Estimating resource needs for HIV/AIDS health care services in low-income and middle-income countries.

As funding mechanisms like the Global Fund for HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria increasingly make funding decisions on the basis of burden of disease estimates and financial need calculations, the importance of reliable and comparable estimating methods is growing. This paper presents a model for estimating HIV/AIDS health care resource needs in low- and middle-income countries. The model presented was the basis for the United Nations' call for US dollars 9.2 billion to address HIV/AIDS in developing countries by 2005 with US dollars 4.4 billion to address HIV/AIDS health care and the rest to deal with HIV/AIDS prevention. The model has since been updated and extended to produce estimates for 2007. This paper details the methods and assumptions used to estimate HIV/AIDS health care financial needs and it discusses the limitations and data needs for this model

Resource requirements to fight HIV/AIDS in Latin America and the Caribbean.

OBJECTIVES: Economists and epidemiologists from 10 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) reviewed the methods used to develop estimates for resource requirements to address HIV/AIDS prevention and care in low- and middle-income countries. METHODS: They applied their country-specific knowledge to re-estimate the costs, coverage, and capacity of their health and education systems to expand HIV/AIDS interventions by 2005. A discrepancy of 173 million US dollars exists between the model estimates and those of country specialists. RESULTS: The most important difference between the model estimates and those of country specialists was in the estimated future price of highly active antiretroviral therapy. To a large extent, the estimates of the model reflect the efficiency gains that could result from purchasing arrangements that lead LAC countries to lower prices for antiretroviral drugs. CONCLUSION: This preliminary exercise with 10 LAC countries confirmed the validity of the use of these estimates as tools at the international level, given current data limitations, both to guide the allocation of resources across diseases and countries, and for advocacy and resource mobilization. In addition, with the country revisions, these estimates have also been shown to be key tools for country-level strategic planning

Examining the Synergy Between the Marketplace and the Church in Ghana: Strategies for Enhancing Socio-Economic Development

This dissertation explores the complex relationship between the marketplace and Church in Ghana, seeking to identify collaborative strategies that lead to sustainable socio-economic development. The study aims to unravel the complexities of this relationship and identify effective strategies that can foster sustainable growth and development within the Ghanaian context. At the core of this research is an in-depth historical analysis, tracing the evolution of the Churches\u27 role in the Ghanaian economy from colonial times to the present day. This historical perspective provides a critical backdrop for understanding current dynamics and trends. The study employs a multifaceted approach, incorporating both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, to examine the direct and indirect economic activities initiated or influenced by religious institutions. These activities range from microfinance and vocational training initiatives to entrepreneurial ventures, highlighting the church\u27s substantial impact on various economic sectors. Furthermore, this dissertation explores the cultural and social influences exerted by the church on economic behaviors and attitudes, assessing how religious teachings and values shape business ethics, work ethics, and community involvement in the marketplace. This exploration includes a critical analysis of public-private partnerships involving churches, the government, and the private sector, underscoring the potential challenges of such collaborations in promoting holistic development. According to my research, the church has the power to affect our economy by leading its congregation to the marketplace to make a tremendous difference in business decision-making, wealth-building, and discipleship. The complex relationship between these two spheres has sparked academic interest and necessitates a comprehensive examination to uncover collaborative strategies for socio-economic development. This dissertation seeks to explore this nexus, aiming to elucidate the synergy between the marketplace and the church in Ghana and propose strategic interventions to enhance socio-economic development

The least preferred coworker (LPC) concept ...

In reference to Fiedler's presumption the following questions formed the crux of this study: (1) Is the implicit assumption of no significant differences in LPC Difficulty among different LPC's valid? (2) If respondents select LPC's with different LPC Difficulty values, would such values have any significant effects on their LPC scores? (3) If the LPC Difficulty values have significant effects on the LPC scores, could the effects be of such magnitude that respondents' leadership styles could be misclassified?With the discovery of such a rival hypothesis pivoting on the LPC Difficulty variable, which could reverse the predicted correlational directions prescribed by the Model, the following recommendations were made: (1) A standard LPC should be provided through a short narrative, or better through a video tape. Upon the LPC Difficulty value of the standard LPC, a nomological network should be used to identify the cutting scores for high and low LPC's; (2) Other leadership style measures should be used until an objective LPC Scale, which satisfies interpersonal validity requirements, is developed; and (3) Most of the unsupportable Contingency Model studies should be replicated with either an objective LPC Scale or other leadership style measures.Seven hypotheses were tested with 53 ROTC non-stereotypes who evaluated two standard LPC's and one subject-selected LPC by using Fiedler's current 18-item LPC Scale and an LPC Difficulty Scale developed by the researcher.Results of the hypotheses tested showed that LPC's have significant LPC Difficulty differences, which significantly affect the scores of respondents. Furthermore, the leadership styles of respondents were discovered to be susceptible to significant misclassification since the cutting scores do not take into consideration the LPC Difficulty differences among LPC's.Of central importance in Fiedler's Leadership Contingency Model is the LPC Scale, with which LPC scores are obtained for classifying the leadership orientations of respondents into either a low LPC (i.e., Task-motivated) leadership style or a high LPC (i.e., Relations-motivated) leadership style. The use of the LPC Scale for evaluating the respective respondent-selected LPC's, coupled with the interpretation of the LPC scores by Fiedler implicity presupposes that the degree to which the LPC's are actually difficult to work with (i.e., LPC Difficulty) is the same for all LPC's

Exploring Ketamine's Repurposing for Treating Cocaine Use Disorder: A Ghanaian Perspective on Ethical and Legal Constraints

Ketamine, a dissociative anesthetic commonly used in medical settings, has shown promising results in treating various mental health disorders. Recent studies have suggested its potential repurposing for treating cocaine use disorder (CUD). However, before implementing such a treatment approach, it is crucial to consider the ethical and legal constraints associated with it from a Ghanaian perspective. Firstly, the ethical concerns surrounding ketamine's repurposing for CUD treatment must be addressed. Critics argue that using ketamine may lead to addiction transfer or substitution, where individuals replace one substance use disorder with another. This raises questions about whether we are truly helping patients or merely shifting their addiction from one drug to another. Additionally, the long-term effects of ketamine use remain largely unknown, further complicating the ethical considerations. From a legal standpoint, Ghanaian regulations regarding ketamine use need careful examination. The country's laws may not currently permit the off-label use of ketamine for CUD treatment. Therefore, exploring this repurposing would require legal amendments or exemptions to ensure compliance with existing regulations. However, proponents argue that the potential benefits of using ketamine for CUD treatment outweigh these concerns. They highlight its rapid-acting properties and ability to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms effectively. Moreover, as traditional treatments often yield limited success rates in addressing CUD in Ghanaian society specifically, exploring alternative approaches becomes imperative. To move forward ethically and legally with ketamine's repurposing for CUD treatment in Ghana requires comprehensive research and collaboration between healthcare professionals and policymakers. It is vital to conduct rigorous clinical trials that assess both short-term efficacy and long-term safety profiles of ketamine usage specifically within the Ghanaian population. In conclusion, while there are ethical and legal constraints surrounding the repurposing of ketamine for treating CUD in Ghana, it is crucial to explore alternative treatment options. By addressing these concerns through comprehensive research and collaboration, we can potentially provide a new avenue of hope for individuals struggling with CUD in Ghana. Keywords: Ketamine, repurposing, treating, cocaine use disorder, Ghanaian perspective, ethical constraints, legal constraints. DOI: 10.7176/JHMN/111-04 Publication date: November 30th 202

Are infant mortality rate declines exponential? The general pattern of 20th century infant mortality rate decline

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Time trends in infant mortality for the 20^thcentury show a curvilinear pattern that most demographers have assumed to be approximately exponential. Virtually all cross-country comparisons and time series analyses of infant mortality have studied the logarithm of infant mortality to account for the curvilinear time trend. However, there is no evidence that the log transform is the best fit for infant mortality time trends.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We use maximum likelihood methods to determine the best transformation to fit time trends in infant mortality reduction in the 20^thcentury and to assess the importance of the proper transformation in identifying the relationship between infant mortality and gross domestic product (GDP) per capita. We apply the Box Cox transform to infant mortality rate (IMR) time series from 18 countries to identify the best fitting value of lambda for each country and for the pooled sample. For each country, we test the value of <it>λ </it>against the null that <it>λ </it>= 0 (logarithmic model) and against the null that <it>λ </it>= 1 (linear model). We then demonstrate the importance of selecting the proper transformation by comparing regressions of ln(IMR) on same year GDP per capita against Box Cox transformed models.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Based on chi-squared test statistics, infant mortality decline is best described as an exponential decline only for the United States. For the remaining 17 countries we study, IMR decline is neither best modelled as logarithmic nor as a linear process. Imposing a logarithmic transform on IMR can lead to bias in fitting the relationship between IMR and GDP per capita.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The assumption that IMR declines are exponential is enshrined in the Preston curve and in nearly all cross-country as well as time series analyses of IMR data since Preston's 1975 paper, but this assumption is seldom correct. Statistical analyses of IMR trends should assess the robustness of findings to transformations other than the log transform.</p

Across Traditions and Modernity:The Ashanti Woman’s Access to Land

Like many countries in the developing world, Ghana continues to experience a high rate of urbanization. For the urban woman the effects have a wider significance. The role of the modern woman has for a long time been taken for granted, with the belief that aiding men in the land market, will have a trickledown effect on women. This seems to stem from our housing, land and related policies being developed based on the nuclear family (as defined in the European culture). Thus in urban Ghana, women seem to have been marginalized in housing provision – not because they are overtly excluded from the market, but because the modern social structure cunningly cloud their abilities. This paper examines these issues in relation to the Asante tribe in Ghana. This paper examines the status of women in Asante with particular reference to the political system, inheritance, marriage, professional life, land tenure system, and the society in general. The paper found that the Asante woman is not fettered by any institutional structures in her upward mobility. In fact, the traditional regime, she was at a complete advantage as the entire socio-cultural and political arrangements inured to her benefit. In the modern system she is free to participate in the urban land market; her inability to participate fully is not due to any institutional constraints but rather to her maladjustment in the new economic order prescribed by urbanisation and its concomitants. She can enter a business and own property without reference to her husband or any male relatives. Whatever programmes which would be developed to aid her should enable her to do things for herself within her perception of her socio-political circumstances. External prescriptions stand a chance of damaging marital relations and the family structure, the fundamental requirements for a stable society for children

Public health concerns surrounding the cVDPV2 outbreak in Africa: Strategies for prevention and control with a special focus on Nigeria

Background and Aim: Poliovirus is a global health issue that affects children in different parts of the world. Despite the efforts of national, international, and nongovernmental organizations to eradicate the disease, it is re-emerging in Africa due to poor sanitation, vaccine hesitancy, new ways of transmission, and poor surveillance among others. Circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) is a major step in eradicating poliovirus and preventing outbreaks in developing countries. Strengthening African healthcare systems, increasing surveillance, hygiene and sanitation, and proper mass vaccination to achieve herd immunity are required in the fight against polio disease. This paper discusses the outbreak of cVDPV2, public health challenges, and recommendations in Africa with a special emphasis on Nigeria. Methods: We searched for articles documenting the incidence of cVDPV2 in Nigeria and other African countries on Pubmed, Google Scholar, and Scopus. Results: A total of 68 distinct cVDPV2 genetic emergences were found across 34 nations between April 2016 to December 2020, and in Nigeria, three cVDPV2 emergences were found. Also, 1596 instances of acute flaccid paralysis linked to cVDPV2 outbreaks were reported in four areas of the World Health Organization where Africa contributed 962 cases out of 1596 cases. Available data indicate that Africa has the most cVDPV2 cases and is associated with various challenges like the unidentified virus source, poor sanitation system, and inability to achieve herd immunity of the cVDPV2 vaccine. Conclusion: Collaborative efforts of stakeholders are crucial in combating infectious diseases, especially those transmitted via environments such as water and air, like poliovirus. Therefore, a collaboration between environmental health workers, veterinarians, community health workers, laboratory scientists, policymakers, and other professionals is required

Comparative Legal Analysis of the Medical Negligence Landscape: The Ghanaian and Commonwealth Criminal Jurisprudence

This paper on comparative legal analysis of the medical negligence landscape: the Ghanaian and commonwealth criminal jurisprudence provides a comprehensive analysis of medical negligence and assault in various countries. The case of gross medical negligence is a serious issue that requires immediate attention. Through the analysis of various authorities it becomes evident that there are three main areas contributing to this problem: inaccurate diagnosis and delayed treatment, failure to communicate effectively with patients, and lack of proper supervision and training. The impact of gross medical negligence on patients is profound and far-reaching. It not only causes physical harm but also inflicts emotional and psychological trauma on those affected. In Ghanaian criminal jurisprudence, it is crucial to address this issue to restore public trust in the healthcare system and ensure justice for victims. By implementing stringent legal measures, including vicarious liability, we can uphold professional standards, deter future negligence, and provide recourse for those who have suffered as a result of gross medical negligence. One strength of this article is its extensive coverage of different jurisdictions. By comparing Ghana, the US, UK, Canada, and Australia, the authors provide a global perspective on the issue. This allows readers to understand how different legal systems handle cases of medical negligence and assault. Additionally, the inclusion of multiple studies conducted by different researchers adds credibility to the findings. The authors have effectively synthesized these studies to present a cohesive analysis. Overall, this article serves as a valuable resource for anyone interested in understanding how different countries approach cases of gross medical negligence and assault. Keywords:Gross Medical Negligence, General, Medical Negligence, Double Jeopardy, Ghanaian Criminal Jurisprudence, Medical Assault, Vicarious Liability, Criminal Law, Tort, US Jurisprudence, UK Jurisprudence, Canadian Jurisprudence DOI:10.7176/JLPG/136-03 Publication date:September 30th 202