1,721,073 research outputs found
Fluoroquinolone-Resistant Salmonella enterica, Campylobacter spp., and Arcobacter butzleri from Local and Imported Poultry Meat in Kumasi, Ghana
Full text linkSalmonella and Campylobacter are important gastroenteric pathogens. Arcobacter butzleri is an emerging enteric pathogen. Data on the frequencies of these poultry-associated pathogens on meat products sold in sub-Saharan Africa are scarce. This study aimed to analyze the frequency of Salmonella, Campylobacter, and Arcobacter antibiotic resistance and underlying mechanisms of resistance to fluoroquinolones in locally produced and imported poultry sold in urban Ghana. Chicken meat was collected and cultured on standard media. Bacterial strains were identified by biochemical methods and by mass spectrometry. Antibiotic susceptibility was tested by disk diffusion. Ciprofloxacin-resistant strains were assessed for molecular mechanisms of resistance. Among 200 samples, comprising 34% (n = 68) from the Ghanaian poultry industry and 66% (n = 132) from imports, 9% (n = 17) contained Salmonella, 11% (n = 22) Campylobacter, and 26.5% (n = 53) A. butzleri. Higher overall contamination frequencies were found in local meat. Most common Salmonella serovars identified were Kentucky (n/N = 5/16; 31%) and Poona (n/N = 4/16; 25%). Campylobacter were C. coli (n/N = 10/19; 53%) and C. jejuni (n/N = 9/19; 47%). Resistance to fluoroquinolones was high with 63% (n = 10), 75% (n = 15), and 52% (n = 25) in Salmonella, Campylobacter, and Arcobacter, respectively. A link between Salmonella Kentucky [sequence type (ST) 198] and a ciprofloxacin minimum inhibitory concentration of 16 μg/mL was found. Salmonella Poona-ST308 revealed transferable qnrB2 fluoroquinolone resistance genes. Markedly high frequencies of resistant Salmonella, Campylobacter, and Arcobacter predominant in locally produced meat represent a probable transmission reservoir for human infections. These findings highlight the need for implementation of surveillance systems that focus on food hygiene, use of antibiotics in animal husbandry, and continuous monitoring of the quality of meat products from imports.Peer Reviewe
Smoking in Ghana : a study of the history of tobacco industry activity, current prevalence and risk factors for smoking, and implementation of tobacco control policy
Full text linkEThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo
Smoking in Ghana: a study of the history of tobacco industry activity, current prevalence and risk factors for smoking, and implementation of tobacco control policy
No full textBackground
There has been relatively little research on the prevalence and use of tobacco products in developing countries, where the majority of morbidity and mortality from tobacco use in this century is expected to occur. This is particularly true of countries in Africa. I conducted this study in the Ashanti region of Ghana, primarily to measure prevalence and risk factors for smoking, and secondarily to develop a template for national surveys in similar settings in developing countries. I also investigated the history of tobacco use in Ghana and looked into current implementation of tobacco control policy, in particular the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). The FCTC Is the World Health Organization's first public health treaty, established to counter the tobacco pandemic internationally
Methods
First, using electronic literature searches of the tobacco document archives and local library, I searched for all documents with information on the tobacco industry in Ghana and all studies of the prevalence of smoking in Ghana. Secondly, using a two-stage cluster randomized sampling design, I collected data from adults aged 14 and over in a representative household sample of approximately 720 households in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Finally, I conducted interviews with 20 key policy makers involved with Ghana's implementation of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and other tobacco control policies to assess Ghana's progress of implementation.
Results
Searches of the literature and tobacco document archives established that British American Tobacco (BAT), and latterly the International Tobacco Company Ghana (ITG) and its successor, the Meridian Tobacco Company (MTC), have been manufacturing cigarettes In Ghana since 1954. After an initial sales booming the two decades after independence in 1957, further increases in consumption typical of the tobacco epidemic in most countries did not occur. Possible key reasons include the taking of tobacco companies into state ownership, and a lack of foreign exchange to fund tobacco leaf importation in the 1970s, both of which may have inhibited growth at a key stage of development; and the introduction of an advertising ban in 1982. BAT ceased manufacturing cigarettes in Ghana in 2006.
My survey involved 7096 eligible individuals resident in the sampled households, of whom 6258 (88%; median age 31 (range 14-105) years; 64% female) participated. The prevalence of self-reported current smoking (weighted for gender differences in response) was 3.8% (males 8.9%, females 0.3%), and of ever smoking 9.7% (males 22.0%, females 1.2%). Smoking prevalence was strongly related to increasing age, being highest in the 60-69 age-group (Odds Ratio relative to 14-19 year olds 6.36 (95% Confidence Interval 3.26 to 12.38, Ptrend<0.001), and varied significantly in relation to religion (overall p<0.001), being particularly high in those of Traditionalist belief relative to the Christian majority (adjusted OR 7.50, 95% CI 4.43-12.69);in relation to education level (overall p=0.03, adjusted OR for those with no or only primary education compared with those of tertiary education OR 1.49, 95% CI 0.81-2.73); and in relation to occupation (overall p=0.003, adjusted OR for skilled workers relative to the unemployed 0.66, 95% CI 0.41-1.06). Smokers were more likely to drink alcohol (adjusted OR 7.70, 95% CI 4.63-12.93, p<0.001) and to have friends who smoke (adjusted OR 4.24, 95% CI 3.52-5.11 p<0.001), and significantly less likely to take exercise (adjusted OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.72-0.93, p<0.05). Among smokers, over three quarters (76%) had attempted to quit in the last six months, with the main sources of advice being friends and spouses. Use of smoking cessation medications, such as nicotine replacement therapy, was very rare. About 10% of cigarettes smoked were smuggled brands. About a third (38%) of smokers were highly or very highly dependent. Overall the proportion of ever-smokers who had quit smoking was high (61%) in all age groups. The median number and Interquartile range of cigarettes smoked per day by male and female current smokers on weekdays were respectively 6(1- 40) and 5 (4-10), and at weekends 19 (2-70) and 11 (8-20) respectively. The commonest brands smoked were London Brown (42%) and King Size (22%), both manufactured by BAT. Smokeless tobacco had been used ever by 3.2% of men and had been used more by older than younger people (adjusted OR for over 50's relative to 14-19 year olds 2.09 (95% 1.38-3.18, p<0.05, Ptrend =0.006).
Knowledge of the health risks of smoking, including passive smoking and its impact on children and non-smokers, was high; radio (74%) and television (28%) were the main sources of such information and advice. Levels of health awareness were typically but not invariably higher in older people, in men, among the more highly educated and in those living in rural areas. There were few restrictions on smoking in public, and most people (38%) therefore worked and/or spent time in places where smoking was permitted. There was very strong support (97%) for comprehensive smoke-free legislation, mainly among Christians and Muslims. Despite the advertising ban, around a third of respondents (35%), particularly in urban areas, had noticed advertising of tobacco or tobacco products. Again radio was the main source of exposure (72%) but some had also noticed advertising on television (28%).
The interviews with policy makers showed that they had good knowledge of the content of the FCTC, and reported that although Ghana had no explicit written policy strategy on tobacco control, the Ministry of Health had issued several tobacco control directives both before and after ratification of the FCTC. A national tobacco control bill had been drafted but had not yet been implemented, something which the policy makers needed to happen urgently. Challenges identified included the absence of a legal framework for implementing the FCTC, and a lack of adequate resources and prioritization of tobacco control efforts.
Conclusions
Despite rapid economic growth and a sustained tobacco industry presence, smoking prevalence In Ghana was low, particularly among younger people. This suggests that In contrast to many other developing countries, progression of an epidemic increase in smoking has been avoided. Awareness of health risks and support for smoke-free policies were high in Ghana. Exposure to tobacco advertising or promotion was limited, and most smokers reported having tried to quit. Whether these findings are cause or effect of the current low smoking prevalence is uncertain. The likely reasons that I have identified for the low smoking prevalence include an early advertising ban, substantial state intervention in the tobacco industry at a crucial point of growth, socio-cultural factors (particularly religion), the harsh economic environment at a time when the industry was experiencing growth and other public health interventions such as health education by stakeholders involved in tobacco control. Although policy makers were aware of the FCTC, implementation of the World Health Organization (WHO) treaty has been slow, requiring an urgent need for the passage of the national tobacco control bill into law to enable the country to sustain its tobacco control efforts
Prehypertension in the Ashanti region of Ghana, West Africa: an opportunity for early prevention of clinical hypertension
No full textOBJECTIVE: To assess prehypertension among Ghanaian adults in the Ashanti region of Ghana, West Africa. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: There were 1431 participants aged 18 years or more. Prehypertension was defined as blood pressure of 120-139/80-89 mmHg. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prehypertension. RESULTS: Overall, 31% of the study population were normotensive, 40% were prehypertensive and 29% were hypertensive. Prehypertension was more common in non-hypertensive males than non-hypertensive females (66% vs 49%, P <0.001). Prehypertension was also more common in those aged 35 years compared with those aged <35 years (P <0.001), and in overweight and obese people compared with people of normal weight (P=0.03). In a multivariate logistic regression model, male sex [odds ratio (OR) 2.36; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.77-3.15; P <0.001], age 35-49 years (OR 1.56; 95% CI 1.12-2.18; P <0.01) and 50 years (OR 2.13; 95% CI 1.33-3.42; P=0.002)], overweight (OR 1.61; 95% CI 1.09-2.36; P=0.02) and obesity (OR 2.71; 95% CI 1.40-5.24; P=0.003) were independently associated with higher odds of prehypertension, whilst current smoking (OR 0.36; 95% CI 0.16-0.81; P=0.01) was associated with lower odds of prehypertension. CONCLUSION: Prehypertension is very common among non-hypertensive subjects in the Ashanti region of Ghana. As a large proportion of people with prehypertension will progress to clinical hypertension, targeting these people early with lifestyle modifications such as weight reduction may provide important long-term benefit
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Full text linkWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
Dispelling the Myths Behind First-author Citation Counts
Full text linkWe conducted a full-scale evaluative citation analysis study of scholars in the XML research field to explore just how different from each other author rankings resulting from different citation counting methods actually are, and to demonstrate the capability of emerging data and tools on the Web in supporting more realistic citation counting methods. Our results contest some common arguments for the continued
use of first-author citation counts in the evaluation of scholars, such as high correlations between author rankings by first-author citation counts and other citation
counting methods, and high costs of using more realistic citation counting methods that are not well-supported by the ISI databases. It is argued that increasingly available digital full text research papers make it possible for citation analysis studies to go beyond what the ISI databases have directly supported and to employ more
sophisticated methods
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