Knowledge and Perception of Pupils on Health and Environmental Risk of Open Defaecation: A case Study in the First Cycle Schools in Eastern and Volta Regions of Ghana

Open defaecation remains major public and environmental health concerns and has attracted global attention in recent time. This study explores the knowledge and perception of pupils on health and environmental risk of open defaecation. Self-reported data were collected from 400 school pupils using questionnaires, focus group discussions and in-depth interview. Results of the study shows high knowledge level (89.8%) among the pupils. Pupils’ knowledge of environmental risks was fairly high (52%). Knowledge of health risks was, however, low among greater number (53%) of the pupils. Open defaecation shows statistical significant association with health risk (ᵡ2 =65.062, p=0.002), environmental risk (ᵡ2 = 44.961, p=0.006) and pupils level of perception of environmental risk (ᵡ2 = 36.887, p=0.045). The Ministry of Education must introduce courses into the school curriculum to help pupils acquire adequate knowledge on health and environmental consequences of open defaecation.  Keywords: Knowledge, perception, health & environmental risks, open defaecation, first cycle school pupils, Eastern, Volta, Ghana

Prevention of violence against women and girls: a cost-effectiveness study across 6 low- and middle-income countries

Background Violence against women and girls (VAWG) is a human rights violation with social, economic, and health consequences for survivors, perpetrators, and society. Robust evidence on economic, social, and health impact, plus the cost of delivery of VAWG prevention, is critical to making the case for investment, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where health sector resources are highly constrained. We report on the costs and health impact of VAWG prevention in 6 countries. Methods and findings We conducted a trial-based cost-effectiveness analysis of VAWG prevention interventions using primary data from 5 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in sub-Saharan Africa and 1 in South Asia. We evaluated 2 school-based interventions aimed at adolescents (11 to 14 years old) and 2 workshop-based (small group or one to one) interventions, 1 community-based intervention, and 1 combined small group and community-based programme all aimed at adult men and women (18+ years old). All interventions were delivered between 2015 and 2018 and were compared to a do-nothing scenario, except for one of the school-based interventions (government-mandated programme) and for the combined intervention (access to financial services in small groups). We computed the health burden from VAWG with disability-adjusted life year (DALY). We estimated per capita DALYs averted using statistical models that reflect each trial’s design and any baseline imbalances. We report cost-effectiveness as cost per DALY averted and characterise uncertainty in the estimates with probabilistic sensitivity analysis (PSA) and cost-effectiveness acceptability curves (CEACs), which show the probability of cost-effectiveness at different thresholds. We report a subgroup analysis of the small group component of the combined intervention and no other subgroup analysis. We also report an impact inventory to illustrate interventions’ socioeconomic impact beyond health. We use a 3% discount rate for investment costs and a 1-year time horizon, assuming no effects post the intervention period. From a health sector perspective, the cost per DALY averted varies between US$222 (2018), for an established gender attitudes and harmful social norms change community-based intervention in Ghana, to US$17,548 (2018) for a livelihoods intervention in South Africa. Taking a societal perspective and including wider economic impact improves the cost-effectiveness of some interventions but reduces others. For example, interventions with positive economic impacts, often those with explicit economic goals, offset implementation costs and achieve more favourable cost-effectiveness ratios. Results are robust to sensitivity analyses. Our DALYs include a subset of the health consequences of VAWG exposure; we assume no mortality impact from any of the health consequences included in the DALYs calculations. In both cases, we may be underestimating overall health impact. We also do not report on participants’ health costs. Conclusions We demonstrate that investment in established community-based VAWG prevention interventions can improve population health in LMICs, even within highly constrained health budgets. However, several VAWG prevention interventions require further modification to achieve affordability and cost-effectiveness at scale. Broadening the range of social, health, and economic outcomes captured in future cost-effectiveness assessments remains critical to justifying the investment urgently required to prevent VAWG globally

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Advances in Flame Retardant Poly(Lactic Acid)

PLA has become a commodity polymer with wide applications in a number of fields. However, its high flammability with the tendency to flow in fire has limited its viability as a perfect replacement for the petrochemically-engineered plastics. Traditional flame retardants, which may be incorporated into PLA without severely degrading the mechanical properties, are the organo-halogen compounds. Meanwhile, these compounds tend to bioaccumulate and pose a risk to flora and fauna due to their restricted use. Research into PLA flame retardants has largely focused on organic and inorganic compounds for the past few years. Meanwhile, the renewed interest in the development of environmentally sustainable flame retardants (FRs) for PLA has increased significantly in a bid to maintain the integrity of the polymer. A review on the development of new flame retardants for PLA is presented herein. The focus is on metal oxides, phosphorus-based systems, 2D and 1D nanomaterials, hyperbranched polymers, and their combinations, which have been applied for flame retarding PLA are discussed. The paper also reviews briefly the correlation between FR loadings and efficiency for various FR systems, and their effects on processing and mechanical properties

Research on the Comparative Advantage and Complementarity of China–Ghana Agricultural Product Trade

As trade partners, China in Southeast Asia and Ghana in Africa both play a major role in the China–Africa economic and trade cooperation and have strengthened their bilateral trade. The trade cooperation between China and Ghana has progressed, and there currently exists a large agricultural product trade between the two countries. China has become one of Ghana’s largest trading partners in recent decades, and bilateral cooperation has become stronger. This paper analyses the comparative advantage and complementarity of trade in agricultural products between China and Ghana in terms of twenty major agricultural products from 2016 to 2020, based on the revealed comparative advantage index, trade complementarity index, and their status quo. The results showed that the trade volume of China–Ghana agricultural products has continuously increased, and China is currently in a surplus state, but their total agriculture trade volume proportions had been decreasing. From the perspective of comparative advantage and complementarity, the results showed that the comparative advantage and complementarity coexist, but their comparative advantage is more obvious showing strong competitiveness. The result further shows that the comparative advantage of Ghana was stronger than that of China and the complementarity of China’s exports and Ghana’s imports of agricultural products has not been fully exploited; likewise, the complementarity of China’s imports and Ghana’s exports of agricultural products has not been fully exploited since 2018, and there is a large potential for further cooperation and development. Finally, based on the current situation and our analysis of agricultural trade between China and Ghana, suggestions were put forward to seek new and continuous development opportunities for agricultural trade cooperation between the two countries

The exploration of near-extinct indigenous Ghanaian cultural symbols for interior decoration

AbstractThe culture and artistic heritage of Ghana have been endorsed by the rich influence of Akan symbols like Adinkra, the akuaba doll, and others from various ethnic groups. However, the integration of ethnically unique near-extinct symbols into an art piece to highlight the cultural diversity of Ghana for wall hanging is rare. This work brings to life indigenous Ghanaian symbols on the verge of extinction from four ethnic groups, namely, the Akan, Ewe, Ga-Adangbe, and Mole-Dagbani to design a wall hanging for interior decoration, especially for public spaces by adopting Cora Marshal’s aesthetico research to generate a “Quali-Aesthetico” model. The design aesthetically ingrained conceptual aboriginal art and near-extinct indigenous Ghanaian symbols from the four ethnic groups as inspiration. The creative integration of these symbols yielded an interesting art piece that provides a unique ambiance for a simulated interior-decorated airport and an art gallery suitably displayed on flat interior surfaces. Besides the artistic expression of the art piece, interpretations of the uniquely combined symbols and their philosophical meanings have been provided to educate the public about the rich Ghanaian cultural heritage. The art piece also seeks to preserve near-extinct identity symbols and create a sense of belonging for the younger generation

Research on the Comparative Advantage and Complementarity of China–Ghana Agricultural Product Trade

As trade partners, China in East Asia and Ghana in Africa both play a major role in the China–Africa economic and trade cooperation and have strengthened their bilateral trade. The trade cooperation between China and Ghana has progressed, and there currently exists a large agricultural product trade between the two countries. China has become one of Ghana’s largest trading partners in recent decades, and bilateral cooperation has become stronger. This paper analyses the comparative advantage and complementarity of trade in agricultural products between China and Ghana in terms of twenty major agricultural products from 2016 to 2020, based on the revealed comparative advantage index, trade complementarity index, and their status quo. The results showed that the trade volume of China–Ghana agricultural products has continuously increased, and China is currently in a surplus state, but their total agriculture trade volume proportions had been decreasing. From the perspective of comparative advantage and complementarity, the results showed that the comparative advantage and complementarity coexist, but their comparative advantage is more obvious showing strong competitiveness. The result further shows that the comparative advantage of Ghana was stronger than that of China and the complementarity of China’s exports and Ghana’s imports of agricultural products has not been fully exploited; likewise, the complementarity of China’s imports and Ghana’s exports of agricultural products has not been fully exploited since 2018, and there is a large potential for further cooperation and development. Finally, based on the current situation and our analysis of agricultural trade between China and Ghana, suggestions were put forward to seek new and continuous development opportunities for agricultural trade cooperation between the two countries

Rationally designed tungsten trioxide nanosheets for high-efficiency aqueous battery application

Aqueous battery (AB) with non-metallic charging carriers is a viable candidate for grid energy storage devices owing to its comparatively low cost and high safety. However, developing practical electrode materials with remarkable electrochemical performance remains a great challenge. In this study, tungsten trioxide nanosheets (WONSs) with one-dimensional tunnels were facilely synthesized through a hydrothermal reaction. When used as the cathode material in aqueous batteries, the as-prepared WONS exhibits excellent long-term cycling stability and impressively high rate capability due to the nearly zero-strain structural characteristics of super-fast proton storage. Notably, a stable cycling performance with 89% capacity retention after 10000 cycles was achieved with an increased mass loading of WONS at around 12 mg cm−2. Our work points to a new direction of promoting high-efficiency AB applications with protons as charge carriers in a mild electrolyte