Knowledge and use of information and communication technology by health sciences students of the University of Ghana

Background: Studies have shown that ICT adoption contributes to productivity and economic growth. It is therefore important that health workers have knowledge in ICT to ensure adoption and uptake of ICT tools to enable efficient health delivery.Objective: To determine the knowledge and use of ICT among students of the College of Health Sciences at the University of Ghana.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among students in all the five Schools of the College of Health Sciences at the University of Ghana. A total of 773 students were sampled from the Schools. Sampling proportionate to size was then used to determine the sample sizes required for each school, academic programme and level of programme. Simple random sampling was subsequently used to select students from each stratum.Results: Computer knowledge was high among students at almost 99%. About 83% owned computers (p < 0.001) and self-rated computer knowledge was also 87 % (p <0.001). Usage was mostly for studying at 93% (p< 0.001). Conclusions: This study shows students have adequate knowledge and use of computers. It brings about an opportunity to introduce ICT in healthcare delivery to them. This will ensure their adequate preparedness to embrace new ways of delivering care to improve service delivery.Funding: Africa Build Project, Grant Number: FP7-266474Keywords: ICT, health professionals, knowledge, student

Factors influencing online health information seeking behavior among patients in Kwahu West Municipal, Nkawkaw, Ghana

Over the years, there has been a lot of transformation in the way health care is delivered and how individuals access health. Rapid growth in technology has been attributed to the advancement. The internet has played a key role in the delivery of health care and serves currently as a huge source of health information to individuals regardless of their location, language or time.This cross sectional study was conducted in the Kwahu West Municipal to determine factors influencing online health information seeking behaviors among patients. Three hospitals in the municipality were purposively selected for the study.  Outpatients attending these facilities were systematically selected. Data was collected using structured interviewer administered questionnaire.The study findings revealed that internet usage rate among patients was 85.8%. However, only 35.7% of patients ever used the internet to access health information. Sex, education and average monthly income were significant factors associated with online health information seeking. The study also showed that, computer and internet experience factors increased the probability of using internet for health information. After adjusting for confounding factors, being employed, earning higher income and owning computer were positive predictors of online health information seeking.It is important to explore other means of reducing the disparity in information access by improving skill and health literacy among the low social class who cannot afford internet ready devices. Health care providers should recognize that patients are using the internet for health information and should be prepared to assist and promote internet user skills among their patients

Elimination of lymphatic filariasis: current perspectives on mass drug administration

John O Gyapong,1 Irene O Owusu,2 Frances B da-Costa Vroom,3 Ernest O Mensah,4 Margaret Gyapong5 1Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases Research, Institute of Health Research, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, 2Department of Epidemiology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, 3Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, 4Department of Health Policy Planning and Management, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra, 5Centre for Health Policy and Implementation Research, Institute of Health Research, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana Abstract: Following the London declaration on neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in 2012 and inspired by the WHO 2020 roadmap to control or eliminate NTDs, the Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (GPELF) intensified preventive chemotherapy and management of morbidity as the two main strategies to enhance progress towards the elimination of lymphatic filariasis (LF). This paper focuses on current perspectives of mass drug administration (MDA) towards the elimination of LF. The goal of MDA is to reduce the density of parasites circulating in the blood of infected persons and the intensity of infection in communities to levels where transmission is no longer sustainable by the mosquito vector. Three drugs, diethylcarbamazine, albendazole, and ivermectin are currently available for LF treatment, and their effectiveness and relative safety have opened the possibility of treating the entire population at risk. Currently, almost all LF endemic countries rely on the single-dose two-drug regimen recommended by the GPELF to achieve elimination. The 4th WHO report on NTDs has indicated that considerable progress has been made towards elimination of LF in some countries while acknowledging some challenges. In this review, we conclude that the 2020 elimination goal can be achieved if issues pertaining to the drug distribution, health system and implementation challenges are addressed. Keywords: mass drug administration, disease elimination, lymphatic filariasis, neglected tropical diseases, community health worker, treatment complianc

Comprehensive Knowledge of HIV and AIDS among Ghanaian Adults from 1998 to 2014: A Multilevel Logistic Regression Model Approach

Background. In order for stakeholders of HIV and AIDS to effectively plan HIV prevention programs, it is expedient to assess the level of individuals’ knowledge on the most common preventive methods and misconceptions of the HIV virus. This study examines the trends and determinants of comprehensive knowledge (CK) of HIV and AIDS among Ghanaians from 1998–2014. Method. The data used for this study were drawn from the Ghana Demographic Health Surveys (GDHS), 1998–2014. A separate analysis was performed on each survey-year data and GDHS pooled dataset. Additionally, both the male and female datasets were combined. The samples used for the study were 6,389, 10706, 9484, and 13784 representing 1998, 2003, 2008, and 2014, respectively. The pooled dataset consisted of 40363 responses. The Pearson chi-square test and multilevel binary logistic regression analysis were carried out to assess the association between the study variables and CK of HIV and AIDS. Results. CK of HIV and AIDS was found to be lower in women than men (29.24% vs. 37.7%) using the pooled dataset. The Greater Accra region recorded the highest percentage of CK of HIV and AIDS (44.18%), whereas the Northern region recorded the lowest (17.87%) among the 10 administrative regions in Ghana. Comprehensive knowledge of HIV and AIDS was also found to be less likely with an OR of 0.72 (95% CI; 0.65, 0.79, p<0.001) among persons living in rural areas even after controlling for other study variables. There is also a decrease of CK of HIV and AIDS from 37.35% in 2008 to 32.5% in 2014. The lowest percentage (10.75%) of CK of HIV and AIDS among the four survey years was recorded in 1998. Conclusion. There are generally low levels of comprehensive knowledge among the Ghanaian adult population more especially among women. Those residing in rural areas have lower prevalence of CK of HIV and AIDS. To address some of these challenges, there is the need to intensify educational interventions more especially among women and people leaving in rural areas to reverse some of the knowledge gaps and correct the local misconceptions of HIV and AIDS

Data reporting constraints for the lymphatic filariasis mass drug administration activities in two districts in Ghana: A qualitative study

Objectives: Timely and accurate health data are important for objective decision making and policy formulation. However, little evidence exists to explain why poor quality routine health data persist. This study examined the constraints to data reporting for the lymphatic filariasis mass drug administration programme in two districts in Ghana. This qualitative study focused on timeliness and accuracy of mass drug administration reports submitted by community health volunteers. Methods: The study is nested within a larger study focusing on the feasibility of mobile phone technology for the lymphatic filariasis programme. Using an exploratory study design, data were obtained through in-depth interviews (n = 7) with programme supervisors and focus group discussions (n = 4) with community health volunteers. Results were analysed using thematic content analysis. Results: Reasons for delays in reporting were attributed to poor numeracy skills among community health volunteers, difficult physical access to communities, high supervisor workload, poor adherence reporting deadlines, difficulty in reaching communities within allocated time and untimely release of programme funds. Poor accuracy of data was mainly attributed to inadequate motivation for community health volunteers and difficulty calculating summaries. Conclusion: This study has shown that there are relevant issues that need to be addressed in order to improve the quality of lymphatic filariasis treatment coverage reports. Some of the factors identified are problems within the health system; others are specific to the community health volunteers and the lymphatic filariasis programme. Steps such as training on data reporting should be intensified for community health volunteers, allowances for community health volunteers should be re-evaluated and other non-monetary incentives should be provided for community health volunteers

Number of respondents.

BackgroundHuman immunodeficiency virus infection remains a high burden among key populations such as female sex workers in the world. We aimed to provide distribution of prevalence and correlates of Human immunodeficiency virus infection among adolescent, young, and older adult FSWs in Ghana.MethodsThis data was obtained from the biobehavioral survey of female sex workers (2020) in Ghana based on a time location sampling approach for the selection of respondents. A sampling frame was developed taking into consideration list of venues, days, and time that sex workers operate across all the regions of Ghana. These lists were derived from a sampling universe which was obtained during a mapping exercise. All sex workers aged 16 years and above and eligible on the day of visit participated. Human immunodeficiency virus testing was done based on First Response and Oraquick. To obtain estimates for sex workers, sampling weights were calculated and applied to the dataset. Inferential analyses using Bayesian regression models were applied with interaction effects.ResultsA total of 5,990 participants completed both the biological and behavioral aspects of the study. The HIV prevalence among female sex workers in Ghana was 4.67% (CI: 4.05%, 5.40%). About 70% of the respondents who tested positive for Human immunodeficiency virus were among the older adults (= >25 years) group. Generally, there was a high prevalence variation across the 16 regions of Ghana, from 0.00% to 8.40%. Respondents’ age was a significant contributor to the prevalence of HIV. Respondents who were forced into having sex had higher odds (38%) of being positive in the combined analysis. Respondents who had comprehensive knowledge of HIV had lower odds (39%) of testing positive.ConclusionThe findings suggest a low prevalence of HIV among sex workers in 2020 compared to the 2011 and 2015 biobehavioral survey results but higher than the general population. Specifically, older adults have a higher prevalence of HIV. There is generally low level of comprehensive knowledge among sex workers. Interventions geared towards increasing FSW knowledge on risky behavior should be vigorously pursued.</div

STROBE statement—Checklist of items that should be included in reports of observational studies.

STROBE statement—Checklist of items that should be included in reports of observational studies.</p

Posterior means (odds ratios) and their highest posterior density credible intervals were obtained for the interaction effects for the combined dataset.

Posterior means (odds ratios) and their highest posterior density credible intervals were obtained for the interaction effects for the combined dataset.</p

Modern environmental improvement pathways for the coal power generation industry in Australia

In this work we assess the pathways for environmental improvement by the coal utilization industry for power generation in Australia. In terms of resources, our findings show that coal is a long term resource of concern as coal reserves are likely to last for the next 500 years or more. However, our analysis indicates that evaporation losses of water in power generation will approach 1000 Gl (gigalitres) per year, equivalent to a consumption of half of the Australian residential population. As Australia is the second driest continent on earth, water consumption by power generators is a resource of immediate concern with regards to sustainability. We also show that coal will continue to play a major role in energy generation in Australia and, hence, there is a need to employ new technologies that can minimize environmental impacts. The major technologies to reduce impacts to air, water and soils are addressed. Of major interest, there is a major potential for developing sequestration processes in Australia, in particular by enhanced coal bed methane (ECBM) recovery at the Bowen Basin, South Sydney Basin and Gunnedah Basin. Having said that, CO2 capture technologies require further development to support any sequestration processes in order to comply with the Kyoto Protocol. Current power generation cycles are thermodynamic limited, with 35-40% efficiencies. To move to a high efficiency cycle, it is required to change technologies of which integrated gasification combined cycle plus fuel cell is the most promising, with efficiencies expected to reach 60-65%. However, risks of moving towards an unproven technology means that power generators are likely to continue to use pulverized fuel technologies, aiming at incremental efficiency improvements (business as usual). As a big picture pathway, power generators are likely to play an increasing role in regional development; in particular EcoParks and reclaiming saline water for treatment as pressures to access fresh water supplies will significantly increase