An SITR Analysis of Treatment Model of Hepatitis B Epidemic

This research article focuses on the formulation of a treatment model of hepatitis epidemic of type B. The dynamics of the model were studied and the local stability analyses of the equilibrium points of the model were investigated. Lyapunov functions were defined for the equilibrium points and their global stabilities were performed..........

On Some Compartmental Models for Ebola Disease

In this paper, we consider an epidemic model of Ebola disease which is deadly in its transmission. Local stability analysis of the model equilibria was investigated. We computed the basic reproduction number 〖 R〗_0 using the next generation method. The threshold parameter R_0 was found to be dependent on several hosts of model parameters in determining the stability of an invading epidemic into the population. We have numerically described the model trajectories using Matlab. KEYWORDS: Basic Reproduction number, Ebola virus, Next-generation matrix, Local stability analysis

Correlates of patient satisfaction with pain management at the Ho Teaching Hospital in Ghana: A cross-sectional study

Pain is a symptom that many people who visit the hospital with various illnesses experience. Inadequate pain management has been regularly shown to have a negative impact on patients' health and reduce patient satisfaction. Patients' satisfaction with pain management is therefore important. The aim of this study was therefore to assess patients’ satisfaction and experience with pain management at the Ho Teaching Hospital, Volta Region, Ghana. The study was a prospective cross-sectional investigation and was carried out among 196 adult patients (older than 18 years) at the emergency, medical, and surgical wards. Data was collected using the 2010 version of the patient outcome and satisfaction survey questionnaire developed by the American Pain Society. Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis were employed in analysing the data obtained from the respondents. p-value less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.The results revealed that 96% of the respondents were satisfied with their pain management. Expectations for pain treatment (r = 0.221, p-value=0.002), percentage of pain relief in first 48 h (r = 0.439, p-value<0.001) and how helpful the information was (r = 0.158, p-value=0.027) were positively correlated with satisfaction with pain treatment. In addition, the median satisfaction with pain treatment was higher for those with knowledge on pain medication (p-value=0.043), and patients who were allowed to participate in decision-making indicated a higher level of satisfaction.The majority of patients (95% with acute pain and 100% with chronic pain) were satisfied with their pain management. Aside the effective use of analgesics, it was found that patient satisfaction can also be enhanced by good patient-provider relationships, providing patients with helpful information about their pain treatment, and allowing patients to participate in decisions about their pain management. This research is the first to provide such information for pain management in the Volta Region of Ghana

Married Men and Vasectomy: A Focused Group Study in an Urban Community in Ghana

An effective method of birth control in men yet least accepted and patronized is vasectomy. Vasectomy provides health benefits to the user, his direct family, and the entire population as it helps to control population growth. This article explored the beliefs and attitudes of commercial drivers on vasectomy in an urban community in Ghana. The study employed qualitative exploratory design using focus group discussion. Data were collected from 12 married men between the ages of 45 to 60 years who were selected through purposive sampling method. The focus group discussions were audiotaped, handwritten, and recorded. Recorded data were then transcribed verbatim, and the current version of the NVivo software for analyzing qualitative data was used to manage the data. Three major themes emerged from the study: knowledge of respondents on vasectomy, beliefs, and attitudes of married men toward vasectomy. Each of the themes had three subthemes. The study revealed that vasectomy was perceived by some of the respondents to be synonymous to castration which comes with negative effects. Inadequate knowledge, negative perceptions, future uncertainty, and the irreversible nature of vasectomy emerged as contributing to the low patronage and some of the reasons why most of the respondents had no intentions of opting for vasectomy. In view of these findings, it is imperative for all stakeholders to give urgent attention to behavior change strategies that can be put in action to ameliorate the effects of these negative attitudes and misbeliefs. Ultimately, the tide can be turned around and vasectomy will be a preferred alternative when it comes to family planning in Ghana

SARS-CoV-2 vaccination modelling for safe surgery to save lives: data from an international prospective cohort study

Background: Preoperative SARS-CoV-2 vaccination could support safer elective surgery. Vaccine numbers are limited so this study aimed to inform their prioritization by modelling. Methods: The primary outcome was the number needed to vaccinate (NNV) to prevent one COVID-19-related death in 1 year. NNVs were based on postoperative SARS-CoV-2 rates and mortality in an international cohort study (surgical patients), and community SARS-CoV-2 incidence and case fatality data (general population). NNV estimates were stratified by age (18-49, 50-69, 70 or more years) and type of surgery. Best- and worst-case scenarios were used to describe uncertainty. Results: NNVs were more favourable in surgical patients than the general population. The most favourable NNVs were in patients aged 70 years or more needing cancer surgery (351; best case 196, worst case 816) or non-cancer surgery (733; best case 407, worst case 1664). Both exceeded the NNV in the general population (1840; best case 1196, worst case 3066). NNVs for surgical patients remained favourable at a range of SARS-CoV-2 incidence rates in sensitivity analysis modelling. Globally, prioritizing preoperative vaccination of patients needing elective surgery ahead of the general population could prevent an additional 58 687 (best case 115 007, worst case 20 177) COVID-19-related deaths in 1 year. Conclusion: As global roll out of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination proceeds, patients needing elective surgery should be prioritized ahead of the general population