Patient-reported outcome measures in adult HIV care: A rapid scoping review of targeted outcomes and instruments used.

OBJECTIVE: There is international interest in the integration of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) into routine HIV care, but little work has synthesized the content of published initiatives. We conducted a rapid scoping review primarily to identify their selected patient-reported outcomes and respective instruments. METHODS: Four databases were searched on 4 May 2022 (Medline, Embase, CINAHL and PsychINFO) for relevant English language documents published from 2005 onwards. Dual review of at least 20% of records, full texts and data extraction was performed. Outcomes and instruments were classified with an adapted 14-domain taxonomy. Instruments with evidence of validation were described. RESULTS: Of 13 062 records generated for review, we retained a final sample of 94 documents, referring to 60 distinct initiatives led mostly in the USA (n = 29; 48% of initiatives), Europe (n = 16; 27%) and Africa (n = 9; 15%). The measured patient-reported outcome domains were: mental health (n = 42; 70%), substance use (n = 23; 38%), self-management (n = 16; 27%), symptoms (n = 12; 20%), sexual/reproductive health (n = 12; 20%), physical health (n = 9; 15%), treatment (n= 8; 13%), cognition (n = 7; 12%), quality of life (n = 7; 12%), violence/abuse (n = 6; 10%), stigma (n = 6; 10%), socioeconomic issues (n = 5; 8%), social support (n = 3; 5%) and body/facial appearance (n = 1; 2%). Initiatives measured 2.6 outcome domains, on average (range = 1-11). In total, 62 distinct validated PROMs were identified, with 53 initiatives (88%) employing at least one (M = 2.2). Overwhelmingly, the most used instrument was any version of the Patient Health Questionnaire to measure symptoms of depression, employed by over a third (26; 43%) of initiatives. CONCLUSION: Published PROM initiatives in HIV care have spanned 19 countries and disproportionately target mental health and substance use.

Finding Medical Photographs of Patients Online: Randomized, Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Photographs from medical case reports published in academic journals have previously been found in online image search results. This means that patient photographs circulate beyond the original journal website and can be freely accessed online. While this raises ethical and legal concerns, no systematic study has documented how often this occurs. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to provide systematic evidence that patient photographs from case reports published in medical journals appear in Google Images search results. Research questions included the following: (1) what percentage of patient medical photographs published in case reports were found in Google Images search results? (2) what was the relationship between open access publication status and image availability? and (3) did the odds of finding patient photographs on third-party websites differ between searches conducted in 2020 and 2022? METHODS: The main outcome measure assessed whether at least 1 photograph from each case report was found on Google Images when using a structured search. Secondary outcome variables included the image source and the availability of images on third-party websites over time. The characteristics of medical images were described using summary statistics. The association between the source of full-text availability and image availability on Google Images was tested using logistic regressions. Finally, we examined the trend of finding patient photographs using generalized estimating equations. RESULTS: From a random sample of 585 case reports indexed in PubMed, 186 contained patient photographs, for a total of 598 distinct images. For 142 (76.3%) out of 186 case reports, at least 1 photograph was found in Google Images search results. A total of 18.3% (110/598) of photographs included eye, face, or full body, including 10.9% (65/598) that could potentially identify the patient. The odds of finding an image from the case report online were higher if the full-text paper was available on ResearchGate (odds ratio [OR] 9.16, 95% CI 2.71-31.02), PubMed Central (OR 7.90, 95% CI 2.33-26.77), or Google Scholar (OR 6.07, 95% CI 2.77-13.29) than if the full-text was available solely through an open access journal (OR 5.33, 95% CI 2.31-12.28). However, all factors contributed to an increased risk of locating patient images online. Compared with the search in 2020, patient photographs were less likely to be found on third-party websites based on the 2022 search results (OR 0.61, 95% Cl 0.43-0.87). CONCLUSIONS: A high proportion of medical photographs from case reports was found on Google Images, raising ethical concerns with policy and practice implications. Journal publishers and corporations such as Google are best positioned to develop an effective remedy. Until then, it is crucial that patients are adequately informed about the potential risks and benefits of providing consent for clinicians to publish their images in medical journals.

Exposure to interparental violence and intimate partner violence among women in Papua New Guinea.

INTRODUCTION: Evidence suggests that childhood exposure to interparental violence increases the risk of intimate partner violence (IPV) experience or perpetration in adolescence or adulthood. However, it is unclear if exposure to interparental violence increases the risk of IPV among women in Papua New Guinea. This study, therefore, seeks to fill this gap in the literature by examining the association between childhood exposure to interparental violence and IPV among women in Papua New Guinea. METHODS: We used data from the most recent 2016-18 Papua New Guinea Demographic and Health Survey. We included 3,512 women in our analyses. Past-year experience of IPV was the outcome variable in this study. Exposure to interparental violence was the key explanatory variable. We used a multilevel binary logistic regression to examine the association between exposure to interparental violence and IPV. RESULTS: We found a higher probability of experiencing IPV among women exposed to interparental violence [aOR = 1.45, 95% CI = 1.13, 1.86] relative to women who were not exposed. Furthermore, we found that women living in rural areas had a lower likelihood of IPV experience [aOR = O.50, 95% CI = 0.32, 0.80] compared to those in urban settings. Finally, a greater odd of IPV experience was found among women staying in the Highlands Region [aOR = 1.44, 95% CI = 1.06, 1.96] compared to those staying in the Southern Region. CONCLUSION: Exposure to interparental violence was found to be significantly associated with IPV among women in Papua New Guinea. The findings of this study suggest the need for proven operational strategies to reduce IPV, such as improving anti-IPV laws in Papua New Guinea. We recommend the development and implementation of intercession strategies to reduce the experience and justification of violence among women exposed to interparental violence. In addition, health professionals should implement counseling and health education initiatives to tackle the consequences of IPV on women's well-being.

Exposure to interparental violence and justification of intimate partner violence among women in Papua New Guinea.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have demonstrated that exposure to interparental violence is associated with intimate partner violence justification in a variety of contexts. In this study, we examined the association between exposure to interparental violence and justification of intimate partner violence among women in Papua New Guinea. METHODS: We used data from the 2016-18 Papua New Guinea Demographic and Health Survey. We included 2839 women of reproductive age (15-49 years) in a sexual union (married and cohabiting) in the study. We used a multivariable binary multilevel regression analysis to examine the association between interparental violence and justification of intimate partner violence. We presented the results of the regression analysis using crude odds ratio (cOR) and adjusted odds ratios (aORs), with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: Women exposed to interparental violence were 1.26 (95%CI = 1.05, 1.53) times more likely to justify intimate partner violence than those who were not exposed. Women who resided in the Highlands (aOR = 2.50, 95%CI = 1.78, 3.51), Momase (aOR = 1.96, 95%CI = 1.40, 2.75), and Islands (aOR = 1.42, 95%CI = 1.01, 1.99) were more likely to justify intimate partner violence compared to those in the Southern region. Women who were exposed to one (aOR = 1.38, 95%CI = 1.06, 1.82) mass media were more likely to justify intimate partner violence compared to those who had no exposure to mass media. On the other hand, women aged 25-34 years (aOR = 0.66, 95%CI = 0.48, 0.91) and 35-49 years (aOR = 0.66, 95%CI = 0.44, 0.97) were less likely to justify intimate partner violence compared to those aged 15-24 years. CONCLUSIONS: Our study has shown that exposure to interparental violence is a predictor of intimate partner violence justification. This study suggests the need for conscious and continuous efforts to identify and assist women who have been exposed to interparental violence to help prevent its transition to later life. Policies and interventions should be developed and implemented to curtail children's exposure to domestic violence in their households. Also, laws and policies need to condemn any violence and demystify community justification and acceptance of intimate partner violence, taking into consideration the significant sociodemographic characteristics of the women highlighted in the study.

Alcohol consumption among tertiary students in the Hohoe municipality, Ghana: analysis of prevalence, effects, and associated factors from a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Alcohol consumption constitutes a major public health problem as it has negative consequences on the health, social, psychological, and economic outcomes of individuals. Tertiary education presents students with unique challenges and some students resort to the use of alcohol in dealing with their problems. This study, therefore, sought to determine alcohol use, its effects, and associated factors among tertiary students in the Hohoe Municipaility of Ghana. METHODS: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 418 tertiary students in the Hohoe Municipality of Ghana using a two-stage sampling technique. Data were collected using structured questionnaires. A binary logistic regression modelling was used to determine the strength of the association between alcohol consumption and the explanatory variables. The level of significance was set at p < 0.05. Stata version 16.0 was used to perform the analysis. RESULTS: The lifetime prevalence of alcohol consumption was 39.5%. Out of them, 49.1% were still using alcohol, translating to an overall prevalence of 19.4% among the tertiary students. Self-reported perceived effects attributed to alcohol consumption were loss of valuable items (60.6%), excessive vomiting (53.9%), stomach pains/upset (46.1%), accident (40.0%), unprotected sex (35.1%), risk of liver infection (16.4%), depressive feelings (27.3%), diarrhoea (24.2%), debt (15.2%), and petty theft (22.4%). In terms of factors associated with alcohol consumption, students aged 26 years and above were more likely to have consumed alcohol [AOR = 4.4, 95%CI = 1.74, 11.14] than those in 16-20 years group. Muslim students had lower odds of alcohol consumption compared to Christians [AOR = 0.1, 95% CI = 0.02, 0.31]. It was also found that students who had peer influence [AOR = 3.7, 95%CI = 2.31, 5.82] and those who had academic adjustment problems [AOR = 3.6, 95% CI = 2.01, 6.46] were more likely to consume alcohol. CONCLUSION: Lifetime prevalence of alcohol consumption is high among tertiary students in the Hohoe Municipality of Ghana, with several physical, psychosocial and economic consequences. Alcohol-related education should be intensified in tertiary institutions and counseling units should be equipped with relevant assessment tools to assess and help students who are at risk and those who are already consuming alcohol.

Prevalence and predictors of infant and young child feeding practices in sub-Saharan Africa.

BACKGROUND: This study assessed the prevalence and predictors of minimum dietary diversity (MDD), minimum meal frequency (MMF), and minimum acceptable diet (MAD) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). METHODS: A sample of 87 672 mother-child pairs from the 2010-2020 Demographic and Health Surveys of 32 countries in SSA was used. Multilevel binary logistic regression analysis was carried out to examine the predictors of MDD, MMF, and MAD. Percentages and adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to present the findings. RESULTS: The prevalence of MDD, MMF, and MAD in SSA were 25.3% (95% CI 21.7 to 28.9), 41.2% (95% CI 38.8 to 43.6), and 13.3% (95% CI 11.6 to 15.0), respectively. Children aged 18-23 months were more likely to have MDD and MAD but less likely to have MMF. Children of mothers with higher education levels were more likely to have MDD, MMF, and MAD. Children who were delivered in a health facility were more likely to have MDD and MAD but less likely to have MMF. CONCLUSIONS: Following the poor state of complementary feeding practices for infants and young children, the study recommends that regional and national policies on food and nutrition security and maternal and child nutrition and health should follow the internationally recommended guidelines in promoting, protecting, and supporting age-appropriate complementary foods and feeding practices for infants and young children.

HIV testing and counselling among women in Benin: a cross-sectional analysis of prevalence and predictors from demographic and health survey data.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the uptake of HIV testing and counselling (HTC) and its associated factors among women in Benin. DESIGN: We performed a cross-sectional analysis of data from the 2017-2018 Benin Demographic and Health Survey. A weighted sample of 5517 women was included in the study. We used percentages to present the results of the uptake of HTC. Multilevel binary logistic regression analysis was used to examine the predictors of HTC uptake. The results were presented using adjusted odds ratios (aORs), with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). SETTING: Benin. PARTICIPANTS: Women aged 15-49. OUTCOME MEASURE: Uptake of HTC. RESULTS: The overall uptake of HTC among women in Benin was found to be 46.4% (44.4%-48.4%). The odds of HTC uptake was higher among women covered by health insurance (aOR 3.04, 95% CI 1.44 to 6.43) and those with comprehensive HIV knowledge (aOR 1.77, 95% CI 1.43 to 2.21). The odds of HTC uptake increased with increasing level of education, with the highest odds among those in the secondary or higher level (aOR 2.06, 95% CI 1.64 to 2.61). Also, the age of the women, mass media exposure, region of residence, high community literacy level, and high community socioeconomic status were associated with higher odds of HTC uptake. Women residing in rural areas were less likely to use HTC. Religious affiliation, number of sexual partners, and place of residence were associated with lower odds of HTC uptake. CONCLUSION: Our study has shown that the uptake of HTC among women in Benin is relatively low. There is a need to enhance efforts to empower women, as well as reduce health inequities as they all have a substantial impact on HTC uptake among women in Benin, taking into consideration the factors identified in this study.

Unmet need for contraception among women in Benin: a cross-sectional analysis of the Demographic and Health Survey.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the current study was to examine the prevalence and predictors of unmet need for contraception among women in sexual unions in Benin. METHODS: Data for the study was extracted from the recent 2017-2018 Benin Demographic and Health Survey. A weighted sample of 9513 women of reproductive age was included in the study. We used multivariable multilevel binary logistic regression analysis to examine the factors associated with unmet need for contraception. RESULTS: The prevalence of unmet need for contraception was 38.0% (36.7, 39.2). The odds of unmet need for contraception was higher among women with ≥4 births compared with those with no births, and among those who reported that someone else or others usually made decisions regarding their healthcare compared with those who make their own healthcare decisions. Wealth index was associated with a higher likelihood of unmet need for contraception. Also, the region of residence was associated with unmet need for contraception, with the highest odds being among women from the Mono region (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]=2.18, 95% CI 1.33 to 3.58). CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that the unmet need for contraception among women in Benin is relatively high. Our findings call on relevant stakeholders, including government and non-governmental organisations, to enhance women's empowerment as part of interventions that seek to prioritise contraceptive services for women.

Partner alcohol consumption and intimate partner violence among women in Papua New Guinea: a cross-sectional analysis of Demographic and Health Survey.

OBJECTIVE: We examined the association between partner alcohol consumption and the experience of intimate partner violence among women in Papua New Guinea. DESIGN: We performed a cross-sectional analyses of data extracted from the 2016-2018 Papua New Guinea Demographic and Health Survey. We included 3319 women in sexual unions. Multilevel binary logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association between partner alcohol consumption and intimate partner violence, controlling for the covariates. Results from the regression analysis were presented using the crude odds ratios (cORs) and adjusted odds ratios (aORs), with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). SETTING: Papua New Guinea. PARTICIPANTS: Women aged 15-49 years in sexual unions. OUTCOME MEASURES: Physical, emotional, and sexual violence. RESULTS: The prevalence of physical, emotional and sexual violence among women in sexual unions in Papua New Guinea were 45.9% (42.4 to 47.7), 45.1% (43.4 to 46.8) and 24.3% (22.9 to 25.8), respectively. The level of partner alcohol consumption was 57.3%. Women whose partners consumed alcohol were more likely to experience physical violence (aOR=2.86, 95% CI=2.43 to 3.37), emotional violence (aOR=2.89, 95% CI=2.44 to 3.43) and sexual violence (aOR=2.56, 95% CI=2.08 to 3.16) compared with those whose partners did not consume alcohol. CONCLUSION: This study found a relatively high prevalence of intimate partner violence among women in Papua New Guinea. Most importantly, this study found partner alcohol consumption to be significantly and positively associated with intimate partner violence. The study, therefore, recommends that interventions seeking to reduce intimate partner violence among women in Papua New Guinea should intensify behaviour change and education on reducing or eliminating partner alcohol consumption.

Self-reported sexually transmitted infections among adolescent girls and young women in Mali: analysis of prevalence and predictors.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the prevalence and predictors of self-reported sexually transmitted infections (SR-STIs) among adolescent girls and young women in Mali. DESIGN: We performed a cross-sectional analysis of data from the Demographic and Health Survey of Mali, which was conducted in 2018. A weighted sample of 2105 adolescent girls and young women aged 15-24 was included. Percentages were used to summarise the results of the prevalence of SR-STIs. We used a multilevel binary logistic regression analysis to examine the predictors of SR-STIs. The results were presented using an adjusted odds ratio (aOR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). Statistical significance was set at p<0.05. SETTING: Mali. PARTICIPANTS: Adolescent girls (15-19 years) and young women (20-24 years). OUTCOME MEASURE: SR-STIs. RESULTS: The prevalence of SR-STIs among the adolescent girls and young women was 14.1% (95% CI=12.3 to 16.2). Adolescent girls and young women who had ever tested for HIV, those with one parity, those with multiparity, those with two or more sexual partners, those residing in urban areas, and those exposed to mass media were more likely to self-report STIs. However, those residing in Sikasso and Kidal regions were less likely to report STIs. CONCLUSION: Our study has shown that SR-STIs are prevalent among adolescent girls and young women in Mali. Health authorities in Mali and other stakeholders should formulate and implement policies and programmes that increase health education among adolescent girls and young women and encourage free and easy access to STI prevention and treatment services.

Ending violence against women: Help-seeking behaviour of women exposed to intimate partner violence in sub-Saharan Africa.

INTRODUCTION: Intimate partner violence is a serious public health problem that transcends cultural boundaries in sub-Saharan Africa. Studies have reported that violence characteristics and perception are strong predictors of help-seeking among women. We assessed the prevalence and factors associated with help-seeking among female survivors of intimate partner violence in sub-Saharan Africa. METHODS: We pooled data from the most recent Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) of eighteen sub-Saharan African countries. The data were extracted from the women's files in countries with datasets from 2014 to 2021. A weighted sample of 33,837 women in sexual relationships: married or cohabiting who had ever experienced intimate partner violence within the five years preceding the survey were included in the analysis. Percentages with 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to present the results of the prevalence of help-seeking for intimate partner violence. We used a multilevel binary logistic regression analysis to examine the factors associated with help-seeking among survivors of intimate partner violence. The results were presented using adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with their respective 95% CI. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05. RESULTS: Out of the 33,837 women who had ever experienced intimate partner violence in sub-Saharan Africa, only 38.77% (95% CI = 38.26-39.28) of them sought help. Ethiopia had the lowest prevalence of women who sought help after experiencing intimate partner violence (19.75%; 95% CI = 17.58-21.92) and Tanzania had the highest prevalence (57.56%; 95% CI = 55.86-59.26). Marital status, educational level, current working status, parity, exposure to interparental violence, women's autonomy in household decision-making, mass media exposure, intimate partner violence justification, wealth index, and place of residence were associated with help-seeking behaviour of intimate partner violence survivors. CONCLUSION: The low prevalence of help seeking among women who have experienced intimate partner violence in sub-Saharan Africa calls for the intensification of formal and informal sources of assistance. Education can play a critical role in empowering girls, which may increase future help-seeking rates. Through media efforts aimed at parental awareness, the long-term benefits of females enrolling in school could be achieved. However, concentrating solely on individual measures to strengthen women's empowerment may not bring a significant rise in help-seeking as far as patriarchal attitudes that permit violence continue to exist. Consequently, it is critical to address intimate partner violence from the dimensions of both the individual and violence-related norms and attitudes. Based on the findings, there should be public awareness creation on the consequences of intimate partner violence. Respective governments must increase their coverage of formal support services to intimate partner violence survivors especially those in rural communities.

Nutritional status of school children in the South Tongu District, Ghana.

BACKGROUND: Malnutrition is a major public health problem because of the devastating consequences it has on children, their families, and society at large. Our study, therefore, sought to determine the prevalence of undernutrition and overweight/obesity and its associated factors among children aged 6-12 in the South Tongu District, Ghana. METHODS: A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 423 school children aged 6-12 years in the South Tongu District of Ghana. A multistage sampling method was employed to recruit the school children for the study. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data from the respondents. We used a dual-purpose (height and weight) measuring scale to obtain the anthropometric data. The World Health Organization's AnthroPlus software was used to generate the z-scores for determining the nutritional status. Percentages were used to present the results of the prevalence of undernutrition and overweight/obesity among school children. Bivariate and multivariable binary logistic regression were used to examine the factors associated with undernutrition and overweight/obesity among school children. The results were presented as crude odds ratios (CORs) and adjusted odds ratios (AORs), with their 95% confidence interval (CI). Statistical significance was set at p<0.05. Stata 16.0 was used to perform the analyses. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of undernutrition and overweight/obesity were 21.5% (CI = 17.7, 25.7) and 24.8% (CI = 20.8, 29.2), respectively. Specifically, the prevalence of stunting, thinness, underweight, overweight, and obesity were 10.4%, 12.1%, 3.8%, 11.1%, and 13.7%, respectively. School children whose household used water from non-portable sources were more likely to be undernourished [AOR = 2.03, 95% CI = 1.13, 3.63]. The odds of overweight/obesity was higher among school children whose mothers had attained formal education [AOR = 2.10, 95% CI = 1.09, 4.06], those who consumed beverages between meals per day [AOR = 1.87, CI = 1.08, 3.24], and those who had adequate dietary diversity score [AOR = 1.65, 95% CI = 1.02, 2.67]. School children aged 10-12 were less likely to be overweight/obese [AOR = 0.58, 95% CI = 0.35, 0.94] compared to those aged 6-9. CONCLUSION: The study showed a relatively high prevalence of undernutrition and overweight/obesity among school children in the South Tongu District. The identified risk factor(s) for undernutrition was the usage of water from non-potable sources whilst those of overweight/obesity were age (10-12 years), maternal formal education, beverage consumption between meals per day, and adequate dietary diversity. The findings reaffirm that malnutrition is still prevalent among school children. Hence, there is a need for the Ministry of Health, Ghana Education Service, and other Non-Governmental Organizations to pay critical attention to these factors to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal 2, target 2.2. Nutritional behavioural change education should be carried out among parents and school children. School health service activities should be intensified with a special focus on nutritional screening.

Association between frequency of mass media exposure and maternal health care service utilization among women in sub-Saharan Africa: Implications for tailored health communication and education.

INTRODUCTION: Awareness creation through mass media has the potential to promoted positive behaviors and discourage negative health-related behaviors through direct and indirect pathways. In this study, we examined the association between exposure to mass media and maternal health care services utilization among women in sub-Saharan Africa. METHODS: We used data from the recent Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) conducted between 2010 and 2020. A total of 28 countries with a survey dataset within 2010-2020 were included in our study. We included 199,146 women who had ever had a pregnancy in the last five years preceding the survey. Weighting was applied. Multilevel mixed-effect models were considered to account for cluster-level variations and correct inferences. Fixed and random effects estimates were reported. Adjusted odds ratio (aOR) with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to present the results. Also, we presented the random intercept variations, intraclass correlation coefficient, and model fitness. RESULTS: Women who listened to radio at least once every week (aOR = 1.11, 95% CI = 1.07,1.15) were more likely to attend ANC as against those who did not listen to radio at all. Also, women who watched television at least once a week (aOR = 1.39, 95% CI = 1.33,1.46) were more likely to attend ANC compared to those who did not watch television at all. Women who read newspaper/magazine at least once a week (aOR = 1.27, 95% CI = 1.14,1.41); listened to radio at least once a week (aOR = 1.12, 95% CI = 1.07,1.17); and watched television at least once a week (aOR = 1.32, 95% CI = 1.24,1.40), were more likely to utilize SBA than those who did not read newspaper/magazine; listen to radio; and watch television at all. Women who read newspaper/magazine at least once a week (aOR = 1.35, 95% CI = 1.27,1.45); listened to radio at least once a week (aOR = 1.37, 95% CI = 1.32,1.42); and watched television at least once a week (aOR = 1.39, 95% CI = 1.32,1.47) were more likely to utilize PNC compared to those who did not. CONCLUSIONS: The study identified a strong positive relationship between mass media exposure and maternal health care services utilization. Specifically, exposure to radio and television were positively associated with ANC visitations. Moreover, exposure to mass media (newspaper/magazine, radio and television) were positively associated with SBA and PNC utilization. Policymakers and other non-governmental organizations should continuously invest resources in the design and implementation of maternal health service utilization educational programs through all the mass media channels to scale up women's maternal health service services utilization uptake in sub-Saharan Africa.

Prevalence and predictors of oral rehydration therapy, zinc, and other treatments for diarrhoea among children under-five in sub-Saharan Africa.

BACKGROUND: Despite the evidence-based effectiveness of diarrhoea treatment in preventing diarrhoea-related child mortality, the accessibility and utilization of diarrhoea treatments remain low in sub-Saharan Africa, even though these treatments are available. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence and predictors of diarrhoea treatment among under-five children in sub-Saharan Africa. METHODS: This study involved cross-sectional analyses of secondary data from the most recent Demographic and Health Surveys of 30 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Percentages with their respective 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to summarise the prevalence of diarrhoea treatment. A multivariable multilevel binary logistic regression analysis was employed to examine the predictors of diarrhoea treatment among children under five years in sub-Saharan Africa. The regression results were presented using adjusted odds ratio with their accompanying 95% confidence intervals. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05. Stata software version 16.0 was used for the analyses. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of diarrhoea treatment among under-five children in sub-Saharan Africa was 49.07% (95% CI = 44.50-53.64). The prevalence of diarrhoea treatment ranged from 23.93% (95% CI = 20.92-26.94) in Zimbabwe to 66.32% (95% CI = 61.67-70.97) in Liberia. Children aged 1 to 4 years, those whose mothers had at least primary education, those whose mothers had postnatal care visits, those whose mothers believed that permission to go and get medical help for self was a big problem, and those whose mothers' partners had at least primary education were more likely to undergo diarrhoea treatment as compared to their counterparts. The odds of diarrhoea treatment increased with increasing wealth index with the highest odds among those in the richest quintile. Also, the odds of diarrhoea treatment was higher in the Central, Eastern, and Western geographical subregions compared to those in the Southern geographical subregion. However, children whose mothers were cohabiting, those whose mothers were exposed to watching television, and those living in female-headed households were less likely to undergo diarrhoea treatment. CONCLUSION: The study found that the prevalence of diarrhoea treatment among children in sub-Saharan Africa was relatively low and varied across countries. The sub-regional estimates of diarrhoea treatment and identified associated factors can support country-specific needs assessments targeted at improving policy makers' understanding of within-country disparities in diarrhoea treatment. Planned interventions (e.g., provision of quality and affordable supply of oral rehydration salts and zinc) should seek to scale up diarrhoea treatment uptake among under-five children in sub-Saharan Africa with much focus on the factors identified in this study.

Interpersonal violence among in-school adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa: Assessing the prevalence and predictors from the Global School-based health survey.

Interpersonal violence in adolescents has over the years grown into a serious public health problem that merits a robust intervention. This study, therefore, assessed the prevalence and predictors of interpersonal violence among in-school adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The study involved a cross-sectional analysis of data from the Global School-based Health Survey conducted between 2012 and 2017 from eight sub-Saharan African countries. A total of 14,967 in-school adolescents aged 10-19 years were included in the pooled analysis. A multivariable binomial logistic regression was used to determine the predictors of interpersonal violence using the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) with their respective 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The overall prevalence of interpersonal violence among in-school adolescents in SSA was 53.7%. The odds of interpersonal violence were higher among adolescents who were bullied (aOR = 2.52, 95% CI = 2.23-2.85), had an injury (aOR = 2.42, 95% CI = 2.15-2.72), had suicidal attempts (aOR = 1.40, 95% CI = 1.16-1.70), were truant (aOR = 1.51, 95% CI = 1.33-1.72), used alcohol (aOR = 1.49, 95% CI = 1.06-2.11), and used tobacco (aOR = 1.46, 95% CI = 1.23-1.74). In-school adolescents with peer support, parents or guardians bonding, those whose parents or guardians respected their privacy, and those aged 15 years or older were less likely to experience interpersonal violence. These factors provide education directors and school heads/teachers with relevant information to guide the design of specific interventions such as parent-teacher meetings and programs, peer educator network system, face-to-face counseling sessions, Rational Emotive Behavioural Education (REBE) and substance use cessation therapy to prevent interpersonal violence, particularly physical fights and attacks in school settings. Also, students should be sensitized on the negative effects of interpersonal violence and those who have been exposed to it should be counselled. School rules should be strengthened and appropriate punishment given to students who engage in violence baheviours in schools in order to deter others from engaging in them.

Bullying Victimization among In-School Adolescents in Ghana: Analysis of Prevalence and Correlates from the Global School-Based Health Survey.

(1) Background: Although bullying victimization is a phenomenon that is increasingly being recognized as a public health and mental health concern in many countries, research attention on this aspect of youth violence in low- and middle-income countries, especially sub-Saharan Africa, is minimal. The current study examined the national prevalence of bullying victimization and its correlates among in-school adolescents in Ghana. (2) Methods: A sample of 1342 in-school adolescents in Ghana (55.2% males; 44.8% females) aged 12-18 was drawn from the 2012 Global School-based Health Survey (GSHS) for the analysis. Self-reported bullying victimization "during the last 30 days, on how many days were you bullied?" was used as the central criterion variable. Three-level analyses using descriptive, Pearson chi-square, and binary logistic regression were performed. Results of the regression analysis were presented as adjusted odds ratios (aOR) at 95% confidence intervals (CIs), with a statistical significance pegged at p < 0.05. (3) Results: Bullying victimization was prevalent among 41.3% of the in-school adolescents. Pattern of results indicates that adolescents in SHS 3 [aOR = 0.34, 95% CI = 0.25, 0.47] and SHS 4 [aOR = 0.30, 95% CI = 0.21, 0.44] were less likely to be victims of bullying. Adolescents who had sustained injury [aOR = 2.11, 95% CI = 1.63, 2.73] were more likely to be bullied compared to those who had not sustained any injury. The odds of bullying victimization were higher among adolescents who had engaged in physical fight [aOR = 1.90, 95% CI = 1.42, 2.25] and those who had been physically attacked [aOR = 1.73, 95% CI = 1.32, 2.27]. Similarly, adolescents who felt lonely were more likely to report being bullied [aOR = 1.50, 95% CI = 1.08, 2.08] as against those who did not feel lonely. Additionally, adolescents with a history of suicide attempts were more likely to be bullied [aOR = 1.63, 95% CI = 1.11, 2.38] and those who used marijuana had higher odds of bullying victimization [aOR = 3.36, 95% CI = 1.10, 10.24]. (4) Conclusions: Current findings require the need for policy makers and school authorities in Ghana to design and implement policies and anti-bullying interventions (e.g., Social Emotional Learning (SEL), Emotive Behavioral Education (REBE), Marijuana Cessation Therapy (MCT)) focused on addressing behavioral issues, mental health and substance abuse among in-school adolescents.

Facilitators and Barriers to Health Seeking among People Who Use Drugs in the Sunyani Municipality of Ghana: An Exploratory Study.

Drug use is one of the global public health issues, and its accompanying disorders have consequences on people's mental, physical, and environmental health. Nevertheless, the majority of people who use drugs have never been treated for drug dependence and other health conditions whilst others discontinue their treatment for drug use disorder. Using the health belief model, the study aimed at exploring facilitators and barriers to health-seeking among people who use drugs in the Sunyani Municipality of Ghana. A descriptive study design was used, employing a qualitative approach. In-depth interviews were conducted with a total of 22 participants, including two key informants (male and female). The first group of participants was recruited from the ghetto (an area in the municipality where people who use drugs are usually located). The other group of participants was recruited using hospital-based records. The interview data were transcribed, coded, and analysed for the generation of themes with the aid of Nvivo version 12 pro. The results showed that people who use drugs face health challenges such as drug dependence, malaria, lungs and breathing complications, cardiovascular complications, and skin complications. People who use drugs experienced poor perceived quality of life and low health status. Health-seeking behaviours of interviewees were influenced by the perceived benefit, perceived severity, cues to action, among others. Multiple sources of healthcare were used by the people who use drugs. Whereas ease of communication, perceived severity, benefit, among others were facilitators to their health-seeking behaviours, cost, dwindling social support, lack of knowledge of the condition, and fear of arrest by law enforcement agencies also served as barriers to seeking healthcare at the orthodox health facilities. This paper suggests a holistic approach to help improve the health and health-seeking behaviours of people who use drugs. The researchers wish to indicate that an earlier version of this manuscript has been presented at the University of Ghana as a thesis.

Dietary Diversity and Undernutrition in Children Aged 6-23 Months in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Dietary diversity plays a major role in the health status of children. However, evidence on its crucial role on children's health status remains inconclusive in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). In this study, we examined the association between dietary diversity and undernutrition among children aged 6-23 months in SSA. We pooled data from the most recent Demographic and Health Surveys of 32 countries in SSA from 2010 to 2020. A sample of 48,968 mother-child pairs of children within the ages of 6-23 months and mothers aged 15-49 years were included in this study. Multilevel logistic regression analysis was carried out to examine the association between dietary diversity and stunting, wasting, and underweight. The results were presented as crude odds ratios (cOR) and adjusted odds ratios (aOR) with their 95% confidence intervals. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. The overall prevalence of minimum dietary diversity was 25.1%, with South Africa recording the highest prevalence (43.9%) and Burkina Faso recording the lowest prevalence (5.6%). The highest prevalence of stunting was recorded by Burundi (51.8%) while the lowest prevalence was found in Ghana (13.6%), with an overall regional prevalence of 28.6%. For wasting, prevalence from all countries was found to be 9.4%. South Africa recorded the lowest prevalence of wasting (2.1%) while Niger recorded the highest prevalence (27.3%). Lastly, the prevalence of underweight ranged from 5.3% in South Africa to 41.8% in Niger, with an all-country prevalence of 16.4%. Children who had adequate minimum dietary diversity had 12% less likelihood of being stunted (aOR = 0.88, 95% CI = 0.83, 0.94), compared to those who had inadequate minimum dietary diversity. Having an adequate minimum dietary diversity significantly lowered the risk of underweight among children by 17% (aOR = 0.83, 95% CI = 0.77, 0.91). Having an adequate minimum dietary diversity was associated with 13% reduced odds of wasting among children (aOR = 0.87, 95% CI = 0.78, 0.97), compared to those who had inadequate minimum dietary diversity. This study highlights the significant association between minimum dietary diversity and stunting, wasting, and underweight among 6-23 month-old children in SSA. There is an urgent need for additional nutrition-specific interventions and strengthening of existing interventions aimed at improving infant and young child feeding practices, including complementary feeding practices among children aged 6-23 months in the 32 countries in SSA. Such interventions should focus more on countries where the prevalence of adequate minimum dietary diversity was low and undernutrition was high.