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Background and Aims: The environment within prisons, such as overcrowding, lack of access to portable water, poor sanitation, and hygiene predisposes inmates to infections, including intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs). This study therefore determined the prevalence and associated factors of IPIs among prison inmates in Southern Ghana. Methods: A cross‐sectional study using the stratified sampling technique was employed. The study recruited 461 prison inmates across three notable prisons, with 50 inmates from Ho Central, 357 inmates from Nsawam Medium Security, and 54 inmates from Sekondi Central Prisons all in Southern Ghana. A structured closed‐ended questionnaire was administered to collect data on sociodemographics, lifestyle/behavioral characteristics, and signs and symptoms of IPIs. In addition, stool samples were collected and analyzed for the presence of various stages of intestinal parasites (trophozoites, cysts, ova, and larva) using formol‐ether concentration, and the modified Ziehl–Neelsen techniques. Results: The prevalence of IPIs among inmates of the three selected prisons was 38.2% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 33.72%–42.79%). The prevalence of IPIs among inmates of the three prisons, the Ho Central, Nsawam Medium Security, and Sekondi Central were 46% (95% CI: 31.82%–60.68%), 37.5% (95% CI: 32.49%–42.79%), and 35.2% (95% CI: 22.68%–49.38%), respectively. After adjusting for confounders, the following factors; handwashing after defecation (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 0.05 [0.00–0.67]; p = 0.024), trimmed fingernails (AOR: 0.32 [0.13–0.76]; p = 0.011), itchy skin (AOR [95% CI]: 5.99 [3.43–10.43]; p < 0.001), anal itching (AOR [95% CI]: 0.35 [0.19–0.62]; p < 0.001), nausea (AOR [95% CI]: 5.57 [3.22–9.65]; p < 0.001), and worm expulsion (AOR [95% CI]: 3.80 [1.42–10.18]; p = 0.008) were found to be associated with intestinal parasitic infections. Conclusion: The study revealed that the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among prisons in Southern Ghana is high and is therefore an important public health concern. The Public Health Department of Ghana Health Service should therefore embark on health promotion and deworming exercise in all prisons in Ghana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study investigated the effects of temperature on the development of the immature stages of Anopheles gambiae (s.l.) mosquitoes. Methods: Mosquito eggs were obtained from laboratory established colonies and reared under eight temperature regimes (25, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38 and 40°C), and 80 ± 10% relative humidity. Larvae were checked daily for development to the next stage and for mortality. Pupation success, number of adults produced and sex ratio of the newly emerged adults were recorded. Larval survival was monitored every 24 h, and data were analysed using Kaplan–Meier survival analysis. Analysis of variance was used where data followed normal distribution, and a Kruskal–Wallis test where data were not normally distributed. Larval and pupal measurements were log‐transformed and analysed using ordinary least square regression with robust standard errors. Results: Increasing the temperature from 25 to 36°C decreased the development time by 10.57 days. Larval survival (X2(6) = 5353.12, p < 0.001) and the number of adults produced (X2(5) = 28.16, p < 0.001) decreased with increasing temperature. Increasing temperatures also resulted in significantly smaller larvae and pupae (p < 0.001). At higher temperatures, disproportionately more male than female mosquitoes were produced. Conclusions: Increased temperature affected different developmental stages in the life cycle of An. gambiae (s.l.) mosquitoes, from larval to adult emergence. This study contributes to the knowledge on the relationship between temperature and Anopheles mosquitoes and provides useful information for modelling vector population dynamics in the light of climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Informal sector electronic waste (e‐waste) recovery produces toxic emissions resulting from burning e‐waste to recover valuable metals. Objectives: To identify high‐risk worker groups by measuring relative levels of personal inhalation exposure to particulate matter (PM) of fine (≤2.5 µm) and coarse (2.5–10 µm) fractions (PM2.5 and PM2.5–10, respectively) across work activities among e‐waste workers, and to assess how wind conditions modify levels of PM by activity and site location. Methods: At the Agbogbloshie e‐waste site, 170 partial‐shift PM samples and time‐activity data were collected from participants (N = 105) enrolled in the GeoHealth cohort study. Personal sampling included continuous measures of size‐specific PM from the worker's breathing zone and time–activity derived from wearable cameras. Linear mixed models were used to estimate changes in personal PM2.5 and PM2.5–10 associated with activities and evaluate effect modification by wind conditions. Results: Mean (±standard deviation) personal PM2.5 and PM2.5–10 concentrations were 80 (± 81) and 123 (± 139) µg m−3, respectively. The adjusted mean PM2.5 concentration for burning e‐waste was 88 µg m−3, a 28% increase above concentrations during non‐recovery activities (such as eating). Transportation‐related and burning activities were associated with the highest PM2.5–10 concentrations. Frequent changes in wind direction were associated with higher PM2.5 concentrations when burning, and high wind speeds with higher PM2.5–10 concentrations when dismantling e‐waste downwind of the burning zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In Ghana, diagnostic laboratories rely on reference intervals (RIs) provided by manufacturers of laboratory analyzers which may not be appropriate. This study aimed to establish RIs for hematological parameters in adult Ghanaian population. Methods: This cross‐sectional study recruited 501 apparently healthy adults from two major urban areas in Ghana based on the protocol by IFCC Committee for Reference Intervals and Decision Limits. Whole blood was tested for complete blood count (CBC) by Sysmex XN‐1000 analyzer, sera were tested for iron and ferritin by Beckman‐Coulter/AU480, for transferrin, vitamin‐B12, and folate was measured by Centaur‐XP/Siemen. Partitioning of reference values by sex and age was guided by "effect size" of between‐subgroup differences defined as standard deviation ratio (SDR) based on ANOVA. RIs were derived using parametric method with application of latent abnormal values exclusion method (LAVE), a multifaceted method of detecting subjects with abnormal results in related parameters. Results: Using SDR ≥ 0.4 as a threshold, RIs were partitioned by sex for platelet, erythrocyte parameters except mean corpuscular constants, and iron markers. Application of LAVE had prominent effect on RIs for majority of erythrocyte and iron parameters. Global comparison of Ghanaian RIs revealed lower‐side shift of RIs for leukocyte and neutrophil counts, female hemoglobin and male platelet count, especially compared to non‐African countries. Conclusion: The LAVE effect on many hematological RIs indicates the need for deliberate secondary exclusion for proper derivation of RIs. Obvious differences in Ghanaian RIs compared to other countries underscore the importance of country‐specific RIs for improved clinical decision‐making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air quality information is scarce in low‐ and middle‐income countries. This study describes the application of moderate cost approaches that can provide spatial and temporal information on concentrations of particulate matter (PM) needed to assess community and occupational exposures. We evaluated PM levels at the Agbogbloshie e‐waste and scrap yard site in Accra, Ghana, and at upwind and downwind locations, obtaining both optical and gravimetric measurements, local meteorological data and satellite aerosol optical depth. Due to overload issues, the gravimetric 24‐hr samplers were modified for periodic sampling and some optical data were screened for quality assurance. Exceptionally high concentrations (e.g., 1‐hr average PM10 exceeding 2000 μg/m3) were sometimes encountered near combustion sources, including open fires at the e‐waste site and spoil piles. 24‐hr PM2.5 levels averaged 31, 88 and 57 μg/m3 at upwind, e‐waste and downwind sites, respectively, and PM10 averaged 145, 214 and 190 μg/m3, considerably exceeding air quality standards. Upwind levels likely reflected biomass burning that is prevalent in the surrounding informal settlements; levels at the e‐waste and downwind sites also reflected contributions from biomass combustion and traffic. The highest PM levels occurred in evenings, influenced by diurnal changes in emission rates, atmospheric dispersion and wind direction shifts. We demonstrate that moderate cost instrumentation, with some modifications, appropriate data cleaning protocols, and attention to understanding local sources and background levels, can be used to characterize spatial and temporal variation in PM levels in urban and industrial areas. Key Points: Ambient particulate matter was monitored onsite, upwind and downwind of an e‐waste site in Ghana using gravimetric and optical measurementsE‐waste site emissions increased 24‐hr PM2.5 levels by 57 μg/m3 over upwind levels of 31 μg/m3, and some exceptionally high levels were measuredModerate cost methods can measure air quality and source impacts given attention to study design, sampler performance and local influences [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]