scholarly journals Limiting spread of COVID-19 in Ghana: Compliance audit of selected transportation stations in the Greater Accra region of Ghana

PLoS ONE ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (9) ◽  
pp. e0238971
Author(s):  
Harriet Affran Bonful ◽  
Adolphina Addo-Lartey ◽  
Justice M. K. Aheto ◽  
John Kuumouri Ganle ◽  
Bismark Sarfo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Compliance Audit ◽  
Greater Accra Region

scholarly journals Prevention of COVID-19 in Ghana: Compliance audit of selected transportation stations in the Greater Accra region of Ghana

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harriet Affran Bonful ◽  
Adolphina Addo-Lartey ◽  
Justice MK Aheto ◽  
John Kuumouri Ganle ◽  
Bismark Sarfo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Transportation ◽  
Hand Washing ◽  
World Health ◽  
Prevention Measures ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Need Support ◽  
Compliance Audit ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Greater Accra Region

AbstractGlobally, as little evidence exists on transmission patterns of COVID-19, recommendations to prevent infection include appropriate and frequent handwashing plus physical and social distancing. We conducted an exploratory observational study to assess compliance with these recommendations in selected transportation stations in Ghana. A one-hour audit of 45 public transport stations in the Greater Accra region was carried out between 27th and 29th March 2020. Using an adapted World Health Organization (WHO) hand hygiene assessment scale, the availability and use of handwashing facilities, social distancing, and ongoing public education on COVID-19 prevention measures were assessed, weighted and scored to determine the level of compliance of stations. Compliance with recommendations was categorized as “inadequate” “basic”, “intermediate” and “advanced” based on the overall score. The majority (80%) of stations in Accra have at least one Veronica Bucket with flowing water and soap but the number of washing places at each station is not adequate. Only a small minority (18%) of stations were communicating the need to wash hands frequently and appropriately, and to practice social/physical distancing while at the station. In most stations (95%), hand washing practice was either not observed or only infrequently. Almost all stations (93%) did not have alcohol-based hand sanitizers for public use, while social distancing was rarely (only 2%) practiced. In over 90% of the stations, face masks were either not worn or only worn by a few passengers. Compliance with COVID-19 prevention measures was inadequate in 13 stations, basic in 16 stations, intermediate in 7 stations, and advanced in 9 stations. Compliance with COVID-19 prevention measures in public transportation stations in the Greater Accra region remains a challenge. Awareness creation should aim to elevate COVID-19 risk perception of transportation operators and clients. Transport operators and stations need support and guidance to enforce hand washing and social distancing.

scholarly journals Self-harm among in-school and street-connected adolescents in Ghana: a cross-sectional survey in the Greater Accra region

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. e041609
Author(s):  
Emmanuel Nii-Boye Quarshie ◽  
Farag Shuweihdi ◽  
Mitch Waterman ◽  
Allan House
Keyword(s):  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Self Injury ◽  
Significant Public Health Problem ◽  
Significant Public Health ◽  
Treatment Measures ◽  
Self Harm ◽  
Greater Accra Region

ObjectivesTo identify the prevalence, methods, associations and reported reasons for self-harm among in-school and street-connected adolescents in Ghana.DesignA cross-sectional survey. We applied multi-level regression models and model-based cluster analysis to the data.SettingThree contexts in the Greater Accra region were used: second cycle schools, facilities of charity organisations and street census enumeration areas (sleeping places of street-connected adolescents, street corners, quiet spots of restaurants, markets, train and bus stations, and lorry and car parks).ParticipantsA regionally representative sample of 2107 (1723 in-school and 384 street-connected) adolescents aged 13–21 years.Outcome measuresParticipants responded to a structured self-report anonymous questionnaire describing their experience of self-harm and eliciting demographic information and social and personal adversities.ResultsThe lifetime prevalence of self-harm was 20.2% (95% CI 19.0% to 22.0%), 12-month prevalence was 16.6% (95% CI 15.0% to 18.0%) and 1-month prevalence was 3.1% (95% CI 2.0% to 4.0%). Self-injury alone accounted for 54.5% episodes and self-poisoning alone for 16.2% episodes, with more than one method used in 26% of episodes. Self-cutting (38.7%) was the most common form of self-injury, whereas alcohol (39.2%) and medications (27.7%) were the most commonly reported means of self-poisoning. The factors associated with self-harm were interpersonal: conflict with parents (adjusted OR (aOR)=1.87, 95% CI 1.24 to 2.81), physical abuse victimisation (aOR=1.69, 95% CI 1.16 to 2.47), difficulty in making and keeping friends (aOR=1.24, 95% CI 0.85 to 1.80), sexual abuse victimisation (aOR=1.21, 95% CI 0.78 to 1.87) and conflict between parents (aOR=1.07, 95% CI 0.73 to 1.56).ConclusionsSelf-harm is a significant public health problem among in-school and street-connected adolescents in the Greater Accra region of Ghana. Its origins are very largely in social and familial adversity, and therefore prevention and treatment measures need to be focused in these areas.

Impacts of climate hazards on coastal livelihoods in Ghana: the case of Ningo-Prampram in the Greater Accra region

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
George Darko ◽  
Shuoben Bi ◽  
Isaac Sarfo ◽  
Solomon Obiri Yeboah Amankwah ◽  
Folorunso Ewumi Azeez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Hazards ◽  
Greater Accra Region ◽  
Coastal Livelihoods

scholarly journals Antibiotic prescription for febrile outpatients: a health facility-based secondary data analysis for the Greater Accra region of Ghana

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Mireku Opoku ◽  
Harriet Affran Bonful ◽  
Kwadwo Ansah Koram
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Prescription ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Health Facilities ◽  
Full Blood Count ◽  
Baseline Survey ◽  
Antibiotic Prescribing ◽  
Prescribing Practices ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Laboratory Investigations ◽  
Greater Accra Region

Abstract Background Misguided prescription of antibiotics is an important contributor towards the emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance. The absence of effective interventions to control antibiotic use leads to increased consumption beyond the needed requirements. Antibiotic stewardship interventions must be appropriately targeted and assessed to enhance the controlled use of antibiotics. The objective of this study was to determine the factors associated with antibiotic prescription to febrile outpatients who seek care in health facilities within the Greater Accra region of Ghana. Methods Secondary data obtained from the medical records of 2519 febrile outpatients, consecutively sampled at the outpatient department of 6 health facilities in 3 municipalities during the baseline survey of a quasi-experiment in 2015 was used. The primary outcome was prescription of any antibiotic. Independent variables included patients’ demographics, symptoms, laboratory investigations (blood film microscopy, malaria rapid diagnostic test, full blood count, urine and stool routine examinations), diagnoses, and prescribers’ demographics. Crude and adjusted logistic regression analyses were used to determine the factors associated with antibiotic prescription. Results The prevalence of antibiotic prescription was 70.1% (95% CI: 67.7–72.4). Prescribers with more years of practice (> 5 years) were more likely to prescribe antibiotics compared to those with less than 3 years of practice (p <  0.001). Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood Illnesses (IMNCI) training was associated with a 2.3 (95% CI: 1.54, 3.53, p <  0.001) fold odds of antibiotic prescribing. Patients aged 5 years or more were 60% less likely to receive antibiotics compared with those under 5 years (AOR = 0.40, 95% CI: 0.32, 0.51; p <  0.001). Patients referred for laboratory investigations were 29% less likely to be prescribed antibiotics than those not referred. The presence of cough as a presenting symptom was associated with a 3.5 (95% CI: 2.54, 4.92) fold odds of antibiotic prescription. Conclusion Prescription of antibiotics to febrile outpatients was high. Promoting laboratory testing can potentially reduce irrational antibiotic prescription. Prescribing antibiotics for children under five and the prescribing practices of prescribers with longer years of practice should be targeted with interventions to reduce high use of antibiotics.

scholarly journals Implementation of a referral and expert advice call Center for Maternal and Newborn Care in the resource constrained health system context of the Greater Accra region of Ghana

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ebenezer Oduro-Mensah ◽  
Irene Akua Agyepong ◽  
Edith Frimpong ◽  
Marjolein Zweekhorst ◽  
Linda Amarkai Vanotoo
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Call Center ◽  
Clinical Decision Making ◽  
Newborn Care ◽  
Clinical Decision ◽  
Series Data ◽  
Maternal And Newborn Care ◽  
Greater Accra Region ◽  
Maternal And Newborn ◽  
Decision Making Support

Abstract Background Referral and clinical decision-making support are important for reducing delays in reaching and receiving appropriate and quality care. This paper presents analysis of the use of a pilot referral and decision making support call center for mothers and newborns in the Greater Accra region of Ghana, and challenges encountered in implementing such an intervention. Methods We analyzed longitudinal time series data from routine records of the call center over the first 33 months of its operation in Excel. Results During the first seventeen months of operation, the Information Communication Technology (ICT) platform was provided by the private telecommunication network MTN. The focus of the referral system was on maternal and newborn care. In this first phase, a total of 372 calls were handled by the center. 93% of the calls were requests for referral assistance (87% obstetric and 6% neonatal). The most frequent clinical reasons for maternal referral were prolonged labor (25%), hypertensive diseases in pregnancy (17%) and post-partum hemorrhage (7%). Birth asphyxia (58%) was the most common reason for neonatal referral. Inadequate bed space in referral facilities resulted in only 81% of referrals securing beds. The national ambulance service was able to handle only 61% of the requests for assistance with transportation because of its resource challenges. Resources could only be mobilized for the recurrent cost of running the center for 12 h (8.00 pm – 8.00 am) daily. During the second phase of the intervention we switched the use of the ICT platform to a free government platform operated by the National Security. In the next sixteen-month period when the focus was expanded to include all clinical cases, 390 calls were received with 51% being for medical emergency referrals and 30% for obstetrics and gynaecology emergencies. Request for bed space was honoured in 69% of cases. Conclusions The call center is a potentially useful and viable M-Health intervention to support referral and clinical decision making in the LMIC context of this study. However, health systems challenges such inadequacy of human resources, unavailability of referral beds, poor health infrastructure, lack of recurrent financing and emergency transportation need to be addressed for optimal functioning.

A HIPAA Security and Privacy Compliance Audit and Risk Assessment Mitigation Approach

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 28-45
Author(s):  
Young B. Choi ◽  
Christopher E. Williams
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare System ◽  
Information Assurance ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Security And Privacy ◽  
Privacy Requirements ◽  
Security Controls ◽  
The Us ◽  
Compliance Audit ◽  
And Control ◽  
Health Laws

Data breaches have a profound effect on businesses associated with industries like the US healthcare system. This task extends more pressure on healthcare providers as they continue to gain unprecedented access to patient data, as the US healthcare system integrates further into the digital realm. Pressure has also led to the creation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, Omnibus Rule, and Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health laws. The Defense Information Systems Agency also develops and maintains security technical implementation guides that are consistent with DoD cybersecurity policies, standards, architectures, security controls, and validation procedures. The objective is to design a network (physician's office) in order to meet the complexity standards and unpredictable measures posed by attackers. Additionally, the network must adhere to HIPAA security and privacy requirements required by law. Successful implantation of network design will articulate comprehension requirements of information assurance security and control.

scholarly journals Seasonal indoor radon studies in buildings of Accra Metropolis of Greater Accra region of Ghana

2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (3) ◽  
pp. 199-206 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Otoo ◽  
E.O. Darko ◽  
M. Garavaglia ◽  
C. Giovani ◽  
S. Pividore ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Radon Concentration ◽  
Rainy Season ◽  
Indoor Radon ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Strong Positive Correlation ◽  
Cumulative Frequency Distribution ◽  
Indoor Radon Concentration ◽  
Kolmogorov Smirnov ◽  
Greater Accra Region ◽  
Action Levels

Indoor radon concentration for annual, rainy and dry season have been studied in 228 buildings which includes bedroom, kitchen, sitting room, laboratories and offices in Accra metropolis of Greater Accra of Ghana. The passive radon CR-39 SSNTD was used for this study. The cumulative frequency distribution, normalizing Q-Q plots, Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Shapiro-Wilk statistical test showed that the result of both workplaces and dwellings are not normally distributed. The strong positive correlation between the two seasons occurred at 95% confidence level with 2 tailed. The rainy season recorded highest coefficient variation of r2 = 0.982. Statistical analysis of median (39.3), AM (103.4), GM (57.9) and GSD (3.2) for rainy season were greater than that of the dry season of median (26.9), AM (88.2), GM (49.2) and GSD (2.8) respectively. Rainy season was found to contain high radon concentrations than the dry season for all the studied locations. In general, workplace had radon concentration far greater than dwellings. The results obtained from this study ranged between 13.6 to 533.7 Bq/m3, out of which 9.6%, 12.7% and 3.5% were found to be greater than action levels proposed by WHO, EC and ICRP.

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