Barriers and Facilitators to Clinical Supervision in Ghana: A Scoping Review.

Background: Clinical supervision involves the professional relationship between an experienced and knowledgeable clinician and a less experienced clinician in which the experienced clinician provides support toward the skills development of the less experienced one. The concept, structure, and format of clinical supervision vary in various jurisdictions and is influenced by the availability of resources, the training needs of supervisees, and organizational structures. Aim: The aim of this scoping review was to explore, map out and synthesize the available literature on the facilitators and barriers to clinical supervision in Ghana. Methods: The methodological framework developed by Arksey and O'Malley and modified by Levac et al. for scoping reviews, and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews were used to ensure a coherent and transparent reporting of literature. A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, Medline, and Google Scholar using key words and key terms. Articles published between January 1, 2000, and February 28, 2023, were included in the review. Results: The initial search across all the databases yielded 208 results. Two independent reviewers completed both the title and abstract, and full text screenings. A third reviewer helped to resolve all discrepancies that arose during the screening process. The review included 20 articles and generated four themes: clinical supervision as a collaborative effort, feedback mechanism, training and adaptation, and challenges with implementation. Conclusion: Findings from this review highlight that healthcare professionals in Ghana valued clinical supervision. However, the implementation of clinical supervision is faced with individual and systemic challenges. There is the need for on-going collaboration between educational and clinical institutions to develop modalities that promote clinical supervision in Ghana.

Prevalence, perceptions, and experiences of frailty among older migrants from Low- and Middle-Income Countries to High Income Countries: A mixed method systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Frailty is increasingly becoming a public health concern, especially among vulnerable populations. Older migrants from Low- and Middle-Income Countries to High Income Countries present with poorer health and are at increased risk of becoming frail. This review aims to explore the prevalence, perceptions, and experiences of frailty among older migrants from Low- and Middle-Income Countries to High Income Countries. METHODS: This review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis. Five electronic databases were comprehensively searched for relevant literature published from January 1, 2000, to April 30, 2023. Quality appraisal for the quantitative studies was done with the Joanna Brigg's critical appraisal tool for analytic cross-sectional studies, and the qualitative studies were assessed with the Critical Appraisal Skill Program tool for qualitative studies. RESULT: Seven studies met the inclusion criteria. Frailty was assessed using modified versions of the Frailty Phenotype and Frailty Index. The prevalence of frailty using the Frailty Phenotype was 16.6 %, and 17 % to 61.9 % according to the Frailty Index. The perceptions and experiences of frailty were characterised by chronic ill-health and a review of healthy pre-migration and early migration lives. CONCLUSION: Despite the variation in frailty assessment methods, the high prevalence of frailty among older migrants was highlighted across the included studies. The perceptions and experiences of frailty reflect a state of resignation which can complicate the state of frailty. There is the need for ongoing research among migrant groups to identify their predisposition to frailty for early intervention.

The magnitude of anemia and preventive practices in mothers with children under five years of age in Dodi Papase, Volta region of Ghana.

BACKGROUND: Socio-demographic factors influence the magnitude of anemia in endemic areas. The purpose of this study is to establish the magnitude of anemia and to determine anemia preventive practices carried out by mothers with children under five years of age in the Kadjebi District of the Volta region of Ghana. METHODS: This purposive sampling study involved women of reproductive age with children less than five years of age from Saint Mary Theresa Hospital and nurses practicing in the pediatric ward of the hospital. A questionnaire and interview guide were administered respectively, and the data collected were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 21. RESULTS: A total of 150 participants were studied; among which analysis of anemia was carried out on 129 women whose children had their hemoglobin levels checked and recorded in the laboratory. Hemoglobin levels recorded for these children showed that 85.3% were anemic, even though 93.8% of the mothers had been given iron supplements during their pregnancy. Furthermore, anemia prevention practices comprised whether the child had been given any anti-malaria prophylaxis (98.4% denied), if the child had been dewormed in the last three months (89.9% denied), whether the child was given iron supplements in the last three months (59.7% denied), if the child had been given vitamin supplements in the last three months (24.0% denied). CONCLUSION: Most of the children in the study were anemic. Mothers practiced exclusive breastfeeding, iron, and vitamin supplementation, and ensured that children slept under insecticide-treated mosquito nets as a means of preventing malaria.

Telemedicine in Ghana: Insight into the past and present, a narrative review of literature amidst the Coronavirus pandemic.

The Coronavirus pandemic has destabilized many healthcare systems globally since the outbreak was announced. The mode of transmission of the virus has affected the traditional face-to-face mode of seeking healthcare. The world health organization recommends measures, including limiting physical contact as a means of preventing the spread of the virus. Many countries across the world are utilizing telemedicine during this pandemic to provide basic healthcare to their citizens. The implementation of telemedicine in sub- Saharan Africa has encountered many challenges. The surge in the number of covid-19 cases in Ghana calls for drastic measures to contain the repercussions of the pandemic. The Government of Ghana and other private organizations continue to scale up efforts to integrate telemedicine into the mainstream healthcare system. This study seeks to explore and provide insight into the state of telemedicine in Ghana prior to and during the Coronavirus pandemic. This study is a narrative review of literature on the use of telemedicine in Ghana. Data was obtained from PubMed, Embase, ScienceDirect, Scopus and Google Scholar. A secondary search was conducted on government of Ghana health agencies' websites and other relevant websites that published information on telemedicine in Ghana. Literature was analysed and topically discussed based on identified themes. There is an improvement in the number of information and communication technology coordinated healthcare services in Ghana since the outbreak was confirmed. Public-private partnership is required to boost the integration of telemedicine into mainstream healthcare in Ghana.

A Look at COVID-19 Global Health Situation, 1-Year Post Declaration of the Pandemic.

The new coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was declared a pandemic on 11 March 2020 by the World Health Organization (WHO). The impacts of COVID-19 have changed over the past year globally. There were 116 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in more than 220 countries, including 2.5 million deaths, as reported at the end of the first week of March 2021. Throughout this time, different variants of SARS-CoV-2 have emerged. In early March, the United States of America (USA) led in both confirmed cases and casualties, while India followed in the number of confirmed cases and Brazil in the number of deaths. Vaccines are available in the USA and worldwide to help combat COVID-19. The level of preparedness among multisectoral communities played a role in transmission rates; therefore, lessons learned from past outbreaks, alongside this pandemic, are crucial in establishing policies and regulations to reduce and/or prevent the spread. This narrative literature review provides an update on the global spread of the COVID-19 outbreak, and the current impact of the pandemic 1-year after the declaration, preparedness, and mitigation efforts since the outbreak.

Healthcare in Ghana amidst the coronavirus pandemic: a narrative literature review.

The Coronavirus pandemic has caused more deaths than any other single disease since the outbreak was confirmed. The World Health Organization in collaboration with national and international health agencies continues to lead the way in bracing global healthcare systems to fight the pandemic. There are variations in national capacities towards the preparedness and management of the pandemic. The Government of Ghana, through the Ministry of Health and Ghana Health Service, continues to provide policy and operational directions towards the containment of the pandemic. The purpose of this study is to review the setup of the healthcare sector in Ghana in light of the ongoing pandemic. This study is a narrative literature review in which data was extracted from electronic databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus and Ebscohost that published Covid-19 research articles from Ghana. Literature was analyzed and discussed based on the structures and systems available in the healthcare sector, as well as trends available from the global perspective. The healthcare sector in Ghana continues to support the citizenry in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic. The government provides regular updates and continue to pledge their support in dealing with the effects of the pandemic. Challenges with accessibility, workforce, funding, and infrastructure remain the major hindrances in fighting the pandemic. The government and healthcare partners need to continually reform the healthcare system to meet the increasing demand for healthcare during the pandemic.