Background: Studies have shown that ICT adoption contributes to productivity and economic growth. It is therefore important that health workers have knowledge in ICT to ensure adoption and uptake of ICT tools to enable efficient health delivery.Objective: To determine the knowledge and use of ICT among students of the College of Health Sciences at the University of Ghana.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among students in all the five Schools of the College of Health Sciences at the University of Ghana. A total of 773 students were sampled from the Schools. Sampling proportionate to size was then used to determine the sample sizes required for each school, academic programme and level of programme. Simple random sampling was subsequently used to select students from each stratum.Results: Computer knowledge was high among students at almost 99%. About 83% owned computers (p < 0.001) and self-rated computer knowledge was also 87 % (p <0.001). Usage was mostly for studying at 93% (p< 0.001). Conclusions: This study shows students have adequate knowledge and use of computers. It brings about an opportunity to introduce ICT in healthcare delivery to them. This will ensure their adequate preparedness to embrace new ways of delivering care to improve service delivery.Funding: Africa Build Project, Grant Number: FP7-266474Keywords: ICT, health professionals, knowledge, students

The authors concluded that the Plan is incongruent with Ghana's public health emergency preparedness. The evaluation is important for Ghana and the subregion.

In Namibia, the prevalence of hypertension among women and men aged 35–64 years is high, ranging from 44% to 57%. In this study, we aimed to determine adherence and predictors to antihypertensive therapy in Khomas region, Namibia. A cross-sectional study was performed to consecutively sample 400 patients from urban and peri-urban settings in Namibia. Results were validated using the Hill-Bone Compliance to High Blood Pressure Therapy Scale. Crude associations between predictors of adherence and compliance were tested using the Pearson chi-square test. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was then performed on adherence variables found to be significant to adjust for confounders, and the results are presented as adjusted odds ratios (aOR) with 95% confidence intervals. A total of 400 patients participated in this study. The participants’ mean age and standard deviation were Mean ± SD = 48.9 ± 12.5. In this study, 351 (87.7%) patients were estimated to have good adherence. Education, employment, and the presence of other chronic diseases were associated with adherence. Following multivariate adjustment, the following factors were significantly associated and are therefore predictors of adherence (95%CI, p < 0.005): receiving enough medication at last check-up until next one (OR = 5.44, CI 1.76–16.85), lack of encouragement from family and friends (OR = 0.11 (0.03–0.42)), and attendance of follow-ups on schedule (OR = 8.49, CI = 3.82–18.85). The success of hypertension therapy is dependent on the healthcare systems and healthcare professionals in supplying enough medication, support of friends/family, and maintaining scheduled follow-ups. A combination of interventions using low-cost mobile technology led by healthcare professionals could be endorsed. To fully practice universal access to medication, public and private hospitals in Namibia should collaborate.

The incidence of child marriage (CM) and intimate partner violence (IPV) are high in Uganda. The study sought to assess the association between child marriage and IPV across two waves of the Ugandan Demographic and Health Survey (UDHS). The evidence is important to inform policy implementation strategies aimed at curbing child marriages and IPV. We analyzed data from UDHS 2011 and 2016. The analysis was restricted to women who have ever cohabited. Simple and multiple logistic regression models were used to assess the association between child marriage and IPV. Following the 2011 and 2016 UDHS findings, child marriage was 54.7% in 2011 and 47.4% in 2016. Child marriage among the current adolescents increased from 9.4% in 2011 to 14.2% in 2016. According to UDHS 2011, 40.0% and 39.0% experienced physical and sexual violence respectively. In 2011 and 2016, 23.1% and 17.4% experienced both physical and sexual violence. There are higher odds of physical violence among child marriages compared to adult marriages in 2011 and 2016 (AOR = 1.44; 95% CI: 1.12-1.84 in 2011 and AOR = 1.26; 95% CI: 1.12-1.42).  A wealthy or educated woman has lower odds (AOR = 0.61; 95% CI: 0.41-0.91 and AOR = 0.41; 95% CI: 0.25-0.66) to experience both physical violence and sexual violence than a poor or uneducated one.  Alcohol is the most common cause of IPV. A woman married to an husband who consumes alcohol has higher odds of experiencing physical, sexual or both physical and sexual violence as compared to someone whose husband did not consume alcohol (AOR = 2.23; 95% CI:1.61-3.09 in 2011 and AOR = 2.42; 95% CI: 2.15-2.73 in 2016) Intimate Partner Violence is associated with child marriage, level of education, wealth quintile, residence, and partner’s alcohol consumption. Much emphasis needs to be directed to cultural, as well as social economic factors but more specifically on the contribution of women emancipation/empowerment to prevent IPV.

Aim: We investigated if Geophagia is restricted to only pregnant and lactating women in Ghana. We also investigated if the key driver of Geophagia is poverty and other socio-cultural factors. Methods: This analysis was part of a broader national study of resilience among thepopulation of Ghana (N=2,000). Regional comparisons were made possible due to the stratified and random selection of representations that were similar in characteristics such as being urban or rural, ethnicity, religion and gender. Results: It was found that Geophagia was present among both females and males and was not restricted to pregnant and lactating women. Geophagia was not driven by poverty or the lack of formal education or the presence of gainful employment. Geophagia was practiced by both urban and rural residents irrespective of religious proclivities and devotion. The assertion that Geophagia was an instinctive primordial response to gastro-intestinal disturbances was not sustained by the data in this study, although the literature review suggested such in calves and lambs. Conclusion: In order to address the potential health threats posed by Geophagia, the key cultural drivers need to be studied and understood. We also need to appreciate the shocks and stresses that create such desires. It is not a case of mental illness and it cannot be concluded that Geophagia is driven by a psychiatric disorder. This paper would be disseminated to inform policy in Ghana and beyond.

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Women in rural communities remain the most vulnerable population in accessing agricultural productive resources with dire implications for food security, malnutrition, and poverty. Effective agricultural and food-related policies should be based on a better understanding of the complex inter-relationship of how socioeconomic, demographic, gender, women empowerment, and geographical location indicators simultaneously affect access to agricultural productive resources and food security. The study quantified the level of inequality in access to agricultural productive resources and explored the mechanism through which socioeconomic status mediates the effect of geographic location on food security. This is a community-based cross-sectional study using a multi-stage stratified cluster random sampling design to generate a representative sample of the target population who live in coastal and non-coastal communities. The Gini inequality index, generalized structural equation models, multivariable modified Poisson and Negative binomial regression models were used. The inequality in access to agricultural productive resources was marginally higher among women than in men, higher in the coastal areas than in the non-coastal areas, and higher among women with low empowerment in agricultural production decision-making. The empowerment of women in agricultural decision-making was found to increase with age, as older women were more empowered to make decisions in agriculture. Approximately 17% [95% CI 15.6–18.6] of the population were food-secured (coastal = 13.9%, non-coastal communities = 20.7%). Socioeconomic status mediates the effect of living in coastal versus non-coastal rural communities on food security. To improve food security, the government should prioritize interventions geared toward improving women's access to productive agricultural resources. These interventions must consider gender-specific constraints, poverty alleviation schemes, legal framework, sociocultural factors, and decision-making power.