Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Lawrence Guodaar, Abass Kabila, Kwadwo Afriyie, Alexander Yao Segbefia, Godfred Addai
Summary: This research fills the knowledge gap by providing evidence from indigenous farming communities in northern Ghana on their perceptions and experiences of severe climate risks. Farmers perceive severe climate risk as livelihood disruption, unproductive farmlands, ineffective adaptation, and inability to break even. Factors such as gender, marital status, livelihood activity, and ecological zone influence farmers' perceptions of severe climate risk. Farmers in northern Ghana experience severe physical climate risks such as droughts, extreme temperatures, heatwaves, floods, and water stress. Indigenous adaptation strategies, such as livelihood diversification and construction of hand-dug wells, are implemented by individual farmers. Collective measures include animal sacrifices and spiritual incantations to invoke rains. Understanding severe climate risks and their determinants can guide policy development for early warning systems to improve livelihood and food security in resource-constrained communities.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DISASTER RISK REDUCTION
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Stephanie Chow Garbern, Shiromi M. Perera, Eta Ngole Mbong, Shibani Kulkarni, Monica K. Fleming, Arsene Baleke Ombeni, Rigobert Fraterne Muhayangabo, Dieula Delissaint Tchoualeu, Ruth Kallay, Elizabeth Song, Jasmine Powell, Monique Gainey, Bailey Glenn, Hongjiang Gao, Ruffin Mitume Mutumwa, Stephane Hans Bateyi Mustafa, Neetu Abad, Gnakub Norbert Soke, Dimitri Prybylski, Reena H. Doshi, Rena Fukunaga, Adam C. Levine
Summary: A survey conducted in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo, examined the perceptions toward COVID-19 vaccines among community members and healthcare workers affected by the Ebola Virus Disease outbreak. The study found that despite perceiving the risk of COVID-19 infection, vaccine intention was low. Factors associated with vaccine perceptions included previous experience with Ebola vaccination, concerns about safety and side effects, religion's influence on health decisions, security concerns, and governmental distrust. Enhanced community engagement and communication are needed to address these concerns and improve vaccine perceptions.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Matrujyoti Pattnaik, Jaya Singh Kshatri, Hari Ram Choudhary, Debaprasad Parai, Jyoti Shandilya, Asit Mansingh, Arun Kumar Padhi, Sanghamitra Pati, Debdutta Bhattacharya
Summary: This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices of the community regarding anthrax disease in an endemic district of Odisha before implementing a One Health approach for its elimination. The findings revealed that the majority of the respondents had poor knowledge about anthrax and its prevention, indicating the need for improvement through a comprehensive approach.
BMC INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Dana Rose Garfin, E. Alison Holman, Baruch Fischhoff, Gabrielle Wong-Parodi, Roxane Cohen Silver
Summary: This study examined media exposure, psychological fear and worry, risk perceptions, and health protective behaviors during the 2014 Ebola virus outbreak. Findings showed that more hours and more graphic media exposure were associated with higher levels of fear and worry, as well as higher perceived risk. Higher risk perceptions and fear and worry were linked to more health protective behaviors. The amount and content of media exposure had indirect effects on behaviors performed and intentions.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DISASTER RISK REDUCTION
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Jerry Owusu Afriyie, Michael Asare Opare, Pavla Hejcmanova
Summary: Protected areas (PAs) rely on the involvement and support of local people for their success. In rural and urban communities in Ghana, people have different knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes towards nearby PAs. Despite some differences, most local residents have positive attitudes towards PAs.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Ishmael Adams, Sumita Ghosh, Goran Runeson, Mahsood Shah
Summary: This study examined the perceptions of residents in informal settlements in Accra, Ghana about climate change and found discrepancies between their perceptions and scientific data. The study also suggested integrating local perceptions of climate change into adaptation planning.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Jessica G. Shantha, Dominick Canady, Caleb Hartley, Amy Cassedy, Chris Miller, Sheila T. Angeles-Han, Lloyd C. M. Harrison-Williams, Matthew J. Vandy, Natalie Weil, Gilberte Bastien, Steven Yeh
Summary: This cross-sectional study investigated the prevalence of eye disease, health-related quality-of-life, vision-related quality-of-life, and the burden of mental illness among pediatric Ebola virus disease (EVD) survivors in Sierra Leone. The study found a higher prevalence of uveitis in EVD survivor eyes and individuals diagnosed with an ocular complication had poorer vision-related quality-of-life.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Irenius Konkor, Vincent Kuuire, Elijah Bisung
Summary: Global health surveillance reports indicate that Africa is undergoing an epidemiologic transition, with the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) increasingly outweighing that of nutritional, maternal, and communicable diseases. However, discussions on the rise of NCDs in Africa have predominantly focused on individualistic risk factors, neglecting the role of the living environment. This study in Ghana examined the association between neighborhood risk perceptions and self-rated risk of developing NCDs using cross-sectional data. The findings suggest that perceiving one's neighborhood as risky is associated with a higher likelihood of self-rated risk of developing NCDs, while improvements in neighborhood aesthetic quality are linked to a lower likelihood of self-rated risk of NCDs. Regular physical activity and non-tobacco use also contribute to a lower perceived risk of NCDs. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating environmental improvements into policies aimed at reducing the burden of NCDs in Ghana and other low- and middle-income countries.
SOCIAL SCIENCE & MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Esi E. Thompson
Summary: This study analyzed discourses in the media that led to the suspension of the 2015 Ebola vaccine trials in Ghana, highlighting the influence of cultural, historical, and societal factors on vaccine trials.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ayan Saha, Kay Kay Shain Marma, Afrah Rashid, Nowshin Tarannum, Srabanty Das, Tonmoy Chowdhury, Nusrat Afrin, Prashanta Chakraborty, Md Emran, H. M. Hamidullah Mehedi, Mohammad Imdad Hussain, Ashim Barua, Sabuj Kanti Mistry
Summary: Self-medication is prevalent among the indigenous population in Bangladesh, with a high rate of misuse of antibiotics and analgesic drugs.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Seth Amponsah-Tabi, Rex Djokoto, Stephen Opoku, Ebenezer Senu, Derrick Kyei Boakye, Wisdom Klutse Azanu, Frank Ankobea-Kokroe, Gerald Owusu-Asubonteng, Richard Owusu Ansah, Emmanuel Owusu, Emmanuel Ackah-Avoh, Afia Agyapomaa Kwayie, Eric Appiah Boateng, Richard Pul Azavil, Frederick Ennin
Summary: This study assessed the knowledge, attitude, and acceptability of the COVID-19 vaccine among residents in rural communities in Ghana. The results showed that more than half of the participants had inadequate knowledge, poor attitudes, and negative perceptions about the vaccine. The study found that the acceptability of the COVID-19 vaccine was low among rural residents in Ghana and highlighted the need for education and promotion to improve vaccination rates.
BMC INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Raphael Baffour Awuah, Esi K. Colecraft, Mark L. Wilson, Leonard Kofi Adjorlolo, Nathalie J. Lambrecht, Hanson Nyantakyi-Frimpong, Andrew D. Jones
Summary: Limited evidence exists on perceptions of anaemia in Ghanaian communities, hindering the potential to improve health in high anaemia prevalence settings. A qualitative study in Ghana found alignment between lay and biomedical knowledge on causes, consequences, and prevention of anaemia, yet the burden of anaemia remains high in the study regions, indicating a disconnect between local knowledge and necessary health behaviors. Effective interventions can build upon existing knowledge while addressing remaining knowledge gaps.
MATERNAL AND CHILD NUTRITION
(2021)
Article
Environmental Studies
Richmond Juvenile Ehwi, Divine Asafo Mawuli
Summary: Landguardism in Ghana is mainly driven by challenges in state-led land rights formalisation, customary land maladministration, and government policy failures in housing and land markets. Understanding public perceptions of landguardism is crucial for addressing the issue effectively.
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Yasuyuki Honda, Yejin Mok, Lena Mathews, Jeremy R. Van't Hof, Gail Daumit, Anna Kucharska-Newton, Elizabeth Selvin, Thomas Mosley, Josef Coresh, Kunihiro Matsushita
Summary: The study found that depressive/fatigue symptoms and social support are significantly associated with the risk of peripheral artery disease (PAD) but not coronary heart disease (CHD) or stroke. These results support the importance of depressive/fatigue symptoms in vascular health and suggest the need to include PAD when studying the impact of psychosocial factors on CVD.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sally-Ann Ohene, Frank Bonsu, Yaw Adusi-Poku, Francisca Dzata, Mirjam Bakker
Summary: Background data on active TB case finding activities among artisanal gold mining communities (AMC) is limited. The study assessed the yield of TB cases from the TB screening activities among AMC in Ghana, the factors associated with TB in these communities and the correlation between the screening methods and a diagnosis of TB.
Article
Health Policy & Services
Adobea Y. Owusu, Mabel Teye-kau, Eric Y. Tenkorang
Summary: This study found that the majority of PLWHAs (58%) changed housing locations after being diagnosed with HIV, mostly to worse conditions. Reasons for change included eviction due to stigma and discrimination, inability to afford rent, quest to hide HIV status, and death of a cohabiting partner.
HEALTH PROMOTION INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Women's Studies
Gervin A. Apatinga, Eric Y. Tenkorang
Summary: The study found that sexually abused married or cohabiting women face multiple barriers to seeking help, including financial difficulties, lack of social support, and stigma. The results confirm the challenges faced by female survivors in reporting violence as outlined in the barriers model, highlighting the need to improve laws to promote help-seeking among women with experiences of sexual violence.
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Eric Y. Tenkorang
Summary: The structure of Ghanaian families has changed significantly, but polygynous families still exist. A study found that women in polygynous families in Ghana were more likely to experience intimate partner violence, which may be attributed to their lack of socio-economic empowerment, limited autonomy, and adherence to traditional values. Compared to women in monogamous families, women in polygynous families faced greater risks.
JOURNAL OF FAMILY VIOLENCE
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Jessica D. Boateng, Eric Y. Tenkorang
Summary: This study used in-depth interviews to explore the causes of economic abuse among 16 women in the Greater Accra, Ashanti, and the Upper East regions of Ghana.
JOURNAL OF FAMILY VIOLENCE
(2023)
Article
Women's Studies
Emmanuel Rohn, Eric Y. Tenkorang
Summary: This study explores motivations and barriers to help-seeking among victims of intimate partner violence in Ghana. The findings reveal that victims often prefer informal sources, such as family members and friends, over formal support networks, like the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit or the police. Motivations to seek help include fatigue, severity of abuse, abusive partner's negligence in honoring marital obligations, and trust in family members. Barriers to help-seeking include fear of divorce, stigmatization, lack of trust in formal support channels, sociocultural norms emphasizing gender role expectations, and family privacy.
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Eric Y. Tenkorang, Adobea Y. Owusu, Mariama Zaami, Susan Langmagne, Sylvia Gyan
Summary: Intimate partner violence (IPV) has been found to negatively affect the health of victims, especially women living with HIV/AIDS. This study examines the impact of IPV on cardiovascular, psychosocial, and sexual reproductive health outcomes of HIV-positive women in Ghana. The findings reveal high prevalence of IPV and its association with health problems such as cardiovascular issues, unwanted pregnancies, pregnancy loss, and poor psychosocial health. The study highlights the importance of screening for IPV in HIV care in Ghana.
HEALTH EDUCATION & BEHAVIOR
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Eric Y. Tenkorang, Joshua Amo-Adjei, Akwasi Kumi-Kyereme, Gubhinder Kundhi
Summary: Studies suggest that Ghanaian adolescents may experience sexual violence at sexual debut, with girls more likely to face rape and boys more likely to experience coercion. Early sexual debut is associated with higher risk of violence, and both male and female adolescents are more likely to report forced sex if the sexual partner is older.
JOURNAL OF FAMILY VIOLENCE
(2021)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Harriet A. Amoah, Eric Y. Tenkorang, Patricia Dold
Summary: The study revealed the negative impact of child marriage on women, including experiences of intimate partner violence, economic dependence, and violence caused by cultural beliefs. It is necessary to raise awareness of the harmful effects of child marriage and to enact relevant laws and policies.
JOURNAL OF FAMILY VIOLENCE
(2021)
Article
Social Issues
Eric Y. Tenkorang, Joshua Amo-Adjei, Akwasi Kumi-Kyereme
Summary: The study found significant relationships between components of HIV prevention in Ghana's CSE and the timing of sexual debut among male youth. Male youth who learned about HIV prevention delayed sexual debut, while those who endorsed myths about HIV transmission started sex early. Female youth who learned about values and interpersonal skills delayed their sexual debut, with the impact being influenced by respondents' demographic characteristics. Female respondents in the Greater Accra and Northern regions delayed sex compared to those in the Brong Ahafo region.
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Gervin A. Apatinga, Eric Y. Tenkorang
Summary: Evidence suggests that sexual violence is common among married women in sub-Saharan Africa, yet underresearched. This study on 15 Ghanaian women experiencing sexual violence in their marriages found determinants including poverty at macro-level and husbands' substance abuse at micro-level. The results support the idea that structural- and individual-level factors make women vulnerable to violence, calling for enforcement and strengthening of legal and policy frameworks in Ghana.
SEXUAL ABUSE-A JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND TREATMENT
(2021)
Review
Criminology & Penology
Eric Y. Tenkorang, Michael Asamoah-Boaheng, Adobea Y. Owusu
Summary: The study analyzed literature on intimate partner violence against HIV-positive women in SSA, finding a high prevalence of physical, sexual, and emotional violence. Risk factors identified include educational background, marital status, and previous experiences with IPV. Limited research emphasizes the importance of specific interventions for HIV-positive women to address their vulnerability to IPV.
TRAUMA VIOLENCE & ABUSE
(2021)
Article
Criminology & Penology
Gervin A. Apatinga, Eric Y. Tenkorang, Paul Issahaku
Summary: The study found that sexual violence against women in Ghana led to physical and emotional abuse, resulting in physical injuries, psychological problems, sexual and reproductive health issues, and suicidal ideations. These health difficulties significantly undermined the women's economic activities and income. It is clear that sexual violence impacts women's empowerment and campaigns against gender-based violence should prioritize addressing sexual violence in Ghana and elsewhere.
JOURNAL OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Emmanuel Banchani, Eric Y. Tenkorang
MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH JOURNAL
(2020)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Eric Y. Tenkorang
HEALTH EDUCATION & BEHAVIOR
(2019)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Eric Y. Tenkorang, Adobea Y. Owusu
HEALTH EDUCATION & BEHAVIOR
(2019)