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Health literacy offers an opportunity to effectively direct health information and services to poor and marginalised groups. However, minimal attempts have been made to understand the state and determinants of health literacy, and its association with health-related behaviours among street-involved youth (SIY). This paper explores the status and sociodemographic correlates of functional health literacy (FHL) among SIY in Kumasi in Ghana. It also assesses the relationship between FHL, sociodemographic factors and two of the commonest health-related behaviours—alcohol use and smoking—among SIY. The study purposively sampled 337 SIY, aged 12 to 24 years, from five suburbs in the central business district of Kumasi Metropolitan Area in Ghana. The mean age of participants was 18 years (± 3.3). About 48%, 37% and 15% of them had inadequate, problematic and sufficient FHL respectively. Approximately 37% consumed alcohol and 14% smoked. Sex (female) and ethnicity (Ewe) were associated with inadequate FHL. Also, having some education and having been involved with the streets for three years or more were associated with inadequate FHL. Furthermore, being older, having some education, ethnicity, traditional religious affiliation, being male, having health insurance and inadequate FHL were associated with alcohol use. Smoking was associated with age (being older) and having been involved with the streets for three years or more. The paper argues that relevant health interventions must compensate for the heterogeneity of SIY as regards their FHL and sociodemographic characteristics to curb deleterious health behaviours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aimed at providing evidence on the variations in HIV prevalence in mining communities in Ghana. Purposive sampling was used for collection of data. Five years records (2011–2015) were reviewed and data on age, sex, date of HIV screening, results and location were extracted from hospital registers and entered electronically for analysis. Findings emerging from this study suggest high HIV prevalence in mining communities in Ghana. This study also identified a decline in routine HIV testing. The study suggests means to tailor public health efforts to improve HIV testing in mining communities. Transactional sexual activities among women and the younger generations may account for the high HIV prevalence according to findings from this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines Ghanaian young people's perceptions of the determinants of HIV- and AIDS-related stigma and discrimination, and how these perceptions may influence the de-stigmatisation process. Drawing on findings from an in-depth, multi-method qualitative study involving 104 school and street young people aged between 14 and 19 years, the paper presents young people's accounts of HIV and AIDS. The paper provokes discussion on how language and images associated with existing educational programmes on HIV and AIDS place young people in a dilemma. It also argues that fear and secrecy associated with the disease not only consolidate stigmatisation and discrimination, but also create the desire for retribution. It concludes by challenging health educators to pay particular attention to the language and images used in future educational programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the perception of health and environmental concerns of workers and residents living close to e-waste recycling sites in Ghana using both qualitative and quantitative research techniques. The social constructionist approach and a logit regression model were adopted to examine the rationale of their claims and concerns which have hitherto been unknown and unexplored. We find that workers’ environmental and health perceptions were seriously downplayed and do not match those of epidemiological studies, revealing a lack of convergence between lay and expert knowledge. This study further shows a respondent-specificity rationale; the perception of those directly involved in the processes was mainly influenced by economic considerations, while some at bestdisplayed “genuine” ignorance. We recommend that all policy interventions incorporate approaches that have a better chance of arriving at conclusions economically meaningful to participants and that facilitate greater understanding of health and environmental issues. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]