scholarly journals Does sub-Saharan Africa truly defy the forecasts of the COVID-19 pandemic? Response from population data

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dongmo Christophe Fokoua-Maxime ◽  
Monique Amor-Ndjabo ◽  
Amandus Ankobil ◽  
Momah Victor-Kiyung ◽  
Steve Franck-Metomb ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Statistical Tests ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
P Value ◽  
London School ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Population Proportion ◽  
Percentage Difference ◽  
Sub Saharan

AbstractIntroductionSince its identification, the COVID-19 infection has caused substantial mortality and morbidity worldwide, but sub-Saharan Africa seems to defy the predictions. We aimed to verify this hypothesis using strong statistical methods.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study comparing the projected and actual numbers as well as population proportions of COVID-19 cases in the 46 sub-Saharan African countries on May 1st, May 29th (4 weeks later) and June 26th (8 weeks later). The source of the projected number of cases was a publication by scientists from the Center for Mathematical Modeling of Infectious Diseases of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, whereas the actual number of cases was obtained from the WHO situation reports. We calculated the percentage difference between the projected and actual numbers of cases per country. Further, “N-1” chi-square tests with Bonferroni correction were used to compare the projected and actual population proportion of COVID-19 cases, along with the 95% confidence interval of the difference between these population proportions. All statistical tests were 2-sided, with 0.05 used as threshold for statistical significance.ResultsOn May 1st, May 29th and June 26th, respectively 40 (86.95%), 45 (97.82%) and 41 (89.13%) of the sub-Saharan African countries reported a number of confirmed cases that was lower than the predicted number of 1000 cases for May 1st and 10000 for both May 29th and June 26th. At these dates, the population proportions of confirmed Covid-19 cases were significantly lower (p-value <0.05) than the projected proportions of cases. Across all these dates, South-Africa always exceeded the predicted number and population proportion of COVID-19 infections.ConclusionSub-Saharan African countries did defy the dire predictions of the COVID-19 burden. Preventive measures should be further enforced to preserve this positive outcome.

scholarly journals A Multi-Country Analysis of Prevalence of Anxiety-Induced Sleep Disturbance and Its Associated Factors among In-School Adolescents in Sub-Saharan Africa Using the Global School-Based Health Survey

Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 234
Author(s):  
Bright Opoku Ahinkorah ◽  
Richard Gyan Aboagye ◽  
Francis Arthur-Holmes ◽  
John Elvis Hagan ◽  
Joshua Okyere ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sleep Disturbance ◽  
Health Survey ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
P Value ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Logistic Regression Models ◽  
Explanatory Variables ◽  
School Based ◽  
Sub Saharan

(1) Background: Among the health problems affecting adolescents, anxiety disorders are considered among the health-compromising or debilitating outcomes that affect adolescents’ mental health. We examined the prevalence and factors associated with anxiety-induced sleep disturbance among in-school adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). (2) Methods: This study involved a cross-sectional analysis of data from the Global School-Based Health Survey (GSHS). We analyzed data on 25,454 in-school adolescents from eleven (11) countries in SSA with a dataset between 2010 and 2017. Two multivariable logistic regression models were built to determine the strength of the association between anxiety-induced sleep disturbance and the explanatory variables. The results of the regression analyses were presented using adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and their respective 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Statistical significance was set at p-value < 0.05. (3) Results: The overall prevalence of anxiety-induced sleep disturbance among in-school adolescents in SSA was 12.2%. The prevalence ranged from 5.1% in Tanzania to 20.5% in Benin. The odds of anxiety-induced sleep disturbance was higher among adolescents aged 15 and above [aOR = 1.26, 95% CI = 1.15, 1.39] compared to those aged 14 or younger. Additionally, the odds of anxiety-induced sleep disturbance was higher among adolescents who were bullied [aOR = 1.54, 95% CI = 1.42, 1.67], those that felt lonely [aOR = 3.85, 95% CI = 3.52, 4.22], those who had suicidal ideations [aOR = 1.70, 95% CI = 1.52, 1.90], those who had suicidal plan [aOR = 1.26, 95% CI = 1.13, 1.41], those who have had suicidal attempt [aOR = 1.21, 95% CI = 1.08, 1.35], those who used marijuana [aOR = 1.27, 95% CI = 1.06, 1.52], and those who were truant at school [aOR = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.22, 1.46]. However, male adolescents had lower odds of anxiety-induced sleep disturbance [aOR = 0.88, 95% CI = 0.81, 0.95], compared to their female counterparts. (4) Conclusions: We found a relatively high prevalence of anxiety-induced sleep disturbance among in-school adolescents in SSA. Higher age, being female, being bullied, loneliness, having suicidal ideations/plan/attempt, use of marijuana and truancy were risk factors for anxiety-induced sleep disturbance. The findings, therefore, highlight the urgency for policies (e.g., early school-based screening) and interventions (e.g., Rational Emotive Behavioral Education (REBE), Social Emotional Learning (SEL) that target in-school adolescents within the most at-risk populations of anxiety-induced sleep disturbance in SSA.

scholarly journals Suicidal ideation and associated factors among school-going adolescents in rural Ghana

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emmanuel Nii-Boye Quarshie ◽  
Samuel Kofi Odame
Keyword(s):  
Suicidal Ideation ◽  
Associated Factors ◽  
Attempted Suicide ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Rural Adolescents ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Rural Ghana ◽  
Sub Saharan

AbstractSuicidal ideation is a critical risk for attempted suicide and eventual suicide. Little is known about suicidal ideation among rural adolescents in most sub-Saharan African countries. We aimed to estimate the 12-month prevalence of suicidal ideation and to describe some of the common and gender-specific associated factors among in-school adolescents in rural Ghana. We conducted a cross-sectional survey involving a random sample of 1101 in-school adolescents aged 10–19 years in a rural district in Eastern Ghana. The Suicidal Behavior Questionnaire-Revised was used to assess suicidal ideation. Overall, 25.1% participants (95% CI = 22.5–27.7), representing 28.3% females (95% CI = 24.7–32.2) and 21.5% males (95% CI = 18.0–25.2) reported suicidal ideation during the previous 12 months. Females who experienced personal and interpersonal adversities mainly outside the family context were likely to report suicidal ideation, while suicidal ideation among males was associated with conflict with parents. Regardless of gender, adolescents who reported exposure to a friend’s attempted suicide were about two times more likely to report suicidal ideation. The prevalence of suicidal ideation among adolescents in rural Ghana compares with in-school estimates from other countries within sub-Saharan Africa, but also underscores the need for targeted and universal prevention programmes and intervention efforts to mitigate the potential transition from suicidal ideations to suicidal attempts and eventual deaths by suicide among rural adolescents.

scholarly journals CircaCompare: a method to estimate and statistically support differences in mesor, amplitude and phase, between circadian rhythms

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rex Parsons ◽  
Richard Parsons ◽  
Nicholas Garner ◽  
Henrik Oster ◽  
Oliver Rawashdeh
Keyword(s):  
Wave Function ◽  
Statistical Tests ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
P Value ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Fundamental Interest ◽  
Response Variable ◽  
Highly Sensitive ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Phase Amplitude

Abstract Motivation A fundamental interest in chronobiology is to compare patterns between groups of rhythmic data. However, many existing methods are ill-equipped to derive statements concerning the statistical significance of differences between rhythms that may be visually apparent. This is attributed to both the form of data used (longitudinal versus cross-sectional) and the limitations of the statistical tests used to draw conclusions. Results To address this problem, we propose that a cosinusoidal curve with a particular parametrization be used to model and compare data of two sets of observations collected over a 24-h period. The novelty of our test is in the parametrization, which allows the explicit estimation of rhythmic parameters [mesor (the rhythm-adjusted mean level of a response variable around which a wave function oscillates), amplitude and phase], and simultaneously testing for statistical significance in all three parameters between two or more groups of datasets. A statistically significant difference between two groups, regarding each of these rhythmic parameters, is indicated by a P-value. The method is evaluated by applying the model to publicly available datasets, and is further exemplified by comparison to the currently recommended method, DODR. The results suggest that the method proposed may be highly sensitive to detect rhythmic differences between groups in phase, amplitude and mesor. Availability and implementation https://github.com/RWParsons/circacompare/

scholarly journals Mastalgia: Prevalence at a Sub-Saharan African Tertiary Hospital

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-3
Author(s):  
T. Makumbi ◽  
M. Galukande ◽  
A. Gakwaya
Keyword(s):  
Tertiary Hospital ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Western World ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Breast Clinic ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Ethical Approval ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Cyclical Mastalgia

Introduction. Mastalgia is a common breast condition among women referred to breast clinics worldwide. Whereas the prevalence is known in the Western world and Asia, the prevalence of the disease is unknown in many African countries. The aim of this study therefore was to determine the prevalence and describe factors associated with mastalgia among women attending a tertiary hospital in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods. A cross-sectional study was done in Kampala, Uganda. Mastalgia was defined as self-reported breast pain (unilateral or bilateral) for a period not less than two months. A pretested questionnaire was used to collect the data and statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 11. Ethical approval was obtained. Results. Out of the 1048 women who presented to the breast clinic during the study period, 168 (16%) were diagnosed with mastalgia in the absence of breast cancer. Noncyclical and cyclical mastalgia were 22/168 (13%) and 5/168 (3%), respectively. The onset of noncyclical category as compared to the cyclical type of mastalgia was observed to manifest before 24 years of age (P=0.006). Conclusion. Mastalgia was a common condition among women in this sub-Saharan African setting as is elsewhere. The early onset mastalgia in this sub-Saharan African study requires further exploration for determination of its risk factors.

scholarly journals Birth registration and child undernutrition in sub-Saharan Africa

2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (10) ◽  
pp. 1757-1767 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ornella Comandini ◽  
Stefano Cabras ◽  
Elisabetta Marini
Keyword(s):  
Nutritional Status ◽  
Permutation Test ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Wealth Quintile ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Demographic And Health Surveys ◽  
Birth Registration ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Sub Saharan

AbstractObjectiveIn many countries of the world millions of people are not registered at birth. However, in order to assess children’s nutritional status it is necessary to have an exact knowledge of their age. In the present paper we discuss the effects of insufficient or imprecise age data on estimates of undernutrition prevalence.DesignBirth registration rates and levels of stunting, underweight and wasting were retrieved from Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys and Demographic and Health Surveys of thirty-seven sub-Saharan African countries, considering the subdivision in wealth quintiles. The composition of the cross-sectional sample used for nutritional evaluation was analysed using a permutation test. Logistic regression was applied to analyse the relationship between birth registration and undernutrition. The 95 % probability intervals and Student’s t test were used to evaluate the effect of age bias and error.ResultsHeterogeneous sampling designs were detected among countries, with different percentages of children selected for anthropometry. Further, registered children were slightly more represented within samples used for nutritional analysis than in the total sample. A negative relationship between birth registration and undernutrition was recognized, with registered children showing a better nutritional status than unregistered ones, even within each wealth quintile. The over- or underestimation of undernutrition in the case of systematic over- or underestimation of age, respectively, the latter being more probable, was quantified up to 28 %. Age imprecision was shown to slightly overestimate undernutrition.ConclusionsSelection bias towards registered children and underestimation of children’s age can lead to an underestimation of the prevalence of undernutrition.

scholarly journals Healthworker Preparedness for COVID-19 Management and Implementation Experiences: A Mixed Methods Study in Uganda’s Refugee-Hosting Districts

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gloria Seruwagi ◽  
Catherine Nakidde ◽  
Felix Otieno ◽  
Joshua Kayiwa ◽  
Brian Luswata ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health System ◽  
Work Environment ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Statistical Tests ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Total Sample ◽  
P Value ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Validated Questionnaire ◽  
High Level

Abstract Background : The negative impact of COVID-19 on population health outcomes raises critical questions on health system preparedness and resilience, especially in resource-limited settings. This study examined healthworker preparedness for COVID-19 management and implementation experiences in Uganda’s refugee-hosting districts.Methods : A cross sectional, mixed-method descriptive study in 17 health facilities in 7 districts from 4 major regions. Total sample size was 485 including >370 health care workers (HCWs). HCW knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) was assessed by using a pre-validated questionnaire. The quantitative data was processed and analysed using SPSS 26, and statistical significance assumed at p<0.05 for all statistical tests. Bloom's cutoff of 80% was used to determine threshold for sufficient knowledge level and practices with scores classified as high (80.0%–100.0%), average (60.0%–79.0%) and low (≤59.0%). HCW implementation experiences and key stakeholder opinions were further explored qualitatively using interviews which were audio-recorded, coded and thematically analysed.Results: On average 71% of HCWs were knowledgeable on the various aspects of COVID-19, although there is a wide variation in knowledge. Awareness of symptoms ranked highest among 95% (p value < 0.0001) of HCWs while awareness of the criteria for intubation for COVID-19 patients ranked lowest with only 35% (p value < 0.0001). Variations were noted on falsehoods about COVID-19 causes, prevention and treatment across Central (p value < 0.0356) and West Nile (p value < 0.0161) regions. Protective practices include adequate ventilation, virtual meetings and HCW training. Deficient practices were around psychosocial and lifestyle support, remote working and contingency plans for HCWs safety. The work environment has immensely changed with increased demands on the amount of work, skills and variation in nature of work. HCWs also reported moderate control over their work environment, high level of support from supervisors (88%) and colleagues (93%). Conclusions: HCWs preparedness is inadequate in some aspects. Implementation of healthcare interventions is constrained by the complexity of Uganda’s health system design, top-down approach of the national response to COVID-19 and longstanding health system bottlenecks. We recommend continuous information sharing on COVID-19, a design review with capacity strengthening at all health facility levels and investing in community-facing strategies.

scholarly journals Investigation of the Possible Moderators of Alcohol-Related Intimate Partner Violence in Sub-Saharan Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 67-83
Author(s):  
Ekpenyong M.S. ◽  
Tawari E. P.2
Keyword(s):  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Demographic And Health Surveys ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Sub Saharan

Alcohol-related intimate partner violence (IPV) is a serious public health issue which has attracted a lot of research and debates. While some studies have reported the relationship between alcohol and IPV to be linear, others have reported threshold effects. While some studies have found the link to be strong, others have reported it to be weak or to show no association. The aim of this study was to determine the possible moderators on the alcohol-IPV link in sub-Saharan Africa. For the quantitative study, secondary analysis and meta-analysis were used to analyze cross-sectional data from the demographic and health surveys of ten countries in sub-Saharan Africa (Burkina Faso, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe). Logistic regression analysis of possible moderators of the alcohol-IPV link was determined in ten sub-Saharan African countries. The nature of moderation was different among countries. The results of this study can be applied in planning country-specific and multi-faceted intervention programmes.

scholarly journals Economics & Religious Implications On Adult Literacy In Sub-Saharan Africa

2011 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amon O. Okpala ◽  
Comfort O. Okpala
Keyword(s):  
Adult Literacy ◽  
Urban Population ◽  
Religious Affiliation ◽  
Least Square ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Ordinary Least Square ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
The Impact

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Although literacy rates have improved somehow in recent years, there are still large numbers of people that are illiterates in developing countries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>This paper examines the impact of public education expenditures, the percentage of urban population and religious affiliation on adult literacy rate in Sub-Saharan Africa. In this study, a cross-sectional data of 34 Sub-Saharan African countries with adequate data information were analyzed. The results from the ANOVA and Ordinary Least Square (OLS) regression analysis are quite conclusive - that urban population, government expenditures on education and religious affiliations do have strong statistical impact on literacy.</span></span></p>

scholarly journals Knowledge of Viral Hepatitis among MSM in a Sub-Saharan African City: A Cross-Sectional Study in Calabar, Nigeria

2017 ◽  
Vol 03 ◽  
pp. 118
Author(s):  
Omoronyia Ogban Ezukwa ◽  
Ekpenyong Nnette Okon ◽  
Mkpanam Nkese Effiong ◽  
Akpet Obaji Etaba ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Education ◽  
Viral Hepatitis ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
P Value ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Self Administration ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Hepatitis Infection ◽  
Sub Saharan

Infection with hepatitis B or C viruses is still one of the most dreaded infectious diseases worldwide. Health education and screening, particularly among vulnerable groups, are the most cost-effective interventions that can be provided in developing countries. Facility and community-based provision, of effective strategic health education and counseling, are dependent on better understanding of the factors that may be associated with the level of knowledge on hepatitis. One of such groups is men who sleep with men (MSM) or homosexuals, who are at high risk of hepatitis infection through unprotected anal intercourse. This study was therefore aimed at assessing the knowledge of hepatitis infection among MSM in Calabar, a metropolitan city in the oil-rich Niger-Delta region of Nigeria. Cross-sectional study design was utilized. The snow-ball sampling method was used to recruit subjects, with self-administration of structured questionnaires. Questionnaire assessed awareness, causes, sources, consequence, and prevention of hepatitis infection. Knowledge scores were obtained for each subject. Chi-square was used to assess factors associated with knowledge, with p-value fixed at 0.05. Sixty-nine (69) consenting subjects were surveyed, with mean age of 22.5 ± 3.2 years, ranging from 16 to 31 years. Mean knowledge percentage score was 43.5 ± 32.0, ranging from 0% to 100%. Age group, occupation, and other sociodemographic characteristics were not significantly associated with the knowledge of hepatitis infection. There is inadequate knowledge of hepatitis infection among MSM in the study area. This inadequacy appears worse among receivers, who are even at higher risk of sexually transmitted infections compared with inserters. These findings have implications for control of viral hepatitis in sub-Saharan Africa.

scholarly journals The Role Of School Life Expectancy And Urbanization On Adult Literacy Rates In Sub-Saharan Africa

2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 329
Author(s):  
Amon Okpala ◽  
Comfort Okpala
Keyword(s):  
Life Expectancy ◽  
Adult Literacy ◽  
Percent Level ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
School Life ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
The Impact

It is important to examine the role of urbanization, government, and school life expectancy (the years of schooling a child is expected to have) on adult literacy because literacy contributes to economic success. Using cross-sectional data on 46 Sub-Saharan African countries, this study examines 1) the impact of school life expectancy on adult literacy, 2) the influence of urban population on adult literacy, and 3) the effectiveness of government educational expenditure on adult literacy. OLS regression analysis showed that the percentage of the population residing in urban centers and the school life expectancy were positively significant at the 5 percent level. Government expenditure, as a percentage of GDP, was positively significant at the 1 percent level.

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