ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
ART access-related barriers faced by HIV-positive persons linked to care in southern Ghana: A mixed method study

Background: Timely and enduring access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) by HIV-infected individuals has been shown to substantially reduce HIV transmission risk, HIV-related morbidity and mortality. However, there is evidence that in addition to limited supply of antiretrovirals (ARVs) and linkage to ART in many low-income countries, HIV+ persons often encounter barriers in accessing ART-related services even in contexts where these services are freely available. In Ghana, limited research evidence exists regarding the barriers HIV+ persons already linked to ART face. This paper explores ART access-related barriers that HIV+ persons linked to care in southern Ghana face. Methods: A mixed method study design, involving a cross-sectional survey and qualitative in-depth interviews, was conducted to collect data from four healthcare providers and a total of 540 adult HIV+ persons receiving ART at four treatment centres in Ghana. We used univariate analysis to generate descriptive tabulations for key variables from the survey. Data from qualitative in-depth interviews were thematically analysed. Results from the survey and in-depth interviews were brought together to illuminate the challenges of the HIV+ persons. Results: All (100%) the HIV+ persons interviewed were ARV-exposed and linked to ART. Reasons for taking ARVs ranged from beliefs that they will suppress the HIV virus, desire to maintain good health and prolong life, and desire to prevent infection in unborn children, desire both to avoid death and to become good therapeutic citizens (abide by doctors' advice). Despite this, more than half of the study participants (63.3%) reported seven major factors as barriers hindering access to ART. These were high financial costs associated with accessing and receiving ART (26%), delays associated with receiving care from treatment centres (24%), shortage of drugs and other commodities (23%), stigma (8.8%), fear of side effects of taking ARVs (7.9%), job insecurity arising from regular leave of absence to receive ART (5.3%), and long distance to treatment centres (4.9%). Conclusions: The results in this study suggest that efforts to provide and scale-up ART to all HIV+ persons must be accompanied by interventions that address structural and individual level access barriers.

Source: UG
ART access-related barriers faced by HIV-positive persons linked to care in southern Ghana: a mixed method study.

Background Timely and enduring access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) by HIV-infected individuals has been shown to substantially reduce HIV transmission risk, HIV-related morbidity and mortality. However, there is evidence that in addition to limited supply of antiretrovirals (ARVs) and linkage to ART in many low-income countries, HIV+ persons often encounter barriers in accessing ART-related services even in contexts where these services are freely available. In Ghana, limited research evidence exists regarding the barriers HIV+ persons already linked to ART face. This paper explores ART access–related barriers that HIV+ persons linked to care in southern Ghana face. Methods A mixed method study design, involving a cross-sectional survey and qualitative in-depth interviews, was conducted to collect data from four healthcare providers and a total of 540 adult HIV+ persons receiving ART at four treatment centres in Ghana. We used univariate analysis to generate descriptive tabulations for key variables from the survey. Data from qualitative in-depth interviews were thematically analysed. Results from the survey and in-depth interviews were brought together to illuminate the challenges of the HIV+ persons. Results All (100%) the HIV+ persons interviewed were ARV-exposed and linked to ART. Reasons for taking ARVs ranged from beliefs that they will suppress the HIV virus, desire to maintain good health and prolong life, and desire to prevent infection in unborn children, desire both to avoid death and to become good therapeutic citizens (abide by doctors’ advice). Despite this, more than half of the study participants (63.3%) reported seven major factors as barriers hindering access to ART. These were high financial costs associated with accessing and receiving ART (26%), delays associated with receiving care from treatment centres (24%), shortage of drugs and other commodities (23%), stigma (8.8%), fear of side effects of taking ARVs (7.9%), job insecurity arising from regular leave of absence to receive ART (5.3%), and long distance to treatment centres (4.9%). Conclusions The results in this study suggest that efforts to provide and scale-up ART to all HIV+ persons must be accompanied by interventions that address structural and individual level access barriers.

Source: UG
The Art of Giving - Through Volunteerism and Philanthropy: The Ghana Experience

The world has known a long history of philanthropy and volunteerism, in spite of its centuries of wars and often acrimonious social relations between adversaries. Traditional giving practices were and remain predominantly in the form pf reciprocal exchange ,of goods and services between kin groups and their neighbours to sustain social capital. The objective of this working paper is to review the nature and practice of giving in general, but with special reference to Ghana. The aim is mainly to introduce the development community to the importance of social mobilization in the overall efforts at social progress by highlighting the contributions that charitable giving can make to social development. In the process the paper unveils some of the challenges that confront giving in Ghana. The discussion points out that while familial giving receives a lot of attention in the country, there is a growing incidence of civic giving taking place; some of it with support from public institutions, Having said that, it does appear that the scene is dominated by customary giving practices, which leave a lot of scope for advancing civic forms of giving. Religious beliefs, philosophical ideas and ethical principles have all contributed to the endurance of societal commitment to reciprocity and redistribution. The United Nations General Assembly in 1985 set aside 5th December every year to celebrate the International Volunteer Day. This has further created renewed interest in volunteer activities across the world. The paper relies mainly on secondary data on giving in Ghana and elsewhere. The main finding is that in developed economies where attractive policies are in place to encourage people to give to charity huge amounts of funds can be mobilized for charity work. On the other hand in countries like Ghana though giving is common, especially as remittances and for funerals, philanthropy and volunteerism are largely unstructured and informal. . In addition, data on the scope and value of such practices is virtually non-existent, making it difficult to mobilize such funds for planned social development.

Source: UG
Art Studies in Ghana: Whose Responsibility?

While Ghana has centuries of tradition in producing some significant art, the literature on Ghanaian art suggests a preponderance of Euro-American writing about it, and on the contrary a paucity of Ghanaian scholars’ contribution to the country’s art studies. This paper examines some of the scholarship and Ghanaian participation in art discourse. It proposes some measures to change the trend by introducing art history departments focusing on degree programmes and graduate studies, and creating a local platform for indigenous voices and perspectives to cross-fertilize the knowledge in the discipline for the enrichment of the global discourse on Ghana’s art. Keywords: art studies, scholarship, African art, art history, faculty.

Source: UG
Artemether-lumefantrine: An oral antimalarial for uncomplicated malaria in children

Artemether-lumefantrine (AL; Coartem®, Riamet®) is the first fixed-dose artemisinin combination therapy (ACT) regimen to be manufactured under Good Manufacturing Practice conditions, and is the most widely adopted ACT regimen used in malaria control programs. AL is approved for the treatment of uncomplicated malaria in adults, children and infants, and as treatment of uncomplicated malaria in nonimmune travelers returning from malarious areas. AL is efficacious for treating uncomplicated malaria in children and the frequency of associated adverse events is not higher than other available ACT regimens. In this review, available evidence on efficacy and safety of AL in the treatment of uncomplicated malaria, with emphasis on children where appropriate, and focusing on characteristics that are potentially important for malaria control policy decisions, are presented and discussed. © 2009 Expert Reviews Ltd.

Source: UG
Arterial Stiffness in Nonhypertensive Type 2 Diabetes Patients in Ghana

Background. Increased arterial stiffness is an independent cardiovascular risk factor in diabetes patients and general population. However, the contribution of diabetes to arterial stiffness is often masked by coexistent obesity and hypertension. In this study, we assessed arterial stiffness in nonhypertensive, nonobese type 2 diabetes (T2DM) patients in Ghana. Methods. In case-control design, 166 nonhypertensive, nonobese participants, comprising 96 T2DM patients and 70 nondiabetes controls, were recruited. Peripheral and central blood pressure (BP) indices were measured, and arterial stiffness was assessed as aortic pulse wave velocity (PWVao), augmentation index (AIx), cardioankle vascular index (CAVI), and heart-ankle pulse wave velocity (haPWV). Results. With similar peripheral and central BP indices, T2DM patients had higher PWVao (8.3 ï¿½ 1 versus 7.8 ï¿½ 1.3, p = 0.044) and CAVI (7.9 ï¿½ 1.2 versus 6.9 ï¿½ 0.7, p = 0.021) than nondiabetic control. AIx and haPWV were similar between T2DM and nondiabetic controls. Multiple regression models showed that, in the entire study participants, the major determinants of PWVao were diabetes status, age, gender, systolic BP, and previous smoking status (β = 0.22, 0.36, 0.48, 0.21, and 0.25, resp.; all p < 0.05); the determinants of CAVI were diabetes status, age, BMI, heart rate, HbA1c, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and previous smoking status (β = 0.21, 0.38, 0.2, 0.18, 0.24. 0.2, -0.19, and 0.2, resp.; all p < 0.05). Conclusion. Our findings suggest that nonhypertensive, nonobese T2DM patients have increased arterial stiffness without appreciable increase in peripheral and central pressure indices. ï¿½ 2016 Kwame Yeboah et al.

Source: UG
Arterial stiffness is associated with oxidative stress and endothelial activation among persons with treated HIV in Zambia

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevalence is rising among persons with HIV (PLWH) in sub-Saharan Africa. Oxidative stress and endothelial activation, resulting in reduced vascular compliance, are contributors to CVD risk. However, there is a paucity of vascular health data in this population. Objectives: To assess the relationships of oxidative stress and endothelial activation with vascular stiffness among PLWH. Method: Fifty-four PLWH on antiretroviral therapy > 5 years and 57 HIV-negative controls, all aged 18–45 years, were enrolled from the University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia. Oxidative stress was measured by nitrotyrosine, a peroxynitrite biomarker, and endothelial activation by soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) plasma levels. Vascular compliance was measured using carotid-radial pulse wave velocity (crPWV) and arterial stiffness index (crASI). Results: PLWH had higher sICAM-1 levels (median 345 ng/mL) compared to controls (275 ng/mL, p < 0.01), as well as higher nitrotyrosine levels (297 versus 182 nM; p = 0.02). Median crPWV was similar between the groups, but PLWH had higher crASI (2.4 versus 2.2 cm/ms; p < 0.05). After adjusting for age, fat mass, and blood pressure, the estimated effect of a one unit increase in nitrotyrosine on crPWV were twofold higher in the PLWH, but neither reached significance. In a model pooling all participants, there were significant differences in the relationship of nitrotyrosine with crPWV and crASI by HIV status. Conclusion: PLWH in sub-Saharan Africa had significantly greater oxidative stress and endothelial activation compared to HIV-negative individuals. These factors may contribute to increased arterial stiffness and higher CVD prevalence in this population.

Source: UG
Arterial Stiffness Is Associated with Peripheral Sensory Neuropathy in Diabetes Patients in Ghana

Objective Peripheral sensory neuropathy (PSN) is among microvascular complications of diabetes that make patients prone to ulceration and amputation. Arterial stiffness is a predictor of cardiovascular diseases and microvascular complications associated with diabetes. We investigated the association between PSN and arterial stiffness, measured as aortic pulse wave velocity (PWVao) and cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI). Method In a case-control design, arterial stiffness was measured in 240 diabetes patients and 110 nondiabetic control. Large-fibre nerve function was assessed by vibration perception threshold (VPT) using a neurothesiometer. PSN was defined as the VPT > 97.5th percentile from age- and gender-adjusted models in nondiabetic controls. Results The overall prevalence of PSN was 16.6% in the entire study participants. Compared to non-PSN participants, PSN patients had higher levels of PWVao (9.5 ± 1.7 versus 8.7 ± 1.2 m/s, p = 0.016) and CAVI (8.4 ± 1.3 versus 7.6 ± 1.1, p = 0.001). In multiple regression models, VPT was associated with PWVao (β = 0.14, p = 0.025) and CAVI (β = 0.12, p = 0.04). PSN patients had increased odds of CAVI (OR = 1.51 (1.02–2.4), p = 0.043), but not PWVao (OR = 1.25 (0.91–1.71), p = 0.173). Conclusion PWVao and CAVI were associated with VPT and PSN in diabetes patients in Ghana. Patients having PSN have increased odds of CAVI, independent of other conventional risk factors.

Source: UG
Artesunate plus amodiaquine combination therapy - reviewing the evidence

The combination of artesunate plus amodiaquine (AS/AQ) is, next to the fixed-dose combination of artemether-lumefantrine, the most widely adopted artemisinin combination therapy (ACT) regimen being used as first-line therapy for uncomplicated malaria by National Malaria Control Programs in sub-Saharan Africa. In contrast to other ACT regimens in current use, on which reviews of the available evidence on safety and efficacy have been periodically published, no, or few summaries of the extensive data available on the safety and efficacy of this widely used ACT are available in the published literature. The available evidence on AS/AQ indicates high efficacy of this combination in children, variable tolerability in adults, and an interaction between artesunate and amodiaquine that could have implications for medium term efficacy or safety of the combination. In this article, a review of the available evidence on the efficacy and safety on AS/AQ, with a particular focus on parameters that could have operational significance for malaria control in endemic areas, is presented and discussed. Drug Dev Res 71:33–43, 2010.

Source: UG
Artesunate plus amodiaquine combination therapy - reviewing the evidence

The combination of artesunate plus amodiaquine (AS/AQ) is, next to the fixed-dose combination of artemether-lumefantrine, the most widely adopted artemisinin combination therapy (ACT) regimen being used as first-line therapy for uncomplicated malaria by National Malaria Control Programs in sub-Saharan Africa. In contrast to other ACT regimens in current use, on which reviews of the available evidence on safety and efficacy have been periodically published, no, or few summaries of the extensive data available on the safety and efficacy of this widely used ACT are available in the published literature. The available evidence on AS/AQ indicates high efficacy of this combination in children, variable tolerability in adults, and an interaction between artesunate and amodiaquine that could have implications for medium term efficacy or safety of the combination. In this article, a review of the available evidence on the efficacy and safety on AS/AQ, with a particular focus on parameters that could have operational significance for malaria control in endemic areas, is presented and discussed. Drug Dev Res 71: 33–43, 2010. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Source: UG
Arthropod diversity of cocoa farms under two management systems in the Eastern and Central regions of Ghana

Diversity of insect communities can be used as bioindicators for change in the environment especially in farms under different management systems. In line with that, we conducted a research on insect species associated with cocoa under organic and conventional management systems in the Eastern and Central regions of Ghana. Insect collection was done using Hand height visual count, Canopy, and ‘‘Knock down’’, pitfall, coloured bowl and fruit-baited traps. A total of 13,742 individual insects belonging to 138 species from 63 families and 12 orders were recorded in the study. Insect abundance and diversity were generally higher in organic farms compared to conventional farms with Oecophylla longinoda as the most dominant species in both management systems and especially more dominant in organic cocoa farms Our study revealed that most of the insect species recorded were known cocoa pests although there was high abundance of beneficial insects too. Some of the pest species were Planococoides njalensis, Salh bergella singularis, Helopeltis spp and Pseudococus spp, while some of the beneficial insects recorded were Pheidole spp, Tegenaria spp, Camponotus spp, Cre matogaster spp. We can conclude that cocoa farms are potential habitats for insect biodiversity conservation. We recommend that management and/or agronomic practices used in cocoa farms should be geared towards protecting beneficial organisms for instance pollinators and natural enemies by effectively sup pressing insect pest populations while enhancing good seed production.

Source: UG
Article Metal Exposures, Noise Exposures, and Audiometry from E-WasteWorkers in Agbogbloshie, Ghana

Metals, such as lead, may be ototoxic, but this property is not well understood, especially in conjunction with noise. This cross-sectional study investigated hearing, noise, and metal biomarkers in informal electronic waste (e-waste) recycling workers in Accra, Ghana. Workers (N = 58) participated in audiometric testing, a survey, blood collection, and personal noise dosimetry. Sixty percent of participants displayed audiometric notches indicative of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). Most workers (86%) reported high noise while working. Daily average noise levels were in the range 74.4–90.0 dBA. Linear regression models indicated participants who lived at Agbogbloshie Market for longer periods were significantly associated with worse hearing thresholds at 4 and 6 kHz. The models did not identify blood levels of lead, mercury, or cadmium as significant predictors of worse hearing thresholds or larger noise notches, but increased levels of selenium were significantly associated with better hearing at 6 kHz. Models of thresholds at 4 and 6 kHz were improved by including an interaction term between the maximum noise exposure and the level of zinc in whole blood, suggesting that zinc may protect hearing at lower noise levels, but not at higher levels. Further study of the relationships between elements, noise, and NIHL is needed.

Source: UG
Artifcial intelligence in medical imaging practice in Africa: a qualitative content analysis study of radiographers’ perspectives

Purpose: Studies have documented the clinical potentials of artificial intelligence (AI) in medical imaging practice to improving patient care. This study aimed to qualitatively explore the perception of radiographers relating to the integration of AI in medical imaging practice in Africa. Methods: The study employed a qualitative design using an open-ended online instrument administered between March and August 2020. Participants consisted of radiographers working within Africa during the time of the study. Data obtained were analysed using qualitative content analysis. Six themes of concerns were generated: expectant tool; career insecurity; cost of new technology, equipment preservation and data insecurity; service delivery quality; need for expanding AI awareness. Results: A total of 475 valid responses were obtained. Participants demonstrated a positive outlook about AI in relation to clinical quality improvement, competent diagnosis, radiation dose reduction and improvement in research. They however expressed concerns relating to the implementation of this technology, including job security and loss of core professional radiographer skills and roles. In addition, concerns regarding AI equipment maintenance, lack of awareness about AI and education and training opportunities were evident. Conclusion: Awareness of the importance of AI in medical imaging practice was acknowledged; however, concerns relating to job security, data protection must be given critical attention for successful implementation of these advanced technologies in medical imaging in Africa. Inclusion of AI modules in the training of future radiographers is highly recommended.

Source: UG
Artificial Intelligence In Healthcare: A Scoping Review Of Perceived Threats To Patient Rights And Safety.

Background: The global health system remains determined to leverage on every workable opportunity, including artificial intelligence (AI) to provide care that is consistent with patients’ needs. Unfortunately, while AI models generally return high accuracy within the trials in which they are trained, their ability to predict and recommend the best course of care for prospective patients is left to chance. Purpose: This review maps evidence between January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2023, on the perceived threats posed by the usage of AI tools in healthcare on patients’ rights and safety. Methods: We deployed the guidelines of Tricco et al. to conduct a comprehensive search of current literature from Nature, PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Dimensions AI, Web of Science, Ebsco Host, ProQuest, JStore, Semantic Scholar, Taylor & Francis, Emeralds, World Health Organisation, and Google Scholar. In all, 80 peer reviewed articles qualified and were included in this study. Results We report that there is a real chance of unpredictable errors, inadequate policy and regulatory regime in the use of AI technologies in healthcare. Moreover, medical paternalism, increased healthcare cost and disparities in insurance coverage, data security and privacy concerns, and bias and discriminatory services are imminent in the use of AI tools in healthcare. Conclusions: Our findings have some critical implications for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3.8, 11.7, and 16. We recommend that national governments should lead in the roll-out of AI tools in their healthcare systems. Also, other key actors in the healthcare industry should contribute to developing policies on the use of AI in healthcare systems.

Source: UG