Introduction Ever since World Health Organization declared COVID-19 as a public health emergency of international concern, Ghana is one of the most affected countries in Africa. However, the knowledge, practice, and preparedness of healthcare providers on the novel COVID-19 in the country has not been studied. This study assessed health workers’ knowledge, practice, and preparedness on the current pandemic in three Ghanaian hospitals. Methods This multi-centre cross-sectional survey recruited 261 healthcare workers in Offinso North district between April and May, 2020, through self-administered questionnaire. SPSS version 22.0 was used for the analysis and statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Results We identified that 65.1% of the healthcare providers had adequate knowledge, 27.6% of them had received appropriate in-service training, 57.5% had adequately prepared themselves and willing to care for affected patients and 63.0% were duly aware of their facility’s preparedness for the situation. Again, only 57.5% of the health workers adhered strictly to the practice of precautionary measures, and 62.5% had varying forms of misconceptions about the aetiology of the novel COVID-19. Majority (77.1%) of the respondents received regular information on the COVID-19 from the Ministry of Health, Ghana. Conclusion The overall knowledge, practice and willingness of healthcare workers to handle COVID-19 were encouraging; however, this study still elucidates the knowledge gap of the professionals on the pandemic. We advocate for progressive training of staff on COVID-19, to advance the appreciation of the risks and precautionary measures and clear the misconceptions. This, we believe, would boost the confidence and increase their willingness to deliver efficiently.

Background Hypofibrinolysis resulting from the up-regulation of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) usually occurs in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), rendering them hypercoagulable. This study assessed the plasma antigen and activity levels of the PAI-1 enzyme in T2DM patients in a district hospital in Ghana. Methods This was a hospital-based case-control study conducted from December 2018 to May 2019 at Nkenkaasu District Hospital. Sixty subjects with T2DM (30 T2DM subjects with good glycemic control and 30 with poor glycemic control), and 30 apparently healthy blood donors were recruited into the study. Blood specimens were collected for complete blood count, lipid profile, PAI-1 Ag and PAI-1 activity levels. A pre-tested questionnaire was used to obtain demographic and clinical information. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 22.0. Results Elevated PAI-1 Ag and activity levels were observed in the T2DM subjects compared to the healthy controls, with the levels and activity significantly higher (PAI-1 Ag; p< 0.001, PAI-1 activity level; p = 0.004) in the T2DM subjects with poor glycemic control in comparison to those with good glycemic control. A significant positive correlation was observed between HbA1c and PAI-1 enzymes. PAI-1 Ag levels significantly increased along with increased total cholesterol (Β = 0.262, p = 0.033), triglyceride (Β = -0.273, p = 0.034) and HbA1c (Β = 0.419, p = 0.001). Similarly, PAI-1 activity level was associated with total cholesterol (Β = 0.325, p = 0.009), triglyceride (Β = -0.262, p = 0.042), HbA1c (Β = 0.389, p = 0.003) and VLDL-c (Β = -0.227, p = 0.029). Conclusion PAI-1 antigen/activity is enhanced in poorly controlled Ghanaian T2DM subjects. The hypercoagulable state of the affected individuals put them at higher risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. Good glycemic control to regulate plasma PAI-1 levels is essential during T2DM lifelong management. Markers of fibrinolysis should be assessed in these individuals and appropriate anticoagulants given to prevent thrombosis and adverse cardiovascular diseases.

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BackgroundHepatitis B and C cause chronic infections which develop into liver-related sequelae, like cirrhosis and liver carcinoma. This study determined the prevalence, trends, and risk factors of HBV and HCV among family replacement blood donors. MethodsA retrospective review of primary data on blood donors screened between January 2015 and December 2021 was conducted at the Sunyani Municipal Hospital. The data were assessed for seroprevalence, trends, and odds ratios using SPSS. ResultsOf 6847 donors, the majority were males (88.1% [6033]), ≤ 24 years (27.4% [1874]), of the O blood type (69.8% [4776]), and Rh-positive (89.9% [6154]). Seroprevalences of HBV and HCV were 3.2% and 1.9%, respectively, with more males infected with both HBV and HCV (3.4% vs 2.0%). Male donors were 2.842 times (CI: 1.500-5.385, p = 0.001) and 2.399 times (CI: 1.116-5.157, p = 0.025) more susceptible than females to HBV and HCV, respectively. In the rainy season, donors were 1.489 times (CI: 1.017-2.180, p = 0.041) more susceptible to HCV. HBV and HCV showed declining trends over the period (slope: -0.5464, p ≤ 0.001 vs slope: -0.6179, p ≤ 0.001). ConclusionGender was signi cantly associated with both HBV and HCV, while season was signi cantly associated with HCV. The male gender and rainy season were signi cant determinants of both infections. The seroprevalence of HBV was higher than HCV despite the signi cant decline in both HBV and HCV seroprevalences. We, recommend health authorities intensify health education among males and during the rainy season. Also, local variations in the seroprevalence of these infections call for upgrade and standardisation in serological testing for blood donors across Ghanaian blood centres.

Introduction: Blood transfusion poses a high public health risk to recipients; hence no effort recommended to eradicate or minimize the danger of transmitting the infections.bReproductive Biology should be underestimated at minimizing the risk of TTIs. This study determined the prevalence and trend of HIV and syphilis infections in voluntary blood donors. Method: A retrospective analysis of secondary data from consecutive prospective voluntary blood donors who accessed Nkenkaasu District Hospital’s Blood Bank from January 2010 to December 2018 was conducted. Result: Cumulatively, HIV and Treponema pallidum seropositivity identified in the present study was high (19.1%, [95% C.I (0.026-0.028)]) . The prevalence of HIV and syphilis infections were 10.9% (95% C.I (0.098-0.120)) and 8.9% (95% C.I (0.073-0.92)) respectively. Prospective female blood donors were less likely to test positive for T. pallidum than males (OR 0.511, [0.340 – 0.769], p=0.001), but the infection was similar among different ages. The data showed downward trend for both HIV and T. pallidum seropositivity, (slope=-2.9467, p<0.0001) and (slope=-0.7117, p<0.0001) respectively. Conclusion: Seroprevalence of HIV and Treponema pallidum were high, and their individual or combined seropositivity pose a significant threat to the safety of blood. Extensive and continuous screening for high-risk behaviours and infectious markers before blood donation is therefore Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, College of Medicine, Pan African University of Life and Earth Sciences Institute (PAULESI), University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. Keywords: Blood donors; HIV; magnitude; trend; Treponema pallidum.

Background. Tuberculosis (TB) constitutes a global emergency as it affects one-third of the world's inhabitants. Although pulmonary Tuberculosis (PTB) is curable, immunological responses to the infection induce several haematological derangements. This study evaluated the effect of PTB on Protein C, Protein S, Antithrombin-III, and blood count parameters.Methods. Ninety adults with ages ≥18 years were purposively recruited: 60 PTB patients and 30 non-TB controls. All patients were diagnosed with sputum GeneXpert MTB/Rif assay. Blood specimens were collected from each participant for Protein C, S, Antithrombin-III and complete blood count.

Diabetes mellitus, an endocrine disorder, has been implicated in many including hypogonadism in men. Given the fact that diabetes mellitus is becoming a fast-growing epidemic and the morbidity associated with it is more disabling than the disease itself. This study sought to assess the prevalence of low testosterone levels and predictors in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients and non-diabetic men in a district hospital in Ghana. This hospital-based case-control study comprised 150 type 2 diabetics and 150 healthy men. A pre-structured questionnaire and patient case notes were used to document relevant demographic and clinical information. Venous blood sample of about 6 ml was taken to measure FBS, HbA1c, FSH, LH, and testosterone levels. All data were analyzed using STATA version 12 (STATA Corporation, Texas, USA). The overall hypogonadism in the study population was 48% (144/300). The prevalence of hypogonadism in type 2 diabetic subjects was almost three times more than in healthy men (70.7% vs 25.3%). The odds of having hypogonadism was lower in the men with normal weight and overweight with their underweight counterparts (AOR = 0.33, 95% CI; 0.12–0.96, p = 0.042) and (AOR = 0.29, 95% CI; 0.10–0.84, p = 0.023) respectively. Also, the odds of suffering from hypogonadism was lower in non-smokers compared with smokers (AOR: 0.16, 95% CI; 0.05–0.58, p = 0.005). Participants who were engaged in light (AOR: 0.29, 95% CI; 0.14–0.61, p = 0.001), moderate (AOR: 0.26, 95% CI; 0.13–0.54, p<0.001) and heavy (AOR: 0.25, 95% CI; 0.10–0.67, p = 0.006) leisure time activities had lower odds hypogonadal compared to those engaged in sedentary living. Type 2 diabetic men have high incidence of hypogonadism, irrespective of their baseline clinical, lifestyle or demographic characteristics. Smoking and sedentary lifestyle and BMI were associated with hypogonadism in the study population. Routine testosterone assessment and replacement therapy for high risk patients is recommended to prevent the detrimental effect of hypogonadism in diabetic men.