Flood exposure and psychological distress among Ghanaian adults in flood-prone settings.

Urban floods have long-term mental health implications, yet this subject remains largely neglected in flood-related studies. This paper examines the psychological distress (PD) of adults exposed to floods in Ghana. Cross-sectional data involving 767 flood-prone community-dwelling household heads aged ≥20 years were analyzed [mean = 47.3 years (SD = 13.7); males = 61.4%]. We used the Exposure to Flood-related Events Scale, and PD was assessed with the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10). Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regressions evaluated crude and adjusted associations of flood exposure with PD. The mean scores of PD (37[SD = 8]) and exposure to flood events (6[SD = 3]) significantly varied by age and sex (p < .05). After full adjustment for potential confounders, exposure to flood events was significantly and positively associated with PD index in the total sample (ß = 0.030; p < .005), among male participants (ß = 0.019; p < .05) and female participants (ß = 0.048; p < .001). Furthermore, age-wise analysis revealed significant association of flood exposure with PD in young adults (ß = 0.033; p < .001) but not in older adults (ß = 0.048; p = .062). Exposure to floods increased the risk of PD. Policy and public health efforts to manage PD should include selective flood reduction interventions, including land use regulations and sustained public education.

Depopulation or vaccination? Tackling the COVID-19 crisis in prisons in Africa.

Several attempts have been made by the global public health efforts and national governments to contain the spread and vulnerabilities to COVID-19. Evidence, however, shows a disproportionate upsurge in COVID-19 cases in correctional facilities such as prisons, particularly, in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The poor adherence to COVID-19 preventive protocols in these settings has raised a serious "moral panic" among the public. There are public health concerns about the most effective and state-of-the-art approach to tackling the continuous spread of the virus in prisons. This paper discusses the feasibility of depopulation and vaccination rollouts in combating COVID-19 in correctional facilities with a particular focus on African prisons. The paper proposes selective and strategic depopulation of prisoners, effective prioritization of vaccination among prisoners, and general sensitization of prisoners toward vaccine disbursement in this total institution.

Comparative Analysis of Households Solid Waste Management in Rural and Urban Ghana.

The comparative analysis of solid waste management between rural and urban Ghana is largely lacking. This study investigated the solid waste situation and the organisation of solid waste management in both urban and rural settings from the perspective of households. The study employed cross-sectional survey covering both rural and urban districts in the Ashanti and Greater Accra Regions of Ghana. The study systematically sampled houses from which 400 households and respondents were randomly selected. Pearson's Chi square test was used to compare demographic and socioeconomic variables in rural and urban areas. Multivariate Test, Tests of Between-Subjects Effects, and Pair-Wise Comparisons were performed through one-way MANOVA to determine whether or not solid waste situations in rural and urban areas are significantly different. The results revealed that location significantly affects solid waste management in Ghana. Urban communities had lower mean scores than rural communities for poor solid waste situation in homes. However, urban communities had higher mean scores than rural communities for poor solid waste situation in principal streets and dumping sites. The study recommends that the local government authorities implement very comprehensive policies (sanitary inspection, infrastructure development, and community participation) that will take into consideration the specific solid waste management needs of both urban and rural areas.