BackgroundHypertension is a worldwide health issue that primarily affects the elderly in our society. However, in comparison to the developed world, the prevalence of hypertension is higher in Sub-Saharan Africa.ObjectiveThis paper examines the prevalence of hypertension and its associated risk factors among older adults in Ghana.MethodsUsing the World Health Organization’s study on global AGEing and adult health (WHO SAGE) Wave 1 cross-sectional data collected via in-person structured interviews; paper and pencil interviews (PAPI) from ten administrative regions of Ghana using stratified multistage cluster design from respondents aged 50+ grouped by decade, this study analyzed a nationally representative sub-sample of 3,997 respondents employing binary logistic regression. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were used to estimate risk factors associated with hypertension (blood pressure ≥ 130/80 mm/Hg).ResultsThere was a 53.72% hypertension prevalence rate among older adults. Hypertension prevalence tends to increase with increasing age. The prevalence of hypertension was associated with residency (B = −0.18, OR = 0.84, p < 0.017), with urban residents being more at risk of hypertension than rural residents. The prevalence of hypertension increased with overweight (B = 0.66, OR = 1.94, p < 0.001) and obesity (B = 0.82, OR = 2.28, p < 0.001). The amount of fruit and vegetable intake was insignificant but had an inverse relationship with hypertension prevalence.ConclusionThis study has shown that demographic and lifestyle factors significantly affect and explain the hypertension risk among older adults. Medical factors, such as chronic diseases, were largely insignificant and accounted for less hypertension prevalence. Therefore, when interpreting test findings in clinical practice, such as hypertension, it is essential to consider demographic and lifestyle factors. In addition, health policies and primary interventions that seek to improve the standard of living, lifestyle, and wellbeing of older adults need to be critically considered moving forward to lower hypertension prevalence among older adults in Ghana.
ObjectiveAccessibility to quality healthcare, histopathology of tumor, tumor stage and geographical location influence survival rates. Comprehending the bases of these differences in cervical cancer survival rate, as well as the variables linked to poor prognosis, is critical to improving survival. We aimed to perform the first thorough meta-analysis and systematic review of cervical cancer survival times in Africa based on race, histopathology, geographical location and age.Methods and materialsMajor electronic databases were searched for articles published about cervical cancer survival rate in Africa. The eligible studies involved studies which reported 1-year, 3-year or 5-year overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS) and/or locoregional recurrence (LRR) rate of cervical cancer patients living in Africa. Two reviewers independently chose the studies and evaluated the quality of the selected publications, in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA-P). We used random effects analysis to pooled the survival rate across studies and heterogeneity was explored via sub-group and meta-regression analyses. A leave-one-out sensitivity analysis was undertaken, as well as the reporting bias assessment. Our findings were reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA-P).ResultsA total of 16,122 women with cervical cancer were covered in the 45 articles (59 studies), with research sample sizes ranging from 22 to 1,059 (median = 187.5). The five-year overall survival (OS) rate was 40.9% (95% CI: 35.5–46.5%). The five-year OS rate ranged from 3.9% (95% CI: 1.9–8.0%) in Malawi to as high as 76.1% (95% CI: 66.3–83.7%) in Ghana. The five-year disease-free survival rate was 66.2% (95% CI: 44.2–82.8%) while the five-year locoregional rate survival was 57.0% (95% CI: 41.4–88.7%).ConclusionTo enhance cervical cancer survival, geographical and racial group health promotion measures, as well as prospective genetic investigations, are critically required.
Stress and burnout among human service professionals have been considered by researchers as an endemic affecting the quality-of-service delivery within the profession. A cross-sectional survey research method through a quantitative approach was used in exploring the psychological effects of burnout among health professionals. Through stratified and simple random sampling procedures, 150 health workers (90 from Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital and 60 from Ridge Hospital) were sampled and responded to a standardized burnout questionnaire designed by Maslach (Maslach burnout inventory 2008). Frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviation, and t-test were used to analyze the data. The findings of the study rejected the hypothesis that experienced doctors will experience less burnout than inexperienced doctors. Again, the finding of the study indicated that there is an age barrier when it comes to burnout, thus, younger health workers experience burnout more than older health workers. The outcome of the study further rejected the fact that there is a correlation between gender and the level of burnout. The study concluded that as burnout was closely related to age and experience as a more source of stress and burnout among doctors, management and staff of the health institution must consider appropriate measures to alleviate job stress and burnout. Keywords: Stress; Burnout; Health workers.
Factors affecting business students’ choice of career in accounting and factors affecting business students’ inability to choose a career in accounting remains unclear. We used SPSS to analyze data collected from four randomly selected senior high schools in the central region of Ghana through questionnaires. This paper investigated the influences of job opportunities, personal interest, family influence, social status, peer influence, salary expectation, weakness in mathematics, time it takes to become an accountant, and stress involved in the accounting career. The paper then revealed the effects of these influencing factors. Though other factors were found to have substantial effects, the results clearly shows that high salary expectation and job opportunities are the most influential factors that influences a business student’s choice to choose or not to choose a career in accounting. These results could be used as a reference for educational reforms and career counselling.
The purpose of this study was to conduct a meta-analysis of studies that have examined the prevalence of falls among older adults living in Africa. Three investigators independently searched the databases of PubMed, EMBASE, Google Scholar, and Web of Science from their inception date until September 2019. Participants were 5,815 older adults aged 60 years and above. The prevalence of falls was determined using the random effects meta-analysis, whereas meta-regression was conducted to investigate the moderating factors. Eleven of the 921 potentially relevant studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis revealed a pooled prevalence of fall rate of 24.2% (95% CI: 23.1%-25.3%, I2 = 95.2%). Multivariate meta-regression analysis found no moderating effects of study sub-region, study year, and sample size on fall prevalence (p values > 0.05). Falls among older adults living in Africa are common and therefore need continuous research to examine the possible risk factors associated with falls among older adults and to establish effective policies and prevention approaches to reduce risk.
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