Malaria elimination in Ghana:recommendations for reactive case detection strategy implementation in a low endemic area of Asutsuare, Ghana

Background: Progress toward malaria elimination is increasing as many countries near zero indigenous malaria cases. In settings nearing elimination, interventions will be most effective at interrupting transmission when targeted at the residual foci of transmission. These foci may be missed due to asymptomatic infections. To solve this problem, the World Health Organization recommends reactive case detection (RACD). This case study was conducted to identify individuals with asymptomatic malaria, their predisposing risk factors and recommend RACD in Asutsuare, Ghana based on literature review and a cross sectional study. Methods: The study involved a search on PubMed and Google Scholar of literature published between 1st January, 2009–14th August, 2023 using the search terms “malaria” in “Asutsuare”. Furthermore, structured questionnaires were administered to one hundred individuals without symptoms of malaria and screened using rapid diagnostic test (RDT) kits, microscopy and real-time polymerase chain reaction (rt-PCR). Malaria prevalence based on the three diagnostic techniques as well as potential malaria risk factors were assessed through questionnaires in a cross-sectional study. Results: Cumulatively, sixty-four (64) studies (Google Scholar, 57 and PubMed, 7) were reviewed and 22 studies included in the literature on malaria in Asutsuare, Ghana. Significant risk factors were occupation, distance from a house to a waterbody, age group and educational level. Out of the 100 samples, 3 (3%) were positive by RDT, 6 (6%) by microscopy and 9 (9%) by rt-PCR. Ages 5–14.9 years had the highest mean malaria parasite densities of 560 parasites/µl with Plasmodium falciparum as the dominant species in 4 participants. Moreover, in the age group ≥ 15, 2 participants (1 each) harboured P. falciparum and Plasmodium malariae parasites. RDT had a higher sensitivity (76.54%; CI95 66.82–85.54) than rt-PCR (33.33%; CI95 4.33–77.72), while both rt-PCR and RDT were observed to have a higher specificity (92.55; CI95 85.26–96.95) and (97.30; CI95 93.87–99.13), respectively in the diagnosis of malaria. Conclusion: In Asutsuare, Ghana, a low endemic area, the elimination of malaria may require finding individuals with asymptomatic infections. Given the low prevalence of asymptomatic individuals identified in this study and as repleted in the literature review, which favours RACD, Asutsuare is a possible setting receptive for RACD implementation.</p

The Use of Pre-Reading Activities in Reading Skills Achievement in Preschool Education

Although wealth of empirical researches have covered the impact of crucial, indispensable role reading skills play in the development of individuals&rsquo; mental faculties through the acquisition of knowledge in a particular language, scientific works on the assessment of the relationship(s) between pre-reading activities (consisting of games, puzzle solving, match making) and reading skills achievement remain depressingly scanty in Ghana. This study in the light of foregoing atmosphere explored how pre-reading activities facilitate pre-reading and reading skills among preschoolers with the use of randomized experimental control groups design which adopted pre and post-test of two classes, as well as observation guides to diagnose the problem of reading among the KG children in the two groups (control and treatment groups). The findings from these experimentations clearly portrayed the significant influence that pre-reading activities exert on the level of preschoolers reading skills achievements. Upon thorough analysis, and discussions predicated on the research outcome, it has been recommended that preschool educators incorporate levelappropriate pre-reading activities to enrich Preschool Education in Ghana

Does the nature of airport terminal service activities matter? Processing and non-processing service quality, passenger affective image and satisfaction

The surge in air transport demand and the increasingly competitive and volatile market dynamics due to airline deregulation are rapidly transforming airports’ character into multi-service firms and destinations. As a result, service performance measurement of significant systems and their consequent impact on airport users are crucial in creating better airport service design, operation and management for sustainable competitive advantage. The present study 1) assesses the applicability of the Airport Indicators of Passenger Experience (AIPEX) model on Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG), and 2) tests a theoretical model that explores the direct and indirect relationships among airport service quality, passenger affective image and satisfaction, as well as the moderating mechanism of passenger type (travel purpose) in these associations. The results indicate that, the AIPEX model fits the PVG context for airport service performance assessment. Also, the theoretical model suggests robust direct associations among processing/non-processing domains and passenger satisfaction, as well as the processing domain and passenger affective image, except non-processing domain and passenger affective image relation. Moreover, significant mediating and moderating effects of passenger affective image and travel purpose on the significant positive direct associations are found. Further, implications for theory and practice are discussed

COVID-19 Pandemic and International Students&rsquo; Mental Health in China: Age, Gender, Chronic Health Condition and Having Infected Relative as Risk Factors

International students in China were among the first group of individuals to be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the pandemic&rsquo;s impact on their mental health is underexplored. This study&mdash;utilizing web-based survey data (N = 381), presents preliminary reports using ANOVA and MIMIC analytic approaches. Following the clinical demarcation of the 21-item version of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21), we found 24.6%, 38.3%, and 43.6% of the students to suffer mild to extreme stress, anxiety, and depression, respectively. Female students reported significantly higher levels of stress and depression than males. Older students&rsquo; reports of stress were more substantial than younger students. Students who reported having a relative infected with the virus (vs. those without) experienced significantly higher anxiety and stress. Those who reported having pre-existing chronic health condition(s) (vs. those without) also reported significantly higher stress, anxiety, and depression levels. Moreover, students with an exercise routine (vs. those without) experienced significantly lower levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. Last, our MIMIC model results indicate that foreign students&rsquo; age, gender, chronic health status, and having a relative infected with the virus constitute significant risk factors explaining variations in foreign students&rsquo; experience of psychological distress. Implications for international students&rsquo; management have been thoroughly discussed

&ldquo;I Am Here to Fly, but Better Get the Environment Right!&rdquo; Passenger Response to Airport Servicescape

This study deploys environmental and positive psychology models to develop and test the influence of substantive and communicative staging of airport servicescape (i.e., SSoS and CSoS) on passengers&rsquo; emotional and subsequent behavioral responses. Furthermore, we examined the extent to which the strength of these associations is contingent upon passengers&rsquo; travel frequency (passengers&rsquo; familiarity with airport facilities and processes). The study&rsquo;s sample (n = 387) was drawn from passengers departing from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA). The results indicate that airport servicescape robustly engenders passengers&rsquo; positive emotion and satisfaction (with SSoS having more potent effects), facilitating intentions to repurchase, recommend, pay more, and partly, spend more. The interaction effects demonstrate that while pleasant CSoS induces higher satisfaction in frequent flyers, pleasing SSoS generates higher satisfaction in infrequent flyers. In addition, positive emotion appears more vital in predicting infrequent passengers&rsquo; behavioral intentions to repeat purchase, recommend, and pay more. Passenger satisfaction seems relevant for different passengers regarding their familiarity levels depending on the kind of behavioral response under consideration. Thus, satisfied frequent travelers are more inclined to repeat purchase and pay more; however, satisfied infrequent travelers are more likely to recommend and spend more at airport terminals. The summary, interpretation, and implication of the results conclude the study

Airport Self-Service Technologies, Passenger Self-Concept, and Behavior: An Attributional View

Airports are rapidly deploying self-service technologies (SSTs) as a strategy to improve passenger experience by eliminating operational inefficiencies. This places some responsibility on the passengers to shape their experience. As service coproducers, passengers’ self-concepts and attributional tendencies are deemed instrumental in their consumption processes. Accordingly, drawing on the tenets of attribution theory, this study explores the interaction effects of passenger self-concept (am I competent at this?) and causal inference (who is responsible for SSTs’ performance?) on SST performance and satisfaction with airport SST link. Additionally, the probable spillover effect of passenger satisfaction with SST performance on satisfaction with airport and on electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) is examined. The sample for the study consisted of 547 passengers departing from an airport in Shanghai, China. Structural equation modeling was utilized to test the study’s theoretical model. The findings indicate that airport SSTs’ performance influences passenger satisfaction with airport SSTs. The multiplicative effect of passenger self-concept (am I competent at this?) in the moderating role of passenger causal inference (who is responsible for SSTs’ performance?) in SST performance and satisfaction with SST link is demonstrated. Furthermore, the spillover effect of satisfaction with SST performance on satisfaction with airport and on electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) is illustrated. Given the current need for contactlessness, the findings proffer critical managerial and research insights

Do airport staff helpfulness and communication generate behavioral loyalty in transfer passengers? A conditional mediation analysis

The footloose nature of transfer passengers in the turbulent air transport market landscape has necessitated the need to assess service marketing constructs relevant for airport competitiveness. The current cross-sectional study examined (1) the influence of transfer passengers’ perceived airport staff helpfulness and communication (H&C) on their behavioral loyalty, (2) the mediating roles of passenger affective image and satisfaction, and (3) the interaction effects of passenger types (trip purpose & travel frequency) and airport in the direct and indirect airport staff H&C – behavioral loyalty relation. Post-hoc analysis of transfer passengers’ perceived airport staff H&C across airports and passenger types was performed. Data was collected from three international airports in China (N = 829). Findings revealed that perceived airport staff H&C has significant positive associations with the three behavioral loyalty variables, and indicated further that these associations are partly explainable via passengers’ affective image and satisfaction. Also, the perceived airport staff H&C's direct and indirect relations with behavioral loyalty variables are sensitive to passenger types but not airports. Expectedly, the post-hoc analysis showed that transfer passengers’ perceived airport staff H&C is significantly different across passenger types but not airports. Theoretical and practical implications, limitations and directions for future studies have been discussed

Central contrast sensitivity perimetry discriminates between glaucomatous and non-glaucomatous eyes

Background: Glaucoma is an optic neuropathy which causes irreversible vision loss. Standard perimetry, which is essential for glaucoma diagnosis, can only detect glaucomatous visual filed loss when considerable structural damage has occurred. Contrast sensitivity is one of the visual function tests that is reduced in eyes with glaucoma. It is known to be affected in pre-perimetric stages of glaucoma. Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the discriminating ability of central contrast sensitivity perimetry in eyes with and without glaucoma. Design: The study employed a cross-sectional study design. Methods: The study participants were made of two groups; eyes diagnosed with glaucoma by an ophthalmologist based on visual field test and optical coherence tomography (OCT) and age- and sex-matched controls who were declared free from glaucoma. Static contrast sensitivity (CS) was measured in the central 10° of visual field using a custom psychophysical test. Results: There were 45 eyes with glaucoma and 45 age- and sex-matched controls in this study. The static CS in the glaucoma group was significantly reduced in 9 out of the 13 tested locations in the central 10° of the visual field. The mean static CS at 5°, 10°, superior hemifield and inferior hemifield were all significantly reduced in the glaucoma patients compared to the controls. Conclusion: Static CS measurement is a sensitive approach that can be utilized to aid in the detection of glaucoma. The use of static CS can be adopted in the development of a cost-effective yet sensitive screening tool for the detection of glaucoma