Seismic Activities in Ghana: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Seismic activities pose significant challenges to societies globally. Therefore, it is crucial to understand their occurrence, patterns, and impacts. By studying seismic activities, including earthquakes, researchers can investigate their occurrence, distribution, and characteristics which can provide effective management and risk reduction strategies. The southern part of Ghana is prone to earthquakes and this study aims to shed more light into the nature of seismic events in the area and country at large. A systematic review was conducted using the PRISMA technique across three electronic databases (SCOPUS, Dimensions and Google Scholar) to identify relevant studies published between 2000 and 2023. Extraction of data and quality assessment were performed in order to ensure reliability and validity of included studies. Results identified only 16 papers from published records to meet the inclusion criteria. Despite the grave threat earthquakes pose to vital infrastructure and human life in Ghana, research in this area remains remarkably deficient. Our findings underscore the urgent need for further study given the catastrophic potential of seismic disasters in the region. Moreover, upon scrutinizing the methodologies deployed in extant literature concerning seismic activity in Ghana, a recurring constraint that emerged was the scarce availability of data. In essence, this study offers an indispensable panorama of earthquake research in Ghana, bridging the existing knowledge chasm on seismic phenomena in the region. The insights gleaned from this review promise to fortify our comprehension of Ghana's seismic activities, thereby bolstering the country's capabilities for more effective preparedness and response strategies.

Breast Cancer Screening: Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices among Female University Students in The Gambia

“…In SSA, the diagnosis of breast cancer often occurs at an advanced stage, leading to poor prognosis. The survival rate for breast cancer patients in low-and middle-income countries is less than 0.5% [10]. Several factors contribute to the delayed diagnosis of breast cancer in SSA, including limited access to modern diagnostic facilities, inadequate knowledge about breast cancer, misconceptions, and sociocultural factors [11,12].…”