Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a major global public health, human rights, and social problem with adverse consequences on the health and well-being of children. This study examined the experiences of Ghanaian female survivors of CSA regarding the perpetrators of CSA, the reporting of CSA incidents, and their emotions/feelings after they were sexually abused. The study used secondary qualitative data from a larger study by the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection in 2018, which involved fifteen female survivors of CSA. The transcripts of the fifteen participants were analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings revealed that perpetrators of CSA were persons closer to survivors, such as boyfriends, neighbors, siblings’ friends, relatives, and class teachers. Additionally, while most participants reported their CSA incidents, others were unable to disclose those acts. Some survivors of CSA felt distressed when they saw perpetrators, while others felt anger, fear, and mistrust of men after their abuse. This study advocates for the development of programs that empower families to understand, prevent, and respond to cases of CSA. Also, there is a need to prioritize mental health support for CSA survivors.
Waste management and Climate Change have become concomitant challenges in many developing countries. This paper analysed the moderating role of public education on the relationship between household waste management practices and climate change severity in the Kumasi Metropolis. Based on a cross-sectional research study, multiple sampling techniques were used on 1989 households. The descriptive statistics, correlation, and structural equation modelling (SEM) were used to analyse the data. The findings indicated that separation of waste had a significant impact on climate change severity (separation of waste, 0.321, p < 0.001) and waste reduction (reduction of waste, 0.284, p < 0.01) as well. Storage, disposal, and reuse had a minor direct effect. Separation (β = − 0.214, p < 0.05), storage (β = − 0.198, p < 0.05), and reduction (β = − 0.201, p < 0.05) were significantly negated by public education, thereby enhancing their potential to prevent climate change severity. The study proposes prioritising reduction and separation of solid waste, along with continuous public education to ensure reduction of greenhouse gases in urban areas. There is a further need to incorporate waste management practices in the Metropolitan climate action plans.
The prevalence of type 2 diabetes is rising rapidly across sub-Saharan Africa; however, its epidemiology, clinical phenotypes, and underlying mechanisms remain insufficiently characterised. This first paper in a Series on diabetes in sub-Saharan Africa synthesises current evidence on the burden, distribution, and determinants of diabetes, including emerging phenotypes and the roles of early life adversity, psychosocial stress, and interactions with infectious disease. We also identify major gaps in surveillance systems, research capacity, prevention, and clinical management across the region. Sub-Saharan Africa is experiencing one of the fastest global increases in diabetes, with the highest proportion of undiagnosed cases and a projected steep rise in intermediate hyperglycaemia and diabetes by 2050. Urbanisation, ageing, obesity, and lifestyle transitions are major contributors; however, a substantial proportion of type 2 diabetes occurs in lean individuals (BMI <25 kg/m2), particularly in rural settings, suggesting distinct metabolic and developmental pathways not captured by models derived from high-income countries. Bidirectional interactions between diabetes and malaria, tuberculosis, HIV, or COVID-19 make disease trajectories complex. Persistent gaps in surveillance, a reliance on modelled estimates, low genomic representation, and constrained access to modern diabetes medications hinder progress. Strengthening health system capacity, improving data infrastructure, and investing in regionally driven research are essential to develop effective, context-specific interventions and advance precision medicine tailored to sub-Saharan African populations.
BACKGROUND:While citation counts are critical metrics for scholarly impact of research articles, they cannot objectively measure other impacts of research to society. Research articles have broader impact beyond academic, including informing health policy-making, planning and practice, but this utility has not been systematically examined for the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS)-based publications. This paper examines both the academic and policy-related impacts of DHS-based articles. METHODS:A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Wiley Online Library and Dimensions and grey literature (theses and dissertations) to identify DHS-based publications since 1984. Academic impact was assessed through journal destinations, scope, accessibility and citation counts. To assess policy impact, this study utilizes the Overton database to identify citations of scientific research in policy documents. RESULTS:Citation to DHS-based publications have increased over the last four decades, contributing significantly to the public health evidence that has been utilized for academic and policy in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Multidisciplinary and open-access journals such as PLOS One have predominantly published DHS-citation related research, often led by researchers from high-income countries (HICs). While open-access has improved accessibility for LMIC-led research, citation impact is skewed towards HIC-led studies, suggesting inequities in the citation impact landscape. The steady increase in both scholarly and policy citations indicates that DHS-based research is an important resource for academic and global health policy-making. CONCLUSIONS:DHS-based evidence plays a critical role in both academic and policy spheres. Its consistent citation growth demonstrates the scientific value of open, standardized, nationally representative data and its citation growth in policy documents underscores the need for continued investment in the programme to support evidence-based decision-making in LMICs.
Diarrhea is the third leading cause of malnutrition and mortality among children under five globally. Environmental and socioeconomic conditions in the drylands of sub-Saharan Africa may increase the risk of diarrhea, yet few studies have examined the factors in these settings. We therefore aimed to estimate the prevalence of diarrhea and identify potential risk factors among young children in Kenya drylands. Data are from a longitudinal population-based study conducted in Turkana County, Kenya. Surveys were implemented across six waves (May 2021 to September 2023) among 1211 households with children under 36 months at baseline. Caregivers reported on household conditions and episodes of diarrhea in the prior two weeks. Prevalence trends were examined by survey zone, livelihood zone, and child age and sex. Multivariable logistic regressions with generalized estimating equations were used to access distal, intermediate, proximal, and immediate risk factors and reported adjusted odds ratio (AOR) together with the associated 95% confidence interval (CI). Diarrhea prevalence declined significantly over time, from 32.1% at baseline to 8.7% at end of the study. Factors associated with higher odds of diarrhea included caregiver alcohol consumption [AOR = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.02-1.60], child malnutrition (wasting: AOR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.04-1.39; stunting: AOR = 1.40 95% CI: 1.19-1.65; underweight: AOR = 1.29, 95% CI: 1.11-1.49), household shocks (biological: AOR = 1.37, 95% CI: 1.20-1.57; climatic: AOR = 1.18, 95% CI: 0.93-1.50; conflict: AOR = 1.60, 95% CI: 1.40-1.83), and moderate (AOR = 1.25, 95% CI: 1.04-1.50) or high-water insecurity (AOR = 1.46, 95% CI: 1.19-1.81) relative to no-to-marginal household water insecurity. Protective factors included greater child age (AOR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.96-0.98), receipt of vitamin A supplementation (AOR = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.66-0.89), deworming (AOR = 0.88, 95% CI: 0.75-1.02), and caregiver handwashing after toilet use (AOR = 0.83, 95% CI: 0.70-0.98). These findings highlight the multifactorial drivers of childhood diarrhea in drylands and underscore the need for integrated interventions that improve water security, strengthen nutrition, support hygiene practices, and enhance resilience to household shocks.
