Nurses’ attitudes towards hospitalized older adults in a tertiary care setting in Ghana

Introduction: The increasing population of older adults and rapid increases in co- morbidities globally has necessitated the need for a healthcare delivery system that meets the multifaceted needs of the growing population of older adults. Concurrent with these rising complex health needs is the importance of positive, non-judgmental attitudes of health services providers towards older adults. Moreover, this is particu-larly important in the nursing profession, given nurses\u27 significant and crucial roles in healthcare settings. Aim: The study aimed to evaluate nurses’ attitudes towards older adults in a tertiary hospital in Ghana. Design: It employed a descriptive cross-sectional quantitative design. Method: Data were collected from 160 registered adult medical and surgical ward nurses using the Ageism Attitude Scale (AAS). Results: Findings indicated that more than half of the participants had a diploma in gen-eral nursing. None of the nurses surveyed specialized in the care of older adults, and the mean age of participants was 30.14 (3.75) (minimum 24 and maximum 42 years). Female nurses had more positive attitudes than their male counterparts. Although the surveyed nurses reported a somewhat positive attitude towards older adults, there was no correlation between nurses\u27 education levels and positive attitudes

Insecticide resistance in malaria vector mosquitoes at four localities in Ghana, West Africa

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Malaria vector control programmes that rely on insecticide-based interventions such as indoor house spraying with residual insecticides or insecticide treated bed nets, need to base their decision-making process on sound baseline data. More and more commercial entities in Africa, such as mining companies, are realising the value to staff productivity of controlling malaria transmission in their areas of operation.</p> <p>This paper presents baseline entomological data obtained during surveys conducted for four mining operations in Ghana, West Africa.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The vast majority of the samples were identified as <it>Anopheles gambiae </it>S form with only a few M form specimens being identified from Tarkwa. <it>Plasmodium falciparum </it>infection rates ranged from 4.5 to 8.6% in <it>An. gambiae </it>and 1.81 to 8.06% in <it>An. funestus</it>. High survival rates on standard WHO bioassay tests were recorded for all insecticide classes except the organophosphates that showed reasonable mortality at all locations (i.e. > 90%). The West African <it>kdr </it>mutation was detected and showed high frequencies in all populations.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The data highlight the complexity of the situation prevailing in southern Ghana and the challenges facing the malaria vector control programmes in this region. Vector control programmes in Ghana need to carefully consider the resistance profiles of the local mosquito populations in order to base their resistance management strategies on sound scientific data.</p

Predictors and Outcomes Associated with Household Hunger in Lusaka, Zambia: Secondary Analysis of a Citywide Survey

Background: Food insecurity has important social and health consequences for affected individuals and households. We sought to measure one aspect of food insecurity—household hunger—and evaluated its possible association with household morbidity and mortality. Methods: We analyzed data from the final two rounds of a repeat cross-sectional, population-based survey conducted in Lusaka Zambia (May and August 2011). Using the Household Hunger Scale, we categorized participating households into three groups using established convention in the public health literature: little to no hunger, moderate hunger, and severe hunger. We used multilevel logistic regression to investigate associations between household hunger and the following morbidities, adjusting for individual, household, and cluster characteristics: malaria, persistent cough, tuberculosis, diarrhea, hospitalization, and death. Results: Overall, 90.0%, (95%CI: 88.1–91.7%) participating households were considered to have little to no household hunger; 9.8% (95%CI: 8.2–11.6%) reported moderate household hunger; and 0.2% (95%CI: 0.1–0.4%) reported severe household hunger. Marital status, functional status, education, employment, household member requiring nursing care, and household wealth index were associated with all levels of hunger. Adjusted for individual and household characteristics and sampling cluster, hunger was associated with malaria (OR:1.29, 95%CI:1.03–1.63 [mild] and OR:3.68, 95% CI:1.76 –13.74 [severe]), persistent cough (OR:1.64, 95%CI:1.13–2.38 [mild]), tuberculosis (OR:2.24, 95%CI:1.45–3.46 [mild], OR:6.06; 95%CI:1.56–23.57 [severe]), and hospitalization (OR:1.95; 95%CI:1.38–2.76 [mild]; OR:5.52; 95%CI:1.78-17.16 [severe]).Household hunger was not associated with death (p>0.05). Conclusions: Household hunger was associated with a number of adverse health outcomes. Although further studies are needed, our findings suggest that programs to alleviate household hunger—an important aspect of food insecurity—could lead to measurable public health impacts

Long-Lasting Control of Anopheles arabiensis by a Single Spray Application of Micro-encapsulated Pirimiphos-methyl (Actellic(R) 300 CS).

Pyrethroid-resistant mosquitoes are an increasing threat to malaria vector control. The Global Plan for Insecticide Resistance Management (GPIRM) recommends rotation of non-pyrethroid insecticides for indoor residual spraying (IRS). The options from other classes are limited. The carbamate bendiocarb and the organophosphate pirimiphos-methyl (p-methyl) emulsifiable concentrate (EC) have a short residual duration of action, resulting in increased costs due to multiple spray cycles, and user fatigue. Encapsulation (CS) technology was used to extend the residual performance of p-methyl. Two novel p-methyl CS formulations were evaluated alongside the existing EC in laboratory bioassays and experimental hut trials in Tanzania between 2008-2010. Bioassays were carried out monthly on sprayed substrates of mud, concrete, plywood, and palm thatch to assess residual activity. Experimental huts were used to assess efficacy against wild free-flying Anopheles arabiensis, in terms of insecticide-induced mortality and blood-feeding inhibition. In laboratory bioassays of An. arabiensis and Culex quinquefasciatus both CS formulations produced high rates of mortality for significantly longer than the EC formulation on all substrates. On mud, the best performing CS killed >80% of An. arabiensis for five months and >50% for eight months, compared with one and two months, respectively, for the EC. In monthly bioassays of experimental hut walls the EC was ineffective shortly after spraying, while the best CS formulation killed more than 80% of An. arabiensis for five months on mud, and seven months on concrete. In experimental huts both CS and EC formulations killed high proportions of free-flying wild An. arabiensis for up to 12 months after spraying. There was no significant difference between treatments. All treatments provided considerable personal protection, with blood-feeding inhibition ranging from 9-49% over time. The long residual performance of p-methyl CS was consistent in bioassays and experimental huts. The CS outperformed the EC in laboratory and hut bioassays but the EC longevity in huts was unexpected. Long-lasting p-methyl CS formulations should be more effective than both p-methyl EC and bendiocarb considering a single spray could be sufficient for annual malaria control. IRS with p-methyl 300 CS is a timely addition to the limited portfolio of long-lasting residual insecticides

The Zambian Preterm Birth Prevention Study (ZAPPS): Cohort characteristics at enrollment [version 2; referees: 2 approved]

Background:Sub-Saharan Africa bears a disproportionate burden of preterm birth and other adverse outcomes. A better understanding of the demographic, clinical, and biologic underpinnings of these adverse outcomes is urgently needed to plan interventions and inform new discovery.  Methods:The Zambian Preterm Birth Prevention Study (ZAPPS) is a prospective observational cohort established at the Women and Newborn Hospital (WNH) in Lusaka, Zambia. We recruit pregnant women from district health centers and the WNH and offer ultrasound examination to determine eligibility. Participants receive routine obstetrical care, lab testing, midtrimester cervical length measurement, and serial fetal growth monitoring. At delivery, we assess gestational age, birthweight, vital status, and sex and assign a delivery phenotype. We collect blood, urine, and vaginal swab specimens at scheduled visits and store them in an on-site biorepository. In September 2017, enrollment of the ZAPPS Phase 1 – the subject of this report – was completed. Phase 2 – which is limited to HIV-uninfected women – reopened in January 2018.  Results:Between August 2015 and September 2017, we screened 1784 women, of whom 1450 (81.2%) met inclusion criteria and were enrolled. The median age at enrollment was 27 years (IQR 23–32) and thee median gestational age was 16 weeks (IQR 13–18). Among parous women (N=866; 64%), 21% (N=182) reported a prior miscarriage, 49% (N=424) reported a prior preterm birth, and 13% (N=116) reported a prior stillbirth. The HIV seroprevalence was 24%. Discussion:We have established a large cohort of pregnant women and newborns at the WHN to characterize the determinants of adverse birth outcomes in Lusaka, Zambia. Our overarching goal is to elucidate biological mechanisms in an effort to identify new strategies for early detection and prevention of adverse outcomes. We hope that findings from this cohort will help guide future studies, clinical care, and policy

Twelve-month observational study of children with cancer in 41 countries during the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction Childhood cancer is a leading cause of death. It is unclear whether the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted childhood cancer mortality. In this study, we aimed to establish all-cause mortality rates for childhood cancers during the COVID-19 pandemic and determine the factors associated with mortality. Methods Prospective cohort study in 109 institutions in 41 countries. Inclusion criteria: children &lt;18 years who were newly diagnosed with or undergoing active treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, retinoblastoma, Wilms tumour, glioma, osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, medulloblastoma and neuroblastoma. Of 2327 cases, 2118 patients were included in the study. The primary outcome measure was all-cause mortality at 30 days, 90 days and 12 months. Results All-cause mortality was 3.4% (n=71/2084) at 30-day follow-up, 5.7% (n=113/1969) at 90-day follow-up and 13.0% (n=206/1581) at 12-month follow-up. The median time from diagnosis to multidisciplinary team (MDT) plan was longest in low-income countries (7 days, IQR 3-11). Multivariable analysis revealed several factors associated with 12-month mortality, including low-income (OR 6.99 (95% CI 2.49 to 19.68); p&lt;0.001), lower middle income (OR 3.32 (95% CI 1.96 to 5.61); p&lt;0.001) and upper middle income (OR 3.49 (95% CI 2.02 to 6.03); p&lt;0.001) country status and chemotherapy (OR 0.55 (95% CI 0.36 to 0.86); p=0.008) and immunotherapy (OR 0.27 (95% CI 0.08 to 0.91); p=0.035) within 30 days from MDT plan. Multivariable analysis revealed laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection (OR 5.33 (95% CI 1.19 to 23.84); p=0.029) was associated with 30-day mortality. Conclusions Children with cancer are more likely to die within 30 days if infected with SARS-CoV-2. However, timely treatment reduced odds of death. This report provides crucial information to balance the benefits of providing anticancer therapy against the risks of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children with cancer

The Use of Different Modes of Transportation Affects the Chemical Qualities of Watermelon Fruits (Citrullus lanatus [Thunb]) Transported from the Farm Gates in the Hinterlands to the Urban Markets in the Tamale Metropolis in the Northern Region of Ghana

The perishable nature of fruits and vegetables are a major concern to post harvest scientist. Postharvest handling practices particularly, mode of transportation is contributing to loss of essential chemical qualities of watermelon fruits. This study sought to identify the means of transport responsible for chemical damage in watermelons and also to assess watermelon varieties affected by these modes of transport in the Tamale Metropolis in Ghana. It revealed that watermelon conveyed by Kia Mini Truck (0.80 t) mode of transportation experienced the highest chemical damages (13.82 %) while watermelon conveyed by Mini Pick-up Truck recorded the least chemical damage (13.3%). It also showed that Sugar baby variety encountered the highest chemical damages (13.82%) while Crimson sweet variety recorded the lowest value (13.2 %) Keywords: Chemical qualities, Total tartritable acidity, Total soluble solids, and moisture DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/13-4-05 Publication date:March 31st 202

Contribution of social licence theory in CSR

Akbar, DH ORCiD: 0000-0002-2269-5056; Rolfe, JC ORCiD: 0000-0001-7659-7040; Sultan, P ORCiD: 0000-0003-3856-4592Social anxiety emanating from corporate activities has raised the urgent need for research on social tools that could assist leaders and managers establish positive interdiscursive ideas to settle good working relationship between industries and local societies. But Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has been identified as the best effective social acceptance contrivance in business. As such, the focus of this review is on how business quest for social license could impact on CSR activities; and how social license influences corporate social responsibility examinations. We used systematic literature review and found among others that CSR and social license literature negatively impact on smaller businesses which usually cannot compute with multinationals in the responsibility process for social acceptance. This review concludes that shared responsibility between society and companies are becoming the key driving force in business success