Department of Error:Mapping geographical inequalities in childhood diarrhoeal morbidity and mortality in low-income and middle-income countries, 2000–17: analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017 (The Lancet (2020) 395(10239) (1779–1801), (S0140673620301148), (10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30114-8))

Reiner RC Jr, Hay SI. Mapping geographical inequalities in childhood diarrhoeal morbidity and mortality in low-income and middle-income countries, 2000–17: analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. Lancet 2020; 395: 1779–801—In this Article, the author byline has been amended to Local Burden of Disease Diarrhoea Collaborators. This correction has been made to the online version as of June 4, 2020, and the printed version is correct.</p

Five insights from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 provides a rules-based synthesis of the available evidence on levels and trends in health outcomes, a diverse set of risk factors, and health system responses. GBD 2019 covered 204 countries and territories, as well as first administrative level disaggregations for 22 countries, from 1990 to 2019. Because GBD is highly standardised and comprehensive, spanning both fatal and non-fatal outcomes, and uses a mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive list of hierarchical disease and injury causes, the study provides a powerful basis for detailed and broad insights on global health trends and emerging challenges. GBD 2019 incorporates data from 281 586 sources and provides more than 3·5 billion estimates of health outcome and health system measures of interest for global, national, and subnational policy dialogue. All GBD estimates are publicly available and adhere to the Guidelines on Accurate and Transparent Health Estimate Reporting. From this vast amount of information, five key insights that are important for health, social, and economic development strategies have been distilled. These insights are subject to the many limitations outlined in each of the component GBD capstone papers.</p

Idiosyncratic shocks, risk management and welfare dynamics in rural Ghana

International Development, Risk and Uncertainty,

The Disabled and Art: Selected Artifacts of Ghanaian Physically Disabled Artists as a Resource For Teaching And Learning

Some disabled artists in Ghana exhibit a lot of rich knowledge and practical skills which are potential materials for teaching and learning. These should be documented otherwise the rich concepts and philosophies inherent in them which, among others, are perceived to depict societal problems may be lost after their death. It is the aim of this paper to identify and document the unique artistic qualities in some of the art works of selected physically disabled artists. It was the pursuit of the writers to contribute to the documentation of these works to serve as resource material for Art Education and Special Education. Through qualitative research, an enquiry was made into the artifacts of six (6) selected disabled artists in Ashanti Region. Description of ten (10) works comprising textiles, sculpture, painting, three dimensional (3-D) design, and basketry was done. These physically disabled artists were interviewed using the face-to-face method as data collection instrument. The results of the research largely confirm  that the selected artifacts depict problems of the society. Also, a few of the works portray their emotions, personal nature, ideas and philosophy. It is recommended that more physically disabled persons should find life in art since art provides varying types of employment for disabled persons.Keywords: Artifacts, art education, philosophy, disability art

Spatial dependency of V. cholera prevalence on open space refuse dumps in Kumasi, Ghana: a spatial statistical modelling

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cholera has persisted in Ghana since its introduction in the early 70's. From 1999 to 2005, the Ghana Ministry of Health officially reported a total of 26,924 cases and 620 deaths to the WHO. Etiological studies suggest that the natural habitat of <it>V. cholera </it>is the aquatic environment. Its ability to survive within and outside the aquatic environment makes cholera a complex health problem to manage. Once the disease is introduced in a population, several environmental factors may lead to prolonged transmission and secondary cases. An important environmental factor that predisposes individuals to cholera infection is sanitation. In this study, we exploit the importance of two main spatial measures of sanitation in cholera transmission in an urban city, Kumasi. These are proximity and density of refuse dumps within a community.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A spatial statistical modelling carried out to determine the spatial dependency of cholera prevalence on refuse dumps show that, there is a direct spatial relationship between cholera prevalence and density of refuse dumps, and an inverse spatial relationship between cholera prevalence and distance to refuse dumps. A spatial scan statistics also identified four significant spatial clusters of cholera; a primary cluster with greater than expected cholera prevalence, and three secondary clusters with lower than expected cholera prevalence. A GIS based buffer analysis also showed that the minimum distance within which refuse dumps should not be sited within community centres is 500 m.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The results suggest that proximity and density of open space refuse dumps play a contributory role in cholera infection in Kumasi.</p

Spatial and demographic patterns of Cholera in Ashanti region - Ghana

Abstract Background Cholera has claimed many lives throughout history and it continues to be a global threat, especially in countries in Africa. The disease is listed as one of three internationally quarantinable diseases by the World Health organization, along with plague and yellow fever. Between 1999 and 2005, Africa alone accounted for about 90% of over 1 million reported cholera cases worldwide. In Ghana, there have been over 27000 reported cases since 1999. In one of the affected regions in Ghana, Ashanti region, massive outbreaks and high incidences of cholera have predominated in urban and overcrowded communities. Results A GIS based spatial analysis and statistical analysis, carried out to determine clustering of cholera, showed that high cholera rates are clustered around Kumasi Metropolis (the central part of the region), with Moran's Index = 0.271 and P Chi square for trend analysis reflected a direct spatial relationship between cholera and urbanization (χ2 = 2995.5, P χ2 = 1757.2, P χ2 = 831.38, P Conclusion The results suggest that high urbanization, high overcrowding, and neighborhood with Kumasi Metropolis are the most important predictors of cholera in Ashanti region.</p

Effects of Biochar and Poultry Manure on the Composition of Phosphorus Solubilizing Fungi and Soil Available Phosphorus Concentration in an Oxisol

Introduction: The use of biochar to restore soil fertility is still in the exploratory stages in Ghana and there is paucity of information regarding the effect of biochar on soil biochemical properties. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of biochar solely applied or in combination with poultry manure on the composition of soil phosphorus solubilizing fungi, available P concentration and selected properties of Oxisol in Ghana. Methods: Cocoa husk biochar (CHB), prepared using Lucia biomass pyrolytic stove at a temperature of 400°C was applied solely at 0, 39 and 65 t ha-1 and in combination with 10 t ha-1, poultry manure, to the soil. Treatments were arranged in a completely randomized design with three replications. Results: The population of phosphorus solubilizing fungi increased in amended soils significantly (P = .05) above that of the control. The increases in fungal biomass followed; control < biochar < biochar + poultry manure. Aspergillus, Fusarium and Penicillium were dominant genera with few of the microbes in the genera Colletotrichum. The increase in phosphorus solubilizing fungi correlated positively (r = 0.96, P = .05) with increase in available phosphorus. Then again, biochar solely applied or in combination with poultry manure significantly (P = .05) increased pH, total organic carbon and cation exchange capacity. Mineral N however significantly (P = .05) increased only in combined biochar and poultry manure treatments. Conclusion: Biochar solely applied or in combination with poultry manure enhanced phosphorus solubilizing fungal biomass and availability of phosphorus in the soil with combined poultry manure and biochar having the highest influence

What drives me there? The interplay of socio-psychological gratification and consumer values in social media brand engagement

The social behavioral perspective is under-researched in the extant literature. This hinders the holistic understanding of social media brand engagement. This study examines the interplay of socio-psychological gratification variables (perceived homophily, perceived critical mass, and self-status seeking) and consumer values (personal, interpersonal, and fun) on consumer participation in social media brand engagement. The conceptual model in this study is situated on the principles of Uses and Gratifications, Critical Mass, Homophily, and Values theories. Based on an online survey of 713 Facebook users, we examine the model using structural equation modeling (with Amos 23.0). The analysis disclosed insights on the interplay of motivational factors that underlie social media brand engagement. Our findings suggest that socio-psychological gratification variables (perceived homophily, perceived critical mass, and self-status seeking) drive consumers’ engagement with brand pages and brand communities on social media. This relationship is strengthened by the consumer values. These insights serve as an important basis for researchers and practitioners to understand social media brand engagement and its outcomes

Assessing a Practical Classroom of Takoradi Technical University – An End-User Perspective

This study evaluated the newly refurbished building used as a kitchen for practical lessons at the Hospitality Management Department of Takoradi Technical University, Ghana. It aimed at identifying the challenges faced by users and assessing their satisfsction with the facility. A questionnaire survey approach and covert observations were adopted to gather data. Questionnaires were self-administered to 150 randomly sampled Higher National Diploma students of the department. Data were analysed and presented in tables as frequencies, percentages and mean scores. The study identified lack of changing rooms, lack of storage facilities, congestion and inadequate natural ventilation as some of the challenges faced by users of the kitchen. The overall mean satisfaction score was 2.46 which is an indication that users are dissatisfied with the facility. This study would help inform design decisions to improve upon the performance of future students’ practical rooms to be constructed in the institution. Key words: Challenges, Kitchen, Practical’s, Post Occupancy Evaluation, User Satisfaction