Technology Use Among Ghanaian Junior High School Mathematics Teachers in the Ahafo – Ano South District

The study sought to investigate technology use among Ghanaian Junior High School mathematics teachers in the Ahafo-Ano South District of Ghana. Descriptive survey (cross-sectional survey) design with mixed quantitative and qualitative data was gathered for the study. The population of the study comprised of all JHS mathematics teachers in Ahafo-Ano South District, Ashanti region. A stratified sampling technique was used to select 60 JHS mathematics teachers from rural, peri-urban and urban schools in the district. The findings revealed that mathematics teachers technology use in teaching Mathematics at the Junior High School level in the district was low (2.048 ± .85388). These technologies were grouped into manipulatives, digital/computer-based and audio-visual technologies. The results established that most of the teachers used manipulates in teaching Mathematics (3.120 ± 1.063). On the contrary, the results also showed that digital/computer-based technologies such as virtual protractors, calculators, geometry pad, stepping stones 2.0 comprehensive mathematics and computer game programs such as Globaloria etc., were never used by mathematics teachers in the district (1.621 ± .840). Similarly, evidence from the study adds that audio-visual technologies including television, pie chart assignment to students based on TV program and other audio-visual devices were never in use by mathematics teachers in the district (1.416 ± .712)

Environmental contribution to antimicrobial resistance: A largely ignored global health issue

Environmental contribution to the continued occurrence of antibiotic resistance has been largely unexplored. There has been much focus on clinical isolates for their resistant nature but non-clinical bacterial isolates in the environment have been considered as the chief contributing factors that facilitate the spread and dissemination of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ABR) and antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs). The natural environment acts as a reservoir for bacteria, providing them with a favourable condition for their emergence and breeding of resistance. One such environmental leverage is inter/intra-specie exchange of genes encoding resistance factors. It was argued that human activities aid immensely in the emergence of antibiotic resistance in the environment. The rationale for this review is to examine extensively the complex interplay of antibiotic resistance from the natural environmental perspective and factors that influence the occurrence and dissemination of such resistance. It also seeks to stress the biological factors that facilitate the emergence of resistance and link it to general biological processes. The review has been structured to capture the general threat posed by the circulation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and their genes, as well as the influence of the environment in contributing to this global health threat. In addition, the review looked at the effective methods used to tackle the silent pandemic, by controlling the spread of resistance in the environment. Environmental stakeholders and policymakers are recommended to be included in tackling the development of antibiotic resistance

The global retinoblastoma outcome study : a prospective, cluster-based analysis of 4064 patients from 149 countries

DATA SHARING : The study data will become available online once all analyses are complete.BACKGROUND : Retinoblastoma is the most common intraocular cancer worldwide. There is some evidence to suggest that major differences exist in treatment outcomes for children with retinoblastoma from different regions, but these differences have not been assessed on a global scale. We aimed to report 3-year outcomes for children with retinoblastoma globally and to investigate factors associated with survival. METHODS : We did a prospective cluster-based analysis of treatment-naive patients with retinoblastoma who were diagnosed between Jan 1, 2017, and Dec 31, 2017, then treated and followed up for 3 years. Patients were recruited from 260 specialised treatment centres worldwide. Data were obtained from participating centres on primary and additional treatments, duration of follow-up, metastasis, eye globe salvage, and survival outcome. We analysed time to death and time to enucleation with Cox regression models. FINDINGS : The cohort included 4064 children from 149 countries. The median age at diagnosis was 23·2 months (IQR 11·0–36·5). Extraocular tumour spread (cT4 of the cTNMH classification) at diagnosis was reported in five (0·8%) of 636 children from high-income countries, 55 (5·4%) of 1027 children from upper-middle-income countries, 342 (19·7%) of 1738 children from lower-middle-income countries, and 196 (42·9%) of 457 children from low-income countries. Enucleation surgery was available for all children and intravenous chemotherapy was available for 4014 (98·8%) of 4064 children. The 3-year survival rate was 99·5% (95% CI 98·8–100·0) for children from high-income countries, 91·2% (89·5–93·0) for children from upper-middle-income countries, 80·3% (78·3–82·3) for children from lower-middle-income countries, and 57·3% (52·1-63·0) for children from low-income countries. On analysis, independent factors for worse survival were residence in low-income countries compared to high-income countries (hazard ratio 16·67; 95% CI 4·76–50·00), cT4 advanced tumour compared to cT1 (8·98; 4·44–18·18), and older age at diagnosis in children up to 3 years (1·38 per year; 1·23–1·56). For children aged 3–7 years, the mortality risk decreased slightly (p=0·0104 for the change in slope). INTERPRETATION : This study, estimated to include approximately half of all new retinoblastoma cases worldwide in 2017, shows profound inequity in survival of children depending on the national income level of their country of residence. In high-income countries, death from retinoblastoma is rare, whereas in low-income countries estimated 3-year survival is just over 50%. Although essential treatments are available in nearly all countries, early diagnosis and treatment in low-income countries are key to improving survival outcomes.The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust and the Wellcome Trust.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/homeam2023Paediatrics and Child Healt

Determinants of Infant Feeding Practices among Working and Non-working Mothers in Kano, Nigeria

Background: Growth during the first year of life is greater than at any other time after birth. Good nutrition during this period of rapid growth is vital to ensure that infant develops both physically and mentally to the fullest potential.Objectives: This study assessed determinants of feeding practices among working class and non-working class mothers in Kano,  Nigeria.Methodology: Using a comparative cross-sectional study design, interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect information from 310 mothers (155 in each group) with their infants' aged 0 – 12 months.Results: Working mothers had a significantly higher level of knowledge of the recommended infant and young child feeding practices (t=4.69, p <0.001) and overall practice performance score was significantly higher among the working group (t= 3.44 p= 0.001). Up to 94.5% working mothers had good knowledge of recommended infant feeding practices compared to 74.0 % of non-working mothers(p=0.001). Haven lost a child, currently being married and vaginal delivery were determinants of appropriate feeding practices among working mothers, while formal education, having five or more children and receiving infant feeding advice were determinants among non-working women.Conclusion: The study found a good knowledge of infant feeding practices among working mothers as compared to the non-working mothers and it also revealed a gap between knowledge and practice of adequate breastfeeding. Context specific health education messages should target both working and non-working class mothers so as to promote, protect and support infant and young child feeding practices in Kano, Nigeria.Keywords: Infant, feeding practices, mothers, breast-feeding, Kan

Resources

Background reports and literature stored on Google Workspace and Zoter

Methodology

Research questions; workplan and methodology process; interview guides, etc

Outputs

Drafts of briefs, reports, etc. to be disseminated through SPARC Comms channel

SPAR003: Longitudinal Research

This project documents the longitudinal research projects of SPARC: Anticipatory Action, Livelihoods, and Livelihoods in Conflict. Countries of focus are: Nigeria, Somalia and South Suda

The Lancet Nigeria Commission: investing in health and the future of the nation.

Funder: Wellcome TrustHealth is central to the development of any country. Nigeria’s gross domestic product is the largest in Africa, but its per capita income of about ₦770 000 (US$2000) is low with a highly inequitable distribution of income, wealth, and therefore, health. It is a picture of poverty amidst plenty. Nigeria is both a wealthy country and a very poor one. About 40% of Nigerians live in poverty, in social conditions that create ill health, and with the ever-present risk of catastrophic expenditures from high out-of-pocket spending for health. Even compared with countries of similar income levels in Africa, Nigeria’s population health outcomes are poor, with national statistics masking drastic differences between rich and poor, urban and rural populations, and different regions

The Global Retinoblastoma Outcome Study: a prospective, cluster-based analysis of 4064 patients from 149 countries

Background Retinoblastoma is the most common intraocular cancer worldwide. There is some evidence to suggest that major differences exist in treatment outcomes for children with retinoblastoma from different regions, but these differences have not been assessed on a global scale. We aimed to report 3-year outcomes for children with retinoblastoma globally and to investigate factors associated with survival. Methods We did a prospective cluster-based analysis of treatment-naive patients with retinoblastoma who were diagnosed between Jan 1,2017, and Dec 31,2017, then treated and followed up for 3 years. Patients were recruited from 260 specialised treatment centres worldwide. Data were obtained from participating centres on primary and additional treatments, duration of follow-up, metastasis, eye globe salvage, and survival outcome. We analysed time to death and time to enucleation with Cox regression models. Findings The cohort included 4064 children from 149 countries. The median age at diagnosis was 23.2 months (IQR 11.0-36.5). Extraocular tumour spread (cT4 of the cTNMH classification) at diagnosis was reported in five (0.8%) of 636 children from high-income countries, 55 (5.4%) of 1027 children from upper-middle-income countries, 342 (19. 7%) of 1738 children from lower-middle-income countries, and 196 (42.9%) of 457 children from low-income countries. Enudeation surgery was available for all children and intravenous chemotherapy was available for 4014 (98.8%) of 4064 children. The 3-year survival rate was 99.5% (95% CI 98.8-100.0) for children from high-income countries, 91.2% (89.5-93.0) for children from upper-middle-income countries, 80.3% (78.3-82.3) for children from lower-middle-income countries, and 57.3% (524-63-0) for children from low-income countries. On analysis, independent factors for worse survival were residence in low-income countries compared to high-income countries (hazard ratio 16.67; 95% CI 4.76-50.00), cT4 advanced tumour compared to cT1 (8.98; 4.44-18.18), and older age at diagnosis in children up to 3 years (1.38 per year; 1.23-1.56). For children aged 3-7 years, the mortality risk decreased slightly (p=0.0104 for the change in slope). Interpretation This study, estimated to include approximately half of all new retinoblastoma cases worldwide in 2017, shows profound inequity in survival of children depending on the national income level of their country of residence. In high-income countries, death from retinoblastoma is rare, whereas in low-income countries estimated 3-year survival is just over 50%. Although essential treatments are available in nearly all countries, early diagnosis and treatment in low-income countries are key to improving survival outcomes. Copyright (C) 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.Y