Child protection in Ghana : Exploring the perception and behaviour of radiographers.

This study, which was in two Phases, sought to explore the cultural understanding amongst Ghanaian radiographers of the concepts of child abuse and child protection (Phase 1) and how they perceived and participated in child protection within the health system in Ghana (Phase 2). Data was collected using phenomenological methodology. Open ended questionnaires were used in Phase 1 and semi-structured interviews in Phase 2. Participants were radiographers who were selected using purposive sampling. Data was thematically analysed and managed with NVivo Version 10. Themes developed formed the basis of the discussion. Results showed that participants understood the concepts of child abuse and child protection differently. The majority of participants sought further information through history taking to gain insight into child's diagnosis. Participants were found to trade their professional values against their behavioural beliefs in culture and superstition by indicating the fear of spiritual attacks when they intervened to help a child. Participants reported barriers such as training deficits, lack of knowledge in reporting regulations, and the absence of a framework or structures in place to guide child physical abuse management. The results showed that the majority of participants were ignorant of the role of the social worker in identified child physical abuse. Additionally, there was no teamwork in the majority of the hospitals in the management of child physical abuse. From the various findings, this study argues that the apparent unanimity of child abuse definition was inconclusive in this setting. The meanings assigned to child protection by participants contradicted their behaviour towards child protection.Participants' behaviour towards child protection was congruent with the theory of panned behaviour and social exchange theory. Fear, lack of direction and collaboration characterised the management of child physical abuse

Assessing the variability and predictability of adipokines (adiponectin, leptin, resistin and their ratios) in non-obese and obese women with anovulatory polycystic ovary syndrome

Objectives To assess the variability and predictability of adiponectin, leptin, resistin and their ratios in non-obese and obese women with anovulatory polycystic ovary syndrome (aPCOS). Results A total of 52 ovulatory controls (mean age = 31.63 ± 4.88 years, BMI = 25.33 ± 2.68 kg/m2); 54 non-obese (mean age = 32.11 ± 4.25 years, BMI = 25.72 ± 2.95 kg/m2) and 50 obese women with aPCOS (mean age = 33.64 ± 4.14 years, BMI = 39.19 ± 2.99 kg/m2) were recruited. The aPCOS group had lower adiponectin [13.0 (10.49–16.59) vs 18.42 (15.72–19.92) µg/ml, p \u3c 0.0001], adiponectin: leptin ratio (A:L) [0.60 (0.35–0.88) vs 1.19 (0.92–1.37), p \u3c 0.0001], and adiponectin: resistin ratio (A:R) [0.30 (0.21–0.43) vs 0.42 (0.32–0.62), p \u3c 0.0001] but a higher leptin [20.02 (14.54–26.80) vs 16.17 (14.51–18.36) ng/ml, p \u3c 0.0001] and leptin: resistin ratio (L:R) [0.53 (0.37–0.82) vs 0.40 (0.27–0.48), p \u3c 0.0001] compared to the controls. The obese aPCOS group had lower adiponectin [11.04 (5.66–13.25) vs 14.18 (11.04–18.02), p \u3c 0.0001 and 18.42 (15.72–19.92) µg/ml, p \u3c 0.0001], A:L [0.36 (0.27–0.44) vs 0.78 (0.61–1.16), p \u3c 0.0001 and 1.19 (0.92–1.37), p \u3c 0.0001], and A:R [0.24 (0.17–0.38) vs 0.40 (0.23–0.58), p \u3c 0.0001 and 0.42 (0.32–0.62), p \u3c 0.0001] but a higher leptin [26.80 (14.28–32.09) vs 17.95 (14.86–21.26), p \u3c 0.05 and 16.17 (14.51–18.36) ng/ml, p \u3c 0.0001] and L:R [0.63 (0.46–1.03) vs 0.41 (0.30–0.61), p \u3c 0.0001 and 0.40 (0.27–0.48), p \u3c 0.0001] compared to the non-obese aPCOS and control group, respectively. A:L showed the best discriminatory power in predicting aPCOS (AUC = 0.83), followed by adiponectin alone (AUC = 0.79), L:R and leptin alone (both AUC = 0.69). Resistin alone had the poorest discriminatory power (AUC = 0.48)

The global burden of cancer attributable to risk factors, 2010-19 : a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background Understanding the magnitude of cancer burden attributable to potentially modifiable risk factors is crucial for development of effective prevention and mitigation strategies. We analysed results from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 to inform cancer control planning efforts globally. Methods The GBD 2019 comparative risk assessment framework was used to estimate cancer burden attributable to behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risk factors. A total of 82 risk-outcome pairs were included on the basis of the World Cancer Research Fund criteria. Estimated cancer deaths and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) in 2019 and change in these measures between 2010 and 2019 are presented. Findings Globally, in 2019, the risk factors included in this analysis accounted for 4.45 million (95% uncertainty interval 4.01-4.94) deaths and 105 million (95.0-116) DALYs for both sexes combined, representing 44.4% (41.3-48.4) of all cancer deaths and 42.0% (39.1-45.6) of all DALYs. There were 2.88 million (2.60-3.18) risk-attributable cancer deaths in males (50.6% [47.8-54.1] of all male cancer deaths) and 1.58 million (1.36-1.84) risk-attributable cancer deaths in females (36.3% [32.5-41.3] of all female cancer deaths). The leading risk factors at the most detailed level globally for risk-attributable cancer deaths and DALYs in 2019 for both sexes combined were smoking, followed by alcohol use and high BMI. Risk-attributable cancer burden varied by world region and Socio-demographic Index (SDI), with smoking, unsafe sex, and alcohol use being the three leading risk factors for risk-attributable cancer DALYs in low SDI locations in 2019, whereas DALYs in high SDI locations mirrored the top three global risk factor rankings. From 2010 to 2019, global risk-attributable cancer deaths increased by 20.4% (12.6-28.4) and DALYs by 16.8% (8.8-25.0), with the greatest percentage increase in metabolic risks (34.7% [27.9-42.8] and 33.3% [25.8-42.0]). Interpretation The leading risk factors contributing to global cancer burden in 2019 were behavioural, whereas metabolic risk factors saw the largest increases between 2010 and 2019. Reducing exposure to these modifiable risk factors would decrease cancer mortality and DALY rates worldwide, and policies should be tailored appropriately to local cancer risk factor burden. Copyright (C) 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY 4.0 license.Peer reviewe

Environmental Factors and their Influence on Seasonal Variations of Schistosomiasis Intermediate Snail Hosts Abundance in Weija Lake, Ghana

Schistosomiasis, which remains a key Neglected Tropical Disease, is facilitated by the population dynamics of the intermediate snail host that is reported to be influenced by environmental factors. In Ghana fewer studies on environmental factors have been carried out with the advent of climate change and it predicted influence on the ecology of vectors of diseases that tend to be focal. This study therefore sought to investigate the influence of environmental factors on seasonal variations on intermediate snail hosts abundance. Snails were sampled monthly at a demarcated zone on the Weija Lake near Tomefa, a schistosomiasis endemic community using the scoop net and hand picking techniques. A total of 2,612 snails including 739 dead/empty shells were collected throughout the sampling period. Of this number, 1, 367 (inclusive of 600 dead) Biomphalaria pfeifferi and 1, 245 (inclusive of 139 dead) Bulinus truncatus were collected. Total dissolved solids, temperature and turbidity significantly influenced snail abundance (p<0.05). Five aquatic plant species were found to support both snail species, with Ceratophyllum spp being the most common. Snail abundance varied seasonally with TDS, turbidity and temperature identified as important limiting environmental factors to intermediate snail hosts abundance. Aquatic plant species influenced snail abundance by providing shelter, food and sites for oviposition

Assessment of vitamin D levels and adipokines mediated obesity among psychiatric patients on treatment and treatment naïve: A comparative cross‐sectional study

Abstract Background and aims Antipsychotic treatment may contribute to low vitamin D levels and have impact on direct anti‐inflammatory activity such as adiponectin activity and indirect proinflammatory activity such as leptin and resistin activity. However, vitamin D levels and adipokines mediated effect on weight gain and increased adiposity are not well evaluated. This study, therefore, assessed vitamin D and adipokines‐mediated obesity among Ghanaian psychiatric patients. Methods This comparative cross‐sectional study was conducted at psychiatric unit of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana. Anthropometric measurements, sociodemographic and previous medical history were taken from 300 antipsychotics treatment naïve and active patients. Obesity was classified using World Health Organization (WHO) body mass index (BMI)‐specific cut‐offs. Blood samples were collected for serum vitamin D and adipokines (adiponectin, leptin, and resistin) analysis using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Statistical analyses were done using SPSS version 26.0 and GraphPad Prism version 8.0. Results We observed higher prevalence of obesity among treatment active psychiatric patients (40.7%) compared to treatment naïve group (16.8%). Vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency prevalence were significantly higher among the treatment active group (25.3%; 39.5%; p < 0.001) and associated with increased odds of obesity (91.8%; cOR = 91.84, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 24.94–338.13). Moreover, adiponectin (84.2%: cOR = 14.15, 95% CI: 5.52–36.27), leptin (55.6% cOR = 2.20, 95% CI: 1.04–4.67), and resistin (79.4%: cOR = −8.34, 95% CI: 3.39–20.55) were significantly associated with increased odds of obesity among treatment active psychiatric. Furthermore, treatment active psychiatric patients exhibited inverse correlation for adiponectin and leptin with BMI (r = −0.62; −0.24), and WHtR (r = −0.53; −0.24); however, a moderate positive correlation for resistin with BMI (r = 0.80), HC (r = 0.67), and WHtR (r = 0.65). Conclusion Obesity is more prevalent in psychiatric patients on antipsychotics such as Olanzapine and Clozapine. Obesity among treatment active psychiatric patients is associated with vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency, low adiponectin and leptin levels but higher resistin level

Caustic soda ingestion in children under-5 years presenting for fluoroscopic examinations in an Academic Hospital in Ghana

Background Disastrous effects and lifelong complications, ranging from respiratory and gastrointestinal burns to death can result from caustic soda ingestion. Accidental and non-accidental ingestions occur in different age groups. However, it is very troubling to find ingestion of caustic soda a very common occurrence among children below 5 years since they do not have the developmental level required to independently weigh up risks and are also under parental and societal protections. This study was therefore planned to investigate the ingestions of caustic soda by these children for purposes of proposing measures to curb the problem. Methods Descriptive survey was employed for this study. A 14-item, semi-structure questionnaire was purposively issued to 57 parents/guardians whose wards had ingested caustic soda. Data was analysed with SPSS V.20. Results Twenty-seven (47.4 %) children got access to the soda at storage, 1 (1.86 %) was administered accidentally by a sibling while 29 (50.9 %) ingested during soap preparation. In respect of the former, the majority got access because it was stored in soft drink and water bottles in their parents/guardians rooms or kitchen. For the later, the children got access to the left-over soda because the soap-makers failed to adhere to good storage and disposal practices. Conclusion Storage of caustic soda in soft drink and water bottles in accessible places, and training of children to drink directly from bottles influence caustic soda ingestion in children under five. Non-compliance to good practices of storage and disposal of caustic soda during soap preparation increases exposure and access of children to caustic soda ingestion