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Decision-making regarding the outcome of a pregnancy may include participation of the woman herself, her sexual partner, parents, family, and/or community. This paper examines who had the most say in the outcome of young Ghanaian women's last pregnancy and whether this correlated with her level of reproductive autonomy (RA). We analysed cross-sectional data from 380 previously pregnant young women in urban Ghana. We measured communication and decision-making RA using modified scales ranging from 3 (low RA) to 12 (high RA). We tested unadjusted associations between the RA sub-scales and who made the pregnancy decision (self, partner, both together, or someone else) and used multinomial regression models to understand these associations when controlling for sociodemographic, reproductive history, and social context variables. In final models, a one-point increase in decision-making RA was associated with an adjusted relative risk ratio of 0.79 (95% CI: 0.66–0.93; p = 0.006) of partner having the most say as compared to the woman having the most say. The communication RA scale was not associated. Programmes that increase RA may be effective in increasing women's rights to execute decisions about reproductive health and outcomes. Future research should explore this notion and the role of pregnancy disclosure in this relationship. [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]

The trafficking of cocaine has become a global challenge now and Ghana is no exception. Cocaine is a whitish powder, which is, produced both from natural and synthetic means. This paper studied the metal content of seized cocaine in Ghana and the data used for batch identification. Ten metals, namely, Pb, Cu, Mg, Mn, Cr, As, Ni, Fe, Co and Ca were analyzed in 37 samples which were sampled from 2010 to 2014. Analyses of the metals were done using ICP-MS and data was analyzed using statistical tools. The results showed that, calcium recorded the highest amount in all the samples with a mean of 64.94mg/kg followed by Magnesium, Zinc and Iron with mean values of 24.35mg/kg, 6.25mg/kg and 2.65mg/kg, respectively. All the samples, within-seizure classification under class A showed to significant differences between each pair at a confidence level of 95%. With three sample pairs under class B in the within-seizure classification, one of the pairs; 103A and 105B showed no significant differences between them even though they were sampled from two different packages from the same seizure. Five samples from five different seizures also showed a significant difference among them showing that they came from different batches or origin. It is confirmed that seized cocaine contained poisonous heavy metals like Lead, Arsenic and Chromium, which have the amount that could affect the user-provide figures. Based on the data gathered from the within-seizure class A group, it could be proposed that a missing cocaine could be identified by its metal content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There have been few assessments of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) education programmes in sub-Saharan Africa from the students' and educators' perspective. This study examined students' opinions on an SRH programme in northern Ghana and explored the facilitators and barriers for educators regarding the implementation of the programme. The sample comprised 147 students and 3 educators. Questionnaires were used to collect data from students, and semi-structured interviews were conducted with educators. According to the students, the SRH programme was both important and interesting. Their expectations were moderately well met. They agreed that the main objectives of the programme and most of the objectives regarding the ‘family planning’ sessions had been achieved. Significant differences were found for school type, age and religion, but not for gender. For the educators, important facilitators were a clear manual, the presence of foreign volunteers working as educators, the increased influence of new media, students' eagerness to learn, and the feeling that the SRH programme really benefited students' lives. Important barriers were traditional and cultural influences, lack of funding and poor scheduling of the programme within the schools. The paper concludes by offering recommendations regarding the implementation of future SRH programmes in Ghana. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]