IntroductionAnaemia in pregnancy remains a critical public health concern in many African settings; but its determinants are not clear. The purpose of this study was to assess anaemia at antenatal care initiation and associated factors among pregnant women in a local district of Ghana.MethodsA facility-based cross-sectional survey was conducted. A total of 378 pregnant women attending antenatal care at two health facilities were surveyed. Data on haemoglobin level, helminths and malaria infection status at first antenatal care registration were extracted from antenatal records booklets of each pregnant women. Questionnaires were then used to collect data on socio-demographic and dietary variables. Binary and multivariate logistic regression analyses were done to assess factors associated with anaemia.ResultsThe prevalence of anaemia was 56%, with mild anaemia being the highest form (31.0%). Anaemia prevalence was highest (73.2%) among respondents aged 15-19 years. Factors that significantly independently reduced the odds of anaemia in pregnancy after controlling for potential confounders were early (within first trimester) antenatal care initiation (AOR=5.01; 95% CI =1.41-17.76; p=0.013) and consumption of egg three or more times in a week (AOR=0.30; 95% CI=0.15-0.81; P=0.014).ConclusionHealth facility and community-based preconception and conception care interventions must not only aim to educate women and community members about the importance of early ANC initiation, balanced diet, protein and iron-rich foods sources that may reduce anaemia, but must also engage community leaders and men to address food taboos and cultural prohibitions that negatively affect pregnant woman.

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Background Difficulty in accessing sexual and reproductive healthcare is one of the challenges young refugee women face worldwide, in addition to sexual exploitation, violence and abuse. Although Ghana hosts several refugees, little is known about their sexual behaviour and contraceptive use. This study assesses sexual behaviour and contraceptive use among female adolescent refugees in Ghana. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted between June and August 2016. Respondents comprised 242 female adolescent refugees aged 14–19 years. Structured validated questionnaires were used to collect data. Descriptive statistical methods and multivariate logistic regression statistical analyses methods were used to analyze data. Findings Over 78% of respondents have had penetrative sex; 43% have had coerced sex; 71% have had transactional sex; 36% have had sex while drunk, 57% have had 4–6 sexual partners in the last 12 months before the study, and 38% have had both coerced and transactional sex. Factors that predicted ever having transactional sex included being aged 14–16 compared to those aged 17–19 (AOR =4·80; 95% CI = 2·55–9·04); being from Liberia compared to being from Ghana (AOR = 3·05; 95% CI = 1.69–13·49); having a mother who had no formal education compared to having a mother with tertiary education (AOR = 5.75; 95CI = 1.94–14.99); and living alone (self) compared to living with parents (AOR = 3.77; 95CI = 1.38–10.33). However, having 1–3 sexual partners in the last 12 months as against having 4–6 partners significantly reduced the odds of ever having transactional sex (AOR = 0·02; 95% CI = 0·01–0·08). Awareness about contraceptives was 65%, while ever use of contraceptives was 12%. However, contraceptive use at last sexual intercourse was 8.2%, and current use was 7.3%. Contraceptive use was relatively higher among those who have never had sex while drunk, as well as among those who have never had transactional sex and coerced sex. Contraceptive use was similarly higher among those who had 1–3 sexual partners in the last 12 months compared to those who had 4–6 during the same time period. Conclusion In this time of global migration crises, addressing disparities in knowledge and access to contraception as well as high risk sexual behaviours in refugee situations is important for reducing inequalities in reproductive health outcomes and ensuring both universal health coverage and global health justice. Sex and contraception education and counselling, self-efficacy training, and skills acquisition are needed to help young refugee women negotiate and practice safe sex and resist sexual pressures.

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Ketimpangan adalah masalah universal yang dihadapi oleh semua sistem ekonomi modern. Dalam sejarahnya, sistem kapitalis dan sosialis terbukti tidak mampu mengatasi masalah ketimpangan dan ketidakadilan dalam distribusi kekayaan. Sehingga menimbulkan konflik dan menciptakan kemiskinan yang permanen bagi masyarakat. Sistem ekonomi Islam sejak berabad-abad lalu telah meletakkan dasar-dasar etika utama yang universal tentang sistem distribusi kekayaan melalui butir-butir ayat Al-Quran yang mulia dan Hadis. Penelitian ini dimaksudkan untuk mengkaji kembali etika atau nilai-nilai distribusi dalam Al-Quran yang bersifat transendental untuk kemudian diterjemahkan menjadi objektif dan empiris. Untuk memperoleh jawaban tersebut peneliti menggunakan jenis penelitian kualitatif dengan pendekatan studi kepustakaan (data sekunder), dengan metode deskriptif kualitatif, yakni analisis data yang dilakukan terhadap semua data yang diperoleh untuk mengembangkan dan menemukan teori tanpa harus menggunakan rumusan statistik. Dalam hal ini, karena objek studi ini adalah Al-Quran, maka peneliti menggunakan metode penafsiran maudhu’i atau lebih dikenal dengan sebutan tafsir tematik, yakni upaya yang dilakukan adalah menghimpun seluruh ayat Al-Quran yang memiliki tujuan dan tema yang sama tentang suatu permasalahan yang sedang dibahas. Hasil penelitian menguraikan bahwa menurut pandangan Al-Quran terdapat tigaetika atau nilai penting dalam upaya untuk menciptakan keadilan distributif dalam sistem ekonomi Islam. Pertama, dari sisi ketauhidan, bagaimana distribusi kekayaan yang merata mampu tercipta dengan pengaplikasian tauhid sosial di masyarakat. Kedua, dari sisi muamalah (ekonomi) bentuk instrumen-instrumen distribusi kekayaan yang ditawarkan Al-Quran, yaitu melalui perdagangan dan berbagai akad derma seperti zakat, wakaf, waris, sedekah dan infak. Kemudian tujuan distribusi kekayaan yang dikelompokan dalam tujuan dakwah, Pendidikan, sosial dan ekonomi. Ketiga, pemaparan dari sisi kenegaraan (khilafah), yaitu tanggung jawab pemerintah yang dimanifestasikan dalam tiga unsur yaitu restrukturisasi sosio-ekonomi, peningkatan kualitas penduduk pedesaan dan reformasi perburuhan. Kepada semua pihak di sarankan untuk ikut berpartisipasi dalam upaya menciptakan keadilan distributif. Kemiskinan serta berbagai masalah kehidupan lain akan teratasi jika semua elemen masyarakatsecara keseluruhan serta pemerintah ikut peduli terhadap permasalahan ini. Semua ini bertujuan agar tercipta kehidupan umat yang bermartabat dan sejahtera sesuai dengan perintah Al-Quran.