Kintampo Health Research Centre

BackgroundIn 2019, the RTS,S/AS01E malaria vaccine (RTS,S) was introduced into Ghana’s routine health system as part of the Malaria Vaccine Implementation Programme (MVIP). Household surveys were conducted prior to vaccine introduction and approximately 18 and 30 months post-introduction. We present a description of the area in Ghana based on the baseline household survey including malaria prevalence, malnutrition, wealth, insecticide-treated net (ITN) coverage, other health interventions (deworming, Vitamin A supplementation (VAS)), coverage of Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) vaccines, and health-seeking behaviour for febrile children.MethodsThe baseline household survey was conducted between 25 February and 18 March 2019 in a representative sample of 6778 households across 66 districts (33 in each of the implementing and comparator areas) in Ghana. Caregivers of children aged 5–48 months were interviewed. For each child, vaccination details were transcribed from the maternal and child health record book, and we measured the mid-upper arm circumference and obtained a malaria Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT). Survey-weighted coverage estimates were obtained using standard survey methods. Survey Poisson regression was used to estimate prevalence ratios.ResultsOverall, 7768 children were included in the study, and 21% (95% CI 18–23) tested positive for malaria parasitemia by RDT. About 87%, 95%CI (85–89) of all households owned at least one ITN, and 62%, 95%CI (59–64) of children aged 5–48 months slept under an insecticide-treated net (ITN) the night before the survey. Additionally, 22%, 95%CI (21–24) of children reported having fever in the two weeks preceding the survey; among those with reported fever, 72%, 95%CI (69–74) sought advice or treatment, 40%, 95%CI (37–44) were tested for malaria, and 42%, 95%CI (39–46) of those with fever took an antimalarial drug. Additionally, 17%, 95%CI (16–19) had a mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) ≤ 13.5 cm, and 1%, 95%CI (0–1) had a (MUAC) ≤ 11.5 cm. The uptake of vitamin A VAS in the 6 months prior to the survey was 36%, based on routine delivery through EPI, and deworming coverage was 29%. Coverage of EPI vaccines was > 90%. Indicators in comparison and implementation areas were comparable.ConclusionsThe pilot implementation and evaluation of the RTS,S malaria vaccine in Ghana was conducted in an area with substantial malaria transmission and illness, modest health-seeking behaviour and ITN use, and good EPI vaccine coverage. This study has established the baseline comparability between implementation and comparator areas, which serves as the foundation for future feasibility assessments.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12936-025-05778-9.

The benefits of interprofessional education, including helping health professionals to develop good interpersonal relations with other professionals, improved acquisition and retention of competencies, improved patient care outcomes, cost-effective care, and improved healthcare professional job satisfaction, outweigh the inputs needed to develop and implement it. The processes for developing and implementing IPE program vary from institution to institution because of the strong influence of the context on IPE program. A context analysis is therefore paramount in developing IPE program. This study presents the findings of a context analysis of a university, using qualitative descriptive research methods supported by semi-structured interviews. A total of 25 participants participated in this study: ten (10) academics, two (2) support staff, and 13 students distributed across six programs were interviewed in this study. We found that facilitators such as an existing interdisciplinary module across all health professions, the interprofessional nature of the student population, existing collaborative practices, and the availability of resources for IPE give the university an advantage. Meanwhile, challenges such as insufficient personnel, limited resources, and a lack of an IPE policy or program impede the development and implementation of IPE at the university. Leveraging support from the Africa Interprofessional Education Network and other universities that have implemented the IPE program will be essential to developing and implementing the program. Finally, regulatory bodies should engage stakeholders in inserting IPE competencies as a requirement followed by accreditation after professional education programs in Ghana.

BackgroundTuberculosis (TB) control strategies in Ghana emphasize free diagnosis and treatment, often overlooking the economic burden borne by informal treatment supporters typically family members, friends or community members who provide day-to-day care remains largely invisible in health policy discourse. These supporters play a crucial, yet underrecognized role in TB management, especially in rural areas where health system limitations intensify reliance on unpaid informal treatment supporters.ObjectivesThis study explores the direct and indirect costs incurred by informal TB treatment supporters in rural Ghana, aiming to uncover the economic impact of caregiving in a context where TB care is officially free.MethodsA qualitative narrative inquiry design was employed involving 60 purposively selected treatment supporters across three districts in the Bono Region of Ghana. Participants were selected based on their support role to TB patients currently or recently on treatment. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, transcribed verbatim, and analysed thematically using NVivo 12 software. Five (5) major themes emerged from the analysis these includes; Direct costs of treatment support (these include out-of-pocket on transport to the health facility, food and communication not covered by the TB program), Income loss due to travel and waiting time at health facility, Income loss due to time away from work (absenteeism from farming, trading and other wage labour), Economic sacrifices and structural neglect of informal treatment supporters.ResultsAlthough TB treatment is officially free in Ghana, informal treatment supporters incur substantial hidden costs. These include direct out-of-pocket expenses for transport, food, and communication, and indirect costs such as lost income and disrupted livelihoods. Supporters adopt coping strategies like borrowing, asset sales, and meal reduction, deepening household vulnerability. Many experiences emotional distress, social stigma, and receive no institutional recognition or support, despite being central to patient adherence and care continuity.ConclusionDespite free TB care, informal supporters in rural Ghana face significant hidden economic and emotional burdens. These unrecognized costs strain households and threaten the sustainability of community-based care. Policy reforms should acknowledge their role and extend social protection to reduce their financial vulnerability.

ABSTRACT Digital financial services (DFS) have the potential to promote payments’ efficiency and boost financial inclusion even in remote areas with minimal traditional financial infrastructure such as bank branches. In Rwanda, the digitization of payments is a key policy strategy in a bid to transform the country toward a more cashless and knowledge-based economy. This article traces the development path of DFSs in Rwanda over the decade 2011 to 2021 using a mixed-methods approach, where the quantitative approach explores dynamics of key DFS indicators and the qualitative approach explores opportunities and challenges for further promoting DFS in the country. The findings indicate that between 2011 and 2021, the number of people using Internet and mobile banking increased quite substantially. The number of active mobile money subscribers increased from 1.6 million in 2012 to 5.1 million in 2021, while credit cards increased from 115,200 in 2011 to 686,309 in 2021. The transactional volume and value also increased remarkably, partly fueled by COVID-19 and innovative use of mobile money, including electronic tax payment. The article recommends improving Internet connectivity and quality, promoting digital literacy, improving interoperability, and enhancing cybersecurity to further boost DFS in Rwanda.

IntroductionAntenatal depression (AD), a maternal mental health condition, has been increasingly prevalent in recent years. It is often triggered by various stressors, including hormonal changes, relationship problems and economic challenges. In Ghana, there is currently no recent nationally representative prevalence data on AD, despite a number of studies conducted in various regions.Methods and analysisReview will include observational studies which employed standardised diagnostic criteria or validated screening tools. We will search the PubMed, SCOPUS, African Index Medicus (AIM), Science Direct, Web of Science (WoS) and Google Scholar databases. The African Journal Online (AJOL) will also be handsearched. Targeted grey literature search will include selected tertiary institutional repositories, Ghana Health Service, Ministry of Health and Mental Health Authority websites. Studies in English will be included with no limits to date. Data extraction will be performed by two independent reviewers using a structured table, with a third reviewer resolving any discrepancies. Quality assessment of included studies will be conducted using the adapted National Institiute of Health (NIH) Quality Assessment Tool for observational studies. Pooled prevalence estimates will be calculated using a random-effects meta-analysis if studies are sufficiently homogeneous and subgroup analysis.Ethics and disseminationGiven that this study involves no primary data collection, an ethical review is not necessary. The findings will be disseminated through publication in a peer-reviewed journal, presentations at academic conferences and key national stakeholder events.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42025644715.

Introduction: Clinical trials often overlook social dynamics that influence participant experiences and outcomes. Gender affects research participation, with men and women approaching clinical trials differently due to social, cultural, and personal factors. A recent Phase 1 study in Kintampo districts, Ghana highlighted this challenge, with only one woman among 18 participants consenting to join. Traditional text-based consent may present varying accessibility across participant groups, and alternative approaches like audio-visual methods could enhance understanding. The Lassa vaccine trial (ViTaL02), a Phase 1 study, will evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of ChAdOx1 LassaJ among healthy volunteers. This study provides an opportunity to examine gender dynamics, consent experiences, and community engagement to improve clinical trial implementation through a social science study running concurrently. Methods: This exploratory mixed-methods study examines gender dynamics, consent experiences, and stakeholder engagement within the ViTaL02 trial in the Kintampo districts of Ghana across three phases. Phase 1 assesses existing gender-related factors and evaluates three information delivery methods (textual, audio-visual, combined text-pictorial). Phase 2 explores participant lived experiences. Phase 3 will focus on post-trial analysis and policy implications. Data collection will aim to include 71 in-depth interviews, 6 focus group discussions, 120 information delivery surveys, and 30 participant observations using pragmatic and purposive sampling to ensure gender representation. Results: Submissions for scientific and ethics reviews are imminent in Kintampo Health Research Centre, Ghana and Oxford University, UK. The study is expected to start in the last quarter of 2025. This study will generate insights into gender-specific experiences and evaluate the effectiveness of different consent approaches in the context of the Lassa vaccine trial. Conclusion: This study will inform recommendations for improving participation in clinical trials, community engagement, improving trial design, and developing effective dissemination strategies for policy stakeholders in sub-Saharan Africa and similar settings.

The swift development of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines marked a monumental effort in global coordination and collaboration; however, there remained major disparities in vaccine access and research capacity across countries. Unequal participation in vaccine development studies from low- and middle- income countries (LMICs) clearly signaled an urgent need to strengthen health research infrastructure in those regions. With funding from the Gates Foundation (GF), this site readiness initiative carried out rapid capacity enhancement activities to enable large-scale, Phase 3 pivotal clinical trial conduct in LMICs. The International Vaccine Institute (IVI) worked with site partners in four countries (Mozambique, Ghana, Nepal, and the Philippines) after conducting feasibility assessments for site selection. Site-specific gaps were identified, and capacity building activities focused on staff training, site infrastructure, and resource mobilization were carried out over roughly 7 months from October 2020 to May 2021. Despite pandemic-related challenges such as supply chain shortages, by the end of the capacity building efforts all sites were either contracted to or in discussions with trial sponsors to conduct severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccine studies. This article provides an overview of the site selection process, critical components of site establishment, and final site readiness evaluations carried out amidst a global health emergency. This experience illustrates the value of research capacity enhancement as essential to both pandemic preparedness and global health equity. The lessons learned are being carried into an ongoing initiative across West Africa, currently underway as the "Advancing Research Capabilities in West Africa (ARC-WA)."