg and 106.3 mg/kg, Pb content varied from 13.0 mg/kg to 230.7 mg/kg. Cr content ranged between 17.7 mg/kg and 124 mg/kg. All the Pleurotus strains showed appreciable levels of antioxidant activities and can be promoted as natural antioxidant preference in food and pharmaceutical Keywords: 1,1-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, total flavonoids content, total phenolics content, beta carotene content, lycopene content, mineral elements, heavy metal

CYTOTOXIC EFFECTS OF ALBIZIA ZYGIA (DC) J. F. MACBR, A GHANAIAN MEDICINAL PLANT, AGAINST HUMAN T-LYMPHOBLAST-LIKE LEUKEMIA, PROSTATE AND BREAST CANCER CELL LINES

Objective: The objectives of this study were to investigate the cytotoxic effects of extracts and fractions of Albizia zygia roots (AZR) on human T-lymphoblast-like leukemia (Jurkat), prostate cancer (LNCap) and breast cancer (MCF-7) cells and the apoptotic effect in Jurkat cells.Methods: Aqueous and hydroethanolic extracts were prepared and tested for cytotoxic effects on the cell lines using the tetrazolium-based colorimetric assay. Apoptosis induction was determined by DNA fragmentation, cell morphological changes, flow cytometric and mitochondrial membrane potential assays.Results: Both aqueous and hydroethanolic extracts were more cytotoxic to Jurkat cells than the other cell lines, with selective index (SI) values of 104.4 and 86.6, respectively. The SI values of the extracts on LNCap cells were 9.0 and 35.4, respectively. Some of the fractions were non-cytotoxic. Nevertheless petroleum ether fraction was cytotoxic towards MCF-7 cells with SI value of 2.4. The hydroethanolic extract exhibited apoptosis via induction of DNA fragmentation in Jurkat cells. Cell morphological changes were consistent with the extract-mediated cytotoxicity and DNA fragmentation. Flow cytometric and mitochondrial membrane potential assays also showed significant apoptotic induction confirming apoptosis by the AZR extract.Conclusion: This study has shown that AZR possesses anticancer activity by demonstrating a high selective toxicity against Jurkat cells. Furthermore, the hydroethanolic extract induced apoptosis in the Jurkat cells. Albizia zygia roots may be a source of novel compounds for the development of new anti-cancer agents.Keywords: Albizia zygia, Cancer cells, Cytotoxicity, Apoptosi

Quality of Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy for malaria found in Ghanaian markets and public health implications of their use.

BACKGROUND: Ghana changed their antimalarial drug policy from monotherapies to Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies in 2004 in order to provide more efficacious medicines for treatment of malaria. The policy change can be eroded if poor quality Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies are allowed to remain on the Ghanaian market unchecked by regulatory bodies and law enforcement agencies. The presence and prevalence of substandard and counterfeit Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies need to be determined on open markets in Ghana; a review of the current policy; identifying any gaps and making recommendations on actions to be taken in addressing gaps identified are essential as the data provided and recommendations made will help in ensuring effective control of malaria in Ghana. METHODS: A field survey of antimalarial drugs was conducted in the central part of Ghana. The amount of active pharmaceutical ingredient in each Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy sample identified in the survey was measured using high performance liquid chromatographic analyses. Active pharmaceutical ingredient within the range of 85-115 % was considered as standard and active pharmaceutical ingredient results out of the range were considered as substandard. All samples were screened to confirm stated active pharmaceutical ingredient presence using mass spectrometry. RESULTS: A total of 256 Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies were purchased from known medicine outlets, including market stalls, hospitals/clinics, pharmacies, drug stores. Artemether lumefantrine (52.5 %) and artesunate amodiaquine (43.2 %) were the predominant Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies purchased. Of the 256 Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies purchased, 254 were tested, excluding two samples of Artesunate-SP. About 35 % of Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies were found to be substandard. Nine percent of Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies purchased were past their expiry date; no counterfeit (falsified) medicine samples were detected by either high performance liquid chromatographic or mass spectrometry. CONCLUSION: A high proportion of Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies sold in central Ghana were found to be substandard. Manufacturing of medicines that do not adhere to good manufacturing practices may have contributed to the poor quality of the Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies procured. A strict law enforcement and quality monitoring systems is recommended to ensure effective malaria case management as part of malaria control

In-vitro Anti-cercarial activity of extracts and steroidal alkaloids from the stem bark of Holarrhena floribunda (G. Don) Dur. & Schinz

Context: Schistosomiasis continues to be the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among the neglected tropical diseases. Apart from the high cost of chemotherapy, concerns over drug resistance and tolerance have been raised in the past decade. Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the anticercarial activity of extracts and compounds from the stem bark of Holarrhena floribunda on cercaria of Schistosoma haematobium. Methods: Hydroethanolic and alkaloidal extracts from the stem bark of H. floribunda were tested on cercaria at concentrations between 500.00 and 15.625 μg/mL for 180 minutes and assessing the percentage viability at time intervals of 0, 15, 30, 60, 120 and 180 minutes. Praziquantel, used as reference drug, and the isolated compounds were tested at similar concentrations. The cercaria mortalities and IC50 of extracts and compounds were estimated after 30 minutes of incubation. Results: The 70 %v/v ethanol extract showed the highest activity (IC50=20.09±1.11 μg/mL) with praziquantel giving IC50 of 695.50±1.12. The alkaloids holonamine, holadienine and conessine, isolated from the stem bark, showed considerable cercaricidal activity with the latter recording an IC50 of 33.28±1.04. Conclusion: The study gives first-hand knowledge of the anti-cercarial activity of H. floribunda and its steroidal alkaloids. This gives credence to the traditional uses of the plant as an anti-parasitic agent

Molecular epidemiology of Mycobacterium africanum in Ghana

BACKGROUND: Mycobacterium africanum comprises two phylogenetic lineages within the M. tuberculosis complex (MTBC) and is an important cause of human tuberculosis (TB) in West Africa. The reasons for this geographic restriction of M. africanum remain unclear. Here, we performed a prospective study to explore associations between the characteristics of TB patients and the MTBC lineages circulating in Ghana. METHOD: We genotyped 1,211 MTBC isolates recovered from pulmonary TB patients recruited between 2012 and 2014 using single nucleotide polymorphism typing and spoligotyping. Associations between patient and pathogen variables were assessed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Of the 1,211 MTBC isolates analysed, 71.9 % (871) belonged to Lineage 4; 12.6 % (152) to Lineage 5 (also known as M. africanum West-Africa 1), 9.2 % (112) to Lineage 6 (also known as M. africanum West-Africa 2) and 0.6 % (7) to Mycobacterium bovis. Univariate analysis revealed that Lineage 6 strains were less likely to be isoniazid resistant compared to other strains (odds ratio = 0.25, 95 % confidence interval (CI): 0.05-0.77, P < 0.01). Multivariate analysis showed that Lineage 5 was significantly more common in patients from the Ewe ethnic group (adjusted odds ratio (adjOR): 2.79; 95 % CI: 1.47-5.29, P < 0.001) and Lineage 6 more likely to be found among HIV-co-infected TB patients (adjOR = 2.2; 95 % confidence interval (CI: 1.32-3.7, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Our findings confirm the importance of M. africanum in Ghana and highlight the need to differentiate between Lineage 5 and Lineage 6, as these lineages differ in associated patient variables

Relevance of genomic diversity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in Africa

BACKGROUND: The diversity in the lineages of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) was initially considered insignificant. However, comparative genomics analysis of MTBC have found genomic variation among the genotypes with potential phenotypic implications. OBJECTIVE: Therefore, this viewpoint seeks to discuss the impact of the identified genotypic diversity on the physiology of MTBC and the potential implications on TB control. RESULTS: Studies conducted in West Africa and other parts of Africa have unravelled the implications of the genomic diversity on phenotypes such as disease outcome, transmission dynamics and host immune response. The understanding of the phenotypic diversity among the different lineages of MTBC may be an important key to the fight against TB. CONCLUSION: The relevance of these differences has been observed in the design of new control tools such as diagnostics and anti-TB drugs/vaccines. This only points to the fact that the diversity in MTBC cannot be ignored in future studies especially clinical trials for new vaccines and new anti-TB drugs

Effect of Vitamin D Supplementation on Bone Turnover Markers During HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Using Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate-Emtricitabine in Men Who Have Sex with Men.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate-emtricitabine (TDF-FTC) reduces bone mineral density in HIV-uninfected men who have sex with men (MSM). We hypothesized that PrEP with TDF-FTC would increase bone turnover markers (BTMs) at week 24 and that vitamin D supplementation from weeks 24 to 48 would blunt this increase. Participants were from a cohort of 398 MSM and transgender women who received daily TDF-FTC for PrEP. At week 24, a prospective intervention group initiated vitamin D3 4,000 IU daily. Concurrent controls were selected from the cohort who took ≤400 IU/day of vitamin D3 matched by age, race, and body mass index. The primary endpoint was the change in procollagen-I N-terminal propeptide (P1NP) from weeks 24 to 48. Paired t-tests were used to compare changes in BTMs between intervention and controls. Among 48 intervention-control pairs, median age was 33 years. At baseline, 68.9% of the intervention group and 77.3% of controls were vitamin D sufficient (≥20 ng/mL, p = .94). P1NP, C-telopeptide, parathyroid hormone (PTH), and 25-OH vitamin D3 did not increase significantly at week 24. P1NP fell by a mean ± SD of -27.6 ± 49.9 pg/mL from weeks 24 to 48 with vitamin D and -2.5 ± 40.2 pg/mL in controls (p = .01). There were no significant between-group differences in the weeks 24-48 change in C-telopeptide, PTH, or 25-OH vitamin D3. Vitamin D3 supplementation with 4,000 IU/day resulted in a significant reduction in the BTM P1NP compared with controls, suggesting that this intervention has potential to improve bone health during PrEP