Integrated Health Research Journal

Overcoming the worsening global health situation: Contributions of biomedical research

Alex Boye , Richard KD Ephraim — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Global health is under siege by an orchestra of factors ranging from aging human population and its attendant disease vulnerabilities, food insecurity and its attendant malnutrition, onslaught of environmentally unfriendly human activities that have given rise to climate change and its many debilitating effects on mankind, the emerged drug resistance problem secondary to emergence of resistant pathogens, and the generally weak global healthcare response system which was recently exposed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Effect of anthropometric and physical activity levels on endurance strength: A cross-sectional study of University Practice Senior High School, Ghana

Eric Opoku-Antwi, Josephine Adjubi Kwakye, Emmanuel Bimpong — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The aim of this study is to determine how anthropometric variables (body weight, body height, upper and lower limb length), Body Mass Index (BMI) and physical activity (PA) levels affect the number of cycles completed in 3-Minute Burpee Test (3-MBT) among male and female teenagers of University Practice Senior High school. Thirty-two (32) males and 28 females aged 15-17 years engaged in low and moderate physical activity levels took part in the studies. International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) short form was used to assess physical activity levels and 3-MBT was used to evaluate students’ endurance strength capacity. Participants’ limb lengths (for upper and lower) were measured and their BMI was calculated from their measured body height and weight according to standardized guidelines. The results were processed statistically using Pearson’s correlation, independent sample t-test and simple linear regression. In both sexes, only body mass and BMI were bound by negative significant correlation (p < 0.05) with the number of cycles completed in the 3-MBT. Significant differences were noted between males and females engaging in 3-MBT (p < .001). Physical activity levels in MET significantly predicted endurance strength scores (p < .001) as assessed by 3-MBT. On the average, males completed 48.34 cycles/3 min and females scored 38.50 cycles/3 min. More cycles were completed by male and female students with moderate levels of physical activity compared to those characterized by low levels of PA. Males were characterized by higher anthropometric measurements excluding body mass index than females. Body mass, BMI and physical activity levels in MET were the only analyzed variables that significantly had influence on endurance strength (3-MBT) of both sexes.

Effect of 16 weeks of core and strength training on incidence of injury occurrence and FMS score of Ghanaian University basketball athletes

Eric Opoku-Antwi, Josephine Adjubi Kwakye — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The purpose of this study is to determine if FMS scores can predict the prevalence of injury occurrence after 16 weeks of core training and strength training in a Ghanaian University basketball athlete. Ninety (90) athletes aged 18-25 years participated in the study. Athletes were randomly stratified into two groups (n=45) and participated in 16 weeks of core training and 16 weeks of strength training respectively. All athletes received questionnaires and FMS scores before and after training was recorded. Of the 90 athletes, ankle and knee were the most vulnerable parts of basketball athletes to injuries. Compared with pre-training, athletes’ incidence of injury was reduced after training. When the FMS score was 14.5, the value of Sensitivity-(1-Specificity) is the largest. In addition, FMS scores could only take integers, so FMS=14 was the best critical value for predicting the risk of injury by FMS score whether it was before or after training. Fifty (50) basketball athletes had an FMS score of ≤14 before training and 40 had FMS scores >14. After training, 15 basketball athletes had an FMS score of ≤14 and 75 had FMS scores >14. There was a significant increase in FMS scores single and total scores after training compared with pre-training. FMS score can effectively predict the injury risk of basketball players. Increasing strength and core training can effectively prevent basketball players from injury and improve FMS score.

Postpartum depression in the Ghanaian context: A concept analysis

Fri, 01 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Postpartum is a unique period in the lives of women with childbirth but presents with postpartum depression, which challenges the mother, infants, and families. In the global and Ghanaian setting, postpartum depression is a mental disorder that impedes maternal function; however, it is an indistinct concept. This article analyses the concept of postpartum depression using the Avant and Walker strategy. The article aims to analyse the concept of postpartum depression and determine the defining attributes, antecedents and consequences. Analysis of postpartum depression was done using the Avant and Walker strategy of concept analysis. Deductive analysis was employed to find the defining attributes of postpartum depression which were mood changes, tiredness, inability to sleep, low self-esteem, tearfulness, loss of appetite, feelings of inadequacy, irritability, loss of interest and enjoyment, reduced energy, distress, detachment from baby, worry about injury to the infant, and feeling of guilt about motherhood role performance. The identified antecedents were the presence of pregnancy, labour, childbirth and its physiological and psychological stress. The consequence of postpartum depression was poor cognitive function of the infant, nutritional defects, mortalities associated with deprived infant care, maternal self-care deficit, social interaction impairment and inability to perform parental roles. The defining attributes and consequences can improve the identification of women with postpartum depression in Ghana and subsequently increase diagnosis and treatment.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding anaemia among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic at the University of Cape Coast hospital in the Cape Coast Metropolis, Ghana

Fri, 01 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Despite the adoption of prophylactic programs of iron and folate supplementation (IFAS) to prevent nutritional anaemia in pregnancy, iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) in pregnancy remains a public health issue, especially in developing countries. An efficient strategy that may be helpful prior to establishing the objectives of any nutrition intervention is to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of pregnant women before implementing any intervention. This assessed KAP of pregnant mothers attending antenatal clinic at the University of Cape Coast Hospital. A descriptive cross-sectional study involving 225 pregnant mothers who visited the antenatal clinic at the University of Cape Coast Hospital in the Cape Coast Metropolis, Ghana was employed. A structured questionnaire from the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization was used to evaluate participants’ KAPs with reference to anaemia. A simple random sampling method was used to select participants for the study. IBM SPSS Statistics version 26 was used to conduct descriptive statistical analysis, which was summarized by frequency and percentages. A chi-squared test was used to determine the relationship between categorical variables at a significance level of P = 0.05. Overall, a greater proportion of the participants, 124 (55.1%), had poor knowledge on nutritional anaemia in pregnancy. A statistically significant association (P = 0.003) was found between the knowledge and attitudes of the pregnant women regarding anaemia. Findings from this study suggest there is a knowledge deficit among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic at the University of Cape Coast Hospital. The positive attitudes of the study participants regarding anaemia may not translate into their knowledge concerning a health situation.

Safety culture and patient safety outcomes in developing countries: A narrative review

Fri, 01 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The effects of medical errors on patients are increasingly becoming a public concern. It is estimated that 10% and 20% of persons receiving healthcare in developed and developing economies, respectively, are harmed, but a majority of these errors are preventable. The purpose of this paper is to summarise the current literature on the level of patient safety culture awareness and practice, predictors of patient safety culture, and the link between patient safety culture and patient outcomes in developing countries. A systematic search for literature from the following data bases, ScienceDirect, PubMed, JSTOR, ProQuest, Taylor & Francis Online, and Emerald Insight was carried out. Consistent with the inclusion criteria and study objectives, 23 published articles were included in this review. We found that patient safety culture awareness and practice in developing countries is low and still evolving. High predictors of patient safety culture include teamwork, communication, work environment and provider job satisfaction. Low predictors include a non-punitive response to errors, handoffs, transitions and transfers, staffing, and blameless reporting systems. We found that improved patient safety culture results in better patient outcomes. However, there is limited evidence on patient safety culture and patient outcomes in African countries, which hinder evidence-based practice aimed at promoting better health outcomes of patients. Stakeholders must ensure enhanced medical data collection and preservation of comprehensive incidence reporting systems and strategies to improve patient safety and health outcomes.

The dilemma of chronic kidney disease of unknown origin

Fri, 01 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Over the past two decades, cumulative increases in the prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) have been observed in selected geographic areas in several countries. The etiology of this CKD cannot be attributed to known or traditional causes or risk factors, and the term chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology (CKDu) has been used to describe this entity. These regional endemic nephropathies are commonly known as CKD of unidentified cause (CKDu) or CKD of nontraditional etiology (CKDnt) and, more recently, Chronic interstitial nephritis of agricultural communities (CINAC). Unlike the traditional causes of CKD (i.e., Hypertension, Diabetes, chronic glomerulonephritis, etc), CKDu has been associated with agricultural and arid regions. Also, the socioeconomic state of those regions is key. This review addresses the present status of the knowledge for different aspects of this regional health problem as well as summarizes available evidence on the risk factors, epidemiology, clinical features, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of CKDu. It will also highlight the reasons why Africa should be concerned about this condition. Using the keywords “Africa, CKD of unknown origin,” a literature search was conducted on PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar, focusing on the research published between 2000 and 2022. Results from the literature show that predisposition to heat stress and dehydration, subclinical rhabdomyolysis, toxins from alcoholic beverages, agrochemicals, and heavy metals all result in acute kidney injury, and repeated exposures to these factors can then cause CKDu. Earlier studies in Sri Lanka nephropathy by Nanayakkara and his team in 2014 identified that a genetic variant of SLC13A3 (sodium-dependent dicarboxylate transporter member 3) is associated with CKDu. Later research conducted in 2015 discovered KCNA10 (a voltage-gated potassium channel) also as a gene implicated in CKDu; these genetic variances were discovered to be common among the populace suffering from kidney diseases, hence suggesting that, people with these genes have a high risk of developing kidney disease. Predisposition to heat stress and dehydration, subclinical rhabdomyolysis, and toxins from alcoholic beverages, agrochemicals, and heavy metals all results in acute kidney injury, and repeated exposures to these factors can then cause CKDu. Also, certain genes have been found to be associated with CKDu.

Plasmodium Falciparum Rifins: Role in malaria pathogenesis

Paul Ekow Duntu, Justice Afrifa, Yeboah Kwaku Opoku, Kwame Kumi Asare — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Malaria kills an estimated 600,000 people each year, especially children under five years who reside in sub-Saharan Africa. Malaria fatalities are associated with severe forms such as cerebral malaria, acute respiratory failure, severe anaemia, renal failure, hypoglycaemia, and pulmonary oedema. Although the underlying pathogenic mechanisms in immune responses and parasite immune evasion, cytoadherence of parasitized red blood cells, and rosetting are enumerated, the mechanisms are not fully understood. P. falciparum parasite-derived surface protein, repetitive interspersed family (RIFIN) genes are involved in rosetting, blocking microcirculation, and playing a role in malaria pathogenesis; it is unclear which RIFIN family genes are involved in the various pathogenic mechanisms in malaria. RIFINs are the extensive malaria family genes expressed throughout the malaria parasite stages, indicating their diverse roles. Malaria pathogenesis occurs in erythrocyte-stage infection, and the expression of RIFINs at this phase could play a diverse role in the various pathogenic mechanisms. They are involved in major phenomena such as cytoadherence, merozoite evasion, and immune evasion. RIFINs aid in the immune evasion of P. falciparum through various molecular interactions by binding to the inhibitory receptors LAIR1, LILRB1, and LILRB2. RIFINs in severe forms of malaria (such as cerebral malaria and severe anaemia) require a considerable understanding to target and control malaria severity and mortality. RIFINs are implicated in severe malaria and are discussed together with other variant surface antigens such as STEVORS or PfEMP1 in the specific pathophysiology of malaria. This review details the role of RIFINs in the various malaria pathophysiological mechanisms underlying severe malaria and mortality

Electronic health record impact on data quality: An integrated review

Jonathan Kissi, Caleb Annobil, Ahmed Tijani, Andrews Agyei Kissi — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Few studies have assessed the impact of Electronic Health Record (EHR) on data quality and how it has impacted timeliness, accuracy, availability, integrity, consistency and uniqueness of health data. Assessing the current gaps between electronic health record utilisation in relation to enhancing data quality can help to identify and recommend key measures to improve healthcare delivery. This review examines the impact of electronic health record on data quality, and proposes recommendations desirable to improving healthcare delivery. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and Integrative Review Frameworks (IRF) were adapted as a sign post for the study. These frameworks guided literature search, data analysis and presentation of findings. Boolean AND/OR operators were combined with search terms to increase relevant search results. Six (6) electronic databases that were used for literature search are Scopus, Web of Science, Science Direct, PubMed, ProQuest and Google Scholar. Searched articles were between 2012 to 2022, with the exception of two articles on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) published in 1986 and 1975. EHR implementation impact key health outcomes and contribute to timely and complete data submission. Implementation of Electronic Health Systems (EHS) embellish consistency, completeness, accuracy and integrity of clinical data significantly through embedded interoperability solutions. By reducing the scope of manual reviews, integrating a technology that automates data integrity and quality checks into EHR may potentially lessen the strain of maintaining data quality. Our findings depict that interoperability of clinical data sources will ensure consistent, timely and available health data when using EHR. The automated data integrity and consistency checks in the EHR improve data quality. The study contributes to advancing the theory of Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) in electronic health records and its impact on data quality in healthcare delivery.