The Use of Corporate Websites as Dialogic Public Relations Tools by Ghana's Public and Private Institutions

Motivated by the non-visibility of literature about African countries, this work examines corporate websites as dialogic online public relations tools in Ghana. The explorative study used six case studies, three apiece from private and public organizations. Thirty respondents from these organizations debated the subject in focus group discussions and interviews. The transcripts show that, while public institutions use their websites to inform, educate, train, and develop positive relationships with their publics, profit-oriented organizations extend the usage to running advertisements to gain more profits. The findings also show that an organization's ethical systems can determine a website’s content in dialogic communication. Besides ensuring regular updates and efficient feedback systems, we recommend that organizations have proactive public relations work ethics that make website content address visitors' issues without delay. Organizations can also incorporate video-on-demand and conferencing solutions to improve their dialogue and grow their relationship with the audience

Nutrition-sensitive education and social protection policies have implications for food-based dietary guidelines for Ghana

Ghana continues to address persistent malnutrition through political action and programme development. Government-led efforts have included the formulation of multi-sectoral policies and programmes to improve the diet and nutritional status of various at-risk population groups. Globally, an important tool for promoting healthy diets are Food-Based Dietary Guidelines (FDBGs). To achieve and sustain the desired goal of promoting healthy eating habits and lifestyles, FBDGs require, among many factors, supportive national policies and programmes. When coherently incorporated in relevant nutrition-related policies and programmes, FBDGs enhance their impact on shaping and sustaining healthier dietary habits. In this context, it is essential to understand the national policy and programme environment and its potential contribution during the formulation of FBDGs. The present review aimed to identify existing nutrition-related education and social protection policies and programmes in Ghana and their relevance to the development and implementation of FBDGs. Previously conducted scoping reviews, gap analyses, and a benchmarking report of Ghana’s public health nutrition policies were used as information sources to identify relevant policies and programmes. Additionally, websites of relevant government ministries, departments and agencies were searched to retrieve applicable policies or actions that were not included in previous reviews. Nutrition-related education policies that were identified primarily support school health services, whereas social protection policies broadly target social assistance, social welfare, social equity and insurancebased policies and programmes. Specific ways these policies and programmes could support the development and implementation of Ghana’s dietary guidelines include embedding FBDGs in the school nutrition curriculum to motivate healthier food choices by schoolchildren and using FBDGs to plan meals provided as part of the country’s school feeding programme. Regarding social protection, existing instruments such as food transfers, social pensions and conditional cash transfers could be aligned with FBDGs to ensure vulnerable households can access foods and follow recommended guidelines. Although some nutrition actions are incorporated in existing policies and programmes, there are opportunities to improve their nutrition sensitivity.&nbsp

Hyperuricaemia and other cardiometabolic risks among type 2 diabetes patients

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of further morbidity and mortality in type 2 diabetes patients. This study aimed to find the serum lipid profile, serum uric acid levels, other CVD risk factors, and how these factors are affected by diabetes duration in adults with type 2 diabetes. The cross-sectional study, involving 100 subjects, was carried out at the Diabetes Centre, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Kumasi, Ghana. Adult type 2 diabetes patients, 20 years or older, were recruited for the study. The National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Adult Panel III and American Diabetes Association (ADA) guidelines were used to find the metabolic status of the patients. Of the 100 patients, 74% and 62% had high systolic blood pressure and abdominal obesity, respectively. Also, high LDL-cholesterol and hypercholesterolaemia were found in 47% and 46% of the patients, respectively. Forty-six percent (46%) of the patients were hyperuricaemic. Cardiovascular disease risk increased with age from 20 to 79 years. The female diabetics had more adverse CVD risk profile than the male diabetics (high LDL, 55% vs. 23.1%; high total cholesterol, 54.1% vs. 23.1%; high triglycerides, 32.4% vs. 30.8%; low HDL, 25.7% vs. 3.8%). Fifty percent (50%) of females compared to 34.6% of males were hyperuricaemic. However, hypertension was more prevalent among males (systolic blood pressure, 76.9%; diastolic blood pressure, 38.5%) than among females (systolic blood pressure, 73%; diastolic blood pressure, 37.8%). In conclusion, the prevalence of hyperuricaemia and other cardiometabolic risks was high among type 2 diabetes patients

Nutrition-sensitive education and social protection policies have implications for food-based dietary guidelines for Ghana

Ghana continues to address persistent malnutrition through political action and programme development. Government-led efforts have included  the formulation of multi-sectoral policies and programmes to improve the diet and nutritional status of various at-risk population groups. Globally,  an important tool for promoting healthy diets are Food-Based Dietary Guidelines (FDBGs). To achieve and sustain the desired goal of promoting  healthy eating habits and lifestyles, FBDGs require, among many factors, supportive national policies and programmes. When coherently  incorporated in relevant nutrition-related policies and programmes, FBDGs enhance their impact on shaping and sustaining healthier dietary habits.  In this context, it is essential to understand the national policy and programme environment and its potential contribution during the  formulation of FBDGs. The present review aimed to identify existing nutrition-related education and social protection policies and programmes in  Ghana and their relevance to the development and implementation of FBDGs. Previously conducted scoping reviews, gap analyses, and a  benchmarking report of Ghana’s public health nutrition policies were used as information sources to identify relevant policies and programmes.  Additionally, websites of relevant government ministries, departments and agencies were searched to retrieve applicable policies or actions that  were not included in previous reviews. Nutrition-related education policies that were identified primarily support school health services, whereas  social protection policies broadly target social assistance, social welfare, social equity and insurancebased policies and programmes. Specific ways  these policies and programmes could support the development and implementation of Ghana’s dietary guidelines include embedding FBDGs in the  school nutrition curriculum to motivate healthier food choices by schoolchildren and using FBDGs to plan meals provided as part of the country’s  school feeding programme. Regarding social protection, existing instruments such as food transfers, social pensions and conditional cash transfers  could be aligned with FBDGs to ensure vulnerable households can access foods and follow recommended guidelines. Although some nutrition  actions are incorporated in existing policies and programmes, there are opportunities to improve their nutrition sensitivity.&nbsp

Implementation of healthy food environment policies to prevent nutrition-related non-communicable diseases in Ghana : national experts’ assessment of Government action

Nutrition-related non-communicable diseases (NR-NCDs) are a global health problem, increasingly recognised as driven by unhealthy food environments. Yet little is known about government action to implement food environment-relevant policies, particularly in low-and lower-middle income countries. This study assessed government action, implementation gaps, and priorities to improve the food environment in Ghana. Using the Healthy Food-Environment Policy Index (Food-EPI), a panel comprising government and independent experts (n = 19) rated government action to improve the healthiness of food environment in Ghana against international best practices and according to steps within a policy cycle. Forty-three good practice indicators of food environment policy and infrastructure support were used, with ratings informed by systematically collected evidence of action validated by government officials. Following the rating exercise, the expert panel proposed and prioritized actions for government implementation. Three-quarters of all good practice indicators were rated at ‘low’/‘very little’ implementation. Restricting the marketing of breast milk substitutes was the only indicator rated “very high”. Of ten policy actions prioritized for implementation, restricting unhealthy food marketing in children’s settings and in the media were ranked the highest priority. Providing sufficient funds for nationally-relevant research on nutrition and NCDs was the highest priority infrastructure-support action. Other priority infrastructure-support actions related to leadership, monitoring and evaluation. This study identified gaps in Ghana’s implementation of internationally-recommended policies to promote healthy food environments. National stakeholders recommended actions, which will require legislation and leadership. The findings provide a baseline for measuring government progress towards implementing effective policies to prevent NR-NCDs

How ready are communities to implement actions to improve diets of adolescent girls and women in urban Ghana?

Background Ghana has reached an advanced stage of nutrition transition, contributing to an increase in nutrition-related non-communicable diseases, particularly amongst urban women. Community involvement is an important factor in the success of efforts to promote healthy eating. The readiness of populations to accept a range of interventions needs to be understood before appropriate interventions can be implemented. Therefore, this study assessed how ready urban communities are to improve diets of women of reproductive age in Ghana. Methods Using the Community Readiness Model (CRM), in-depth interviews were conducted with 24 key informants from various sectors in low income communities across two cities in Ghana: Accra and Ho. The CRM consists of 36 open questions addressing five readiness dimensions (community knowledge of efforts, leadership, community climate, knowledge of the issue and resources). Interviews were scored using the CRM protocol with a maximum of 9 points per dimension (from 1 = no awareness to 9 = high level of community ownership). Thematic analysis was undertaken to gain insights of community factors that could affect the implementation of interventions to improve diets. Results The mean community readiness scores indicated that both communities were in the “vague awareness stage” (3.35 ± 0.54 (Accra) and 3.94 ± 0.41 (Ho)). CRM scores across the five dimensions ranged from 2.65–4.38/9, ranging from denial/resistance to pre-planning. In both communities, the mean readiness score for ‘knowledge of the issue’ was the highest of all dimensions (4.10 ± 1.61 (Accra); 4.38 ± 1.81 (Ho)), but was still only at the pre-planning phase. The lowest scores were found for community knowledge of efforts (denial/resistance; 2.65 ± 2.49 (Accra)) and resources (vague awareness; 3.35 ± 1.03 (Ho)). The lack of knowledge of the consequences of unhealthy diets, misconceptions of the issue partly from low education, as well as challenges faced from a lack of resources to initiate/sustain programmes explained the low readiness. Conclusions Despite recognising that unhealthy diets are a public health issue in these urban Ghanaian communities, it is not seen as a priority. The low community readiness ratings highlight the need to increase awareness of the issue prior to intervening to improve diets

Perspective: Food Environment Research Priorities for Africa-Lessons from the Africa Food Environment Research Network

Over the last 2 decades, many African countries have undergone dietary and nutrition transitions fueled by globalization, rapid urbanization, and development. These changes have altered African food environments and, subsequently, dietary behaviors, including food acquisition and consumption. Dietary patterns associated with the nutrition transition have contributed to Africa's complex burden of malnutrition—obesity and other diet-related noncommunicable diseases (DR-NCDs)—along with persistent food insecurity and undernutrition. Available evidence links unhealthy or obesogenic food environments (including those that market and offer energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods and beverages) with suboptimal diets and associated adverse health outcomes. Elsewhere, governments have responded with policies to improve food environments. However, in Africa, the necessary research and policy action have received insufficient attention. Contextual evidence to motivate, enable, and create supportive food environments in Africa for better population health is urgently needed. In November 2020, the Measurement, Evaluation, Accountability, and Leadership Support for Noncommunicable Diseases Prevention Project (MEALS4NCDs) convened the first Africa Food Environment Research Network Meeting (FERN2020). This 3-d virtual meeting brought researchers from around the world to deliberate on future directions and research priorities related to improving food environments and nutrition across the African continent. The stakeholders shared experiences, best practices, challenges, and opportunities for improving the healthfulness of food environments and related policies in low- and middle-income countries. In this article, we summarize the proceedings and research priorities identified in the meeting to advance the food environment research agenda in Africa, and thus contribute to the promotion of healthier food environments to prevent DR-NCDs, and other forms of malnutrition

Service delivery assessment at a public research laboratory, Ghana, West Africa

The study evaluated service delivery of a public research laboratory from the perspective of both employees and clients in Accra,  Ghana. The quota sampling technique was used to administer copies of structured questionnaire to staff of the laboratory using a five-point Likert scale and based on four constructs of the SERVQUAL model of service delivery. There were significant differences between client expectations and perceived service received. Employees met client expectation on courtesy and their willingness to help customers with undivided attention. Responsiveness, tangibles, and competence were key constructs that emerged as important in the measurement of service quality in the environmental management laboratory services industry. It is recommended that attention be paid to areas where significant gap existed between client perception and expectation of service quality. These may include issues such as acquisition of ultra-modern equipment that can handle several samples at the same time and improvement in visitor reception areas. Key Words: Employee perception, Customer service, Service qualit

Formulation and Sensory Evaluation of Herb Tea from Moringa oleifera, Hibiscus sabdariffa and Cymbopogon citratus

The sensory appeal of tea, like all food products, is an important consideration in new product de-velopment. Tea in general and herb tea in particular are gaining increasing consumer attention due to a growing awareness of health benefits derived from their consumption. Even though sev-eral underutilized plants exist with potential for processing into herb tea, research in product de-velopment of herb teas is limited. The objectives of the study were to conduct acceptance tests on herb tea prepared from formulations of three indigenous herbs: Moringa oleifera, Hibiscus sab-dariffa and Cymbopogon citratus. Fifty (50) untrained panelists conducted acceptance tests on infusions from nine formulations and one control. Herb tea brewed from product code- 532, composed of 50% Moringa, 30% roselle and 20% lemon grass, was the most preferred in colour, fla-vour, astringency and overall sensory properties while the control made up of 100% Moringa brewed the least preferred herb tea in most of the sensory attribute

A comparison of intervention strategies to improve helminthiasis, nutrition and cognitive status among school-age children in helminth endemic farming and fishing areas in Ghana

AbstractTo evaluate the impact of intervention strategies on helminthiasis, the nutritional and cognitive status of School-Age Children (SAC), we conducted a community trial with 4 intervention arms; “Nutrition Education Only” (NutEd), “Supplementation Only” (Suppl), “Nutrition Education+Supplementation” (NutEd+Suppl) versus a ‘Non-intervention‘(Control) group. The intervention was conducted on 358 SAC from 8 randomly selected schools (4 schools from fishing and 4 schools from farming communities) in the Kwahu Afram Plains South District of Ghana. Data were collected at baseline, third, and sixth-month post-intervention. Data were obtained through questionnaire, anthropometry, parasitology (faecal and urine analysis), hemoglobin levels (Hb) and whole blood zinc levels. The Ravens Colored Progressive Matrices (RCPM) were used for the cognitive assessment. At baseline, the overall helminthiasis prevalence was 29.6%, which decreased to 6.3% at the 6th-month post-intervention. About 7.5% of all the children were underweight, 11.2% were stunted, 21.5% were acutely malnourished, 46.1% were anemic and 31.4% were zinc deficient. These decreased to 5.3% (underweight), 8.5% (stunting), 9.8% (acute malnutrition), 16.1% (anemia) and 9.3% (zinc deficiency), respectively, at the 6th-month post-intervention. At baseline, 15.6% of the children passed the cognitive test which increased to 32.4% at the 6th-month post-intervention. The “NutEd” treatment recorded the most significantly improved of bmi-for-age z-score (0.27 ± 0.88, p = 0.002), height-for-age z-score (0.16 ± 0.38, p < 0.0001) and anemia (Hb levels; 1.22 ± 1.13 g/dL, p < 0.0001), The “NutEd+Suppl” group recorded the highest improvement in zinc levels (46.39 ± 22.30 µmol/L, p < 0.0001) and the “Suppl” group the highest improvement in cognitive performance (3.08 ± 6.07, p < 0.0001) between the baseline and the 6th-month post-intervention