Background. Hypertension, coupled with prehypertension and other hazards such as high blood pressure, is responsible for 8·5 million deaths from stroke, ischaemic heart disease, other vascular diseases, and renal disease worldwide. Hypertension is the fifth commonest cause of outpatient morbidity in Ghana. Some evidence have illustrated geographical variation in hypertension and it seems to have a heavy toll on women in southern Ghana compared to the north. This study seeks to determine the prevalence and associatedfactors of hypertension among women in southern Ghana using the most recent demographic and health survey (DHS) data set. Materials and Methods. This study used data of 5,662 women from the current DHS data from Ghana that was conducted in 2014. Data were extracted from the women’s file of the 2014 Ghana DHS. The outcome variable of this current study was hypertension and it was measured by blood pressure, according to guidelines of the Joint National Committee Seven (JNC7). Multivariable binary logistic regression analyses were performed to establish the factors associated with hypertension at the individual and community levels. Results. Prevalence of hypertension among women in southern Ghana was 16%. Women aged 40–44 years (aOR = 8.04, CI = 4.88–13.25) and 45–49 years (aOR = 13.20, CI = 7.96–21.89] had the highest odds of hypertension relative to women aged 15–19 years. Women with two births (aOR = 1.45, CI = 1.01–2.07) and those with three births (aOR = 1.47, CI = 1.01–2.15) had a higher likelihood of being hypertensive. Greater Accra women had higher odds (aOR = 1.35, CI = 1.02–1.79) of being hypertensive relative to the reference category, women from the Western region. Women of Guan ethnicity had a lesser likelihood (aOR = 0.54, CI = 0.29–0.98) of being hypertensive. Women who engaged in agriculture had the least likelihood (aOR = 0.72, CI = 0.52–0.99) of being classified hypertensive compared to unemployed women. Conclusion. This study has revealed the prevalence of hypertension among women in southern Ghana. The associated factors include age, parity, region, and occupation. As a result, existing interventions need to be appraised in the light of these factors. Of essence is the need for Ghana Health Service to implement wide-embracing health promotion initiatives that accommodate the nutritional, exercise, and lifestyle needs of women in southern Ghana. Having more children is associated with higher propensity of hypertension and consequently, women need to limit childbearing to reduce their chances of being hypertensive. It will also be advisable for women in the Greater Accra region to have frequent hypertension screening, as women in the region exhibited higher hypertension prospects.

Background: The prevalence of HIV among young people aged 15–19 years in Nigeria is estimated as 3.5%, the highest among West and Central African countries. Comprehensive knowledge of HIV is associated with increased awareness of preventive interventions and a reduction in the spread of HIV. Therefore, this article seeks to assess and determine the associated factors of comprehensive HIV knowledge among youths in Nigeria. Methods: The study used the 2018 Nigerian Demographic Health Survey, a cross-sectional survey that employed a two-stage cluster sampling method. Comprehensive knowledge of HIV was assessed based on five questions. The data were analysed separately for men and women aged 15–24 years. A multivariable log-binomial regression model was used to determine factors associated with comprehensive HIV knowledge. All analysis was performed using Stata 15.0 and adjusted for weighting, clustering and stratification. Results: A total of 15,267 women and 4019 men aged 15–24 years were included in this study. The prevalence of comprehensive knowledge of HIV was higher among women than among men (42.6% versus 33.7%; p < 0.001) and lower among younger ages 15–17 years compared with other ages. The findings revealed that age, ethnicity, wealth, education and exposure to mass media were statistically significant factors associated with comprehensive knowledge of HIV. In addition, religion, place of residence, phone ownership, internet use, currently working and having initiated sex were significant factors among women and modern contraceptive use among men. Conclusion: Key findings from this study imply that public health programmes in Nigeria should focus on providing information on HIV/AIDS using different approaches, including comprehensive sex education as well as health promotion and education strategies in the formal and informal sectors. Because media exposure is a common and cost-effective way of public health promotion and education in modern times, emphasis could also be placed on using this channel to reach the target population.

Background Missing the WHO-recommended ANC visits augments the risk of receiving a sub-optimal level of Intermittent-preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy using Sulphadoxine-Pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP). Earlier reports found low utilisation of IPTp-SP among rural women in Nigeria. This study seeks to examine the relationship between the recommended ANC visits and optimal IPTp-SP uptake among rural women aged 15–49 in Nigeria. Methods We used data from the Female files of 2008, 2013, and 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) waves. A sample of 9,085 women aged 15 to 49 with pregnancy history and complete information about the variables of interest were included in our analysis. Optimal intake of IPTp-SP was the outcome variable in this study (i.e., receiving three or more doses of IPTp-SP during pregnancy). The main explanatory variable for this study was recommended ANC visits defined as having four or more ANC visits. At 95% confidence interval, logistic regression was conducted to examine the association between recommended ANC and optimal intake of IPTp-SP. Results Descriptively, 29% (n = 2,644, CI = 0.28–0.30) of the rural women aged 15–49 received the optimal level of IPTp-SP. Inferentially, we found a higher likelihood of optimal IPTp-SP intake among women who met the recommended ANC visits [aOR = 1.44, CI = 1.29–1.61] compared to women that did not. The rich exhibited a lower likelihood of optimal level of IPTp-SP intake [aOR = 0.81, CI = 0.70–0.94]. Muslims had a higher likelihood of receiving an optimal intake of IPTp-SP [aOR = 1.32, CI = 1.15–1.53]. South East residents had a higher likelihood of receiving an optimal level of IPTp-SP [aOR = 2.54, CI = 2.09–3.10], while the likelihood of optimal uptake of IPTp-SP reduced among residents in the North West [aOR = 0.46, CI = 0.40–0.54]. Conclusion Uptake of WHO-recommended optimal level of IPTp-SP was found to be low, which was linked mainly to the number of ANC visits. The results of this study call for implementing operational strategies, including Transforming IPT for Optimal Pregnancy in rural Nigeria. Appropriate prenatal care visits must be promoted to ensure accessibility of IPTp-SP in rural Nigeria. We suggest health education and awareness creation through mass media targeting women across the six geographical zones, particularly in North West Nigeria.

Background About 23.5% and 13.2% of female and male students respectively ever attempted suicide in 2017 in Bolivia. The annual prevalence of drugs usage such as marijuana has increased in Bolivia. Studies have highlighted that substance abuse correlates with suicidal behaviours. The association between drug use and suicidal behaviour is less explored in Bolivia. This study aimed at investigating the association between drug use and suicidal behaviour among in-school students in Bolivia. Methods The study relied on a dataset obtained from the 2018 Bolivian Global School-Based Student Health Survey (BGSHS). The survey followed a two-stage cluster sampling procedure and in all, a total of 7,931 in-school students were interviewed yielding a response rate of 79%. However, this study was restricted to 4,684 in-school students who have complete data about variables of interest analysed in the study. Suicidal behaviour and drug use were the outcome variable and main explanatory variables, respectively. At 95% confidence interval, two models were built using logistic regression. Model I assessed the association between the outcome variable and the main explanatory variable and Model II controlled the influence of covariates on suicidal behaviour. The results for Model II were presented in adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR). Results Generally, 17% (weighted N = 813; CI = 0.16–0.18) of students indulged in suicidal behaviour. Inferentially, those who ever used drugs were over two-fold likelihood to indulge in suicidal behaviour compared with those who were not on drugs in the unadjusted model [OR = 2.59, CI = 2.08–3.21] and this persisted in the adjusted model [aOR = 1.52, CI = 1.07–2.17]. Females [aOR = 3.02, CI = 2.51–3.63], those whoever had difficulties sleeping [aOR = 2.23, CI = 1.70–2.89], ever used alcohol [aOR = 1.57, CI = 1.30–1.90] and whose parents go through their things [aOR = 1.48, CI = 1.24–1.76] had higher odds of suicidal behaviour. The likelihood of suicidal behaviour reduced among those whose parents understand their problem [aOR = 0.55, CI = 0.45–0.68] and know their free time [aOR = 0.62, CI = 0.50–0.78] or were not bullied [aOR = 0.57, CI = 0.47–0.68]. Conclusion The study revealed that drugs use was associated with suicidal behaviour among in-school students in Bolivia. Other findings were that alcoholism, poor parental concern, bullying and having a history of physical attacks were associated with suicidal behaviour. The Government of Bolivia through its law enforcement agencies should strengthen their strategies targeted at controlling drug usage among in-school students. Parents should extend emotional support and care to in-school students so that their wards can properly cope and manage their emotional challenges appropriately.