Department of Medicine and Therapeutics
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Item Alcohol consumption and fruits and vegetable intake among older adults in Ghana: a cross-sectional survey based on WHO-SAGE Wave 2 data(BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health, 2020) Tachi, K.; Tetteh, J.; Archampong, T.; et.alBackground Alcohol consumption and inadequate fruits and vegetable (FnV) intake are major reasons for the shift from communicable to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) over the years. The older Ghanaian adult is at high risk of NCD and data on alcohol and FnV consumption are required to guide policy to mitigate its effect. This analysis aimed to determine the factors associated with alcohol consumption and assess the relationship between alcohol consumption and FnV intake among Ghanaians aged 50 years and older. Methods This analysis used WHO Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health (SAGE) Wave 2, Ghana data set conducted between 2014 and 2015. Data on demographic characteristics, FnV intake, and alcohol consumption were collated and analysed. Multivariable Poisson, logistic and probit regression analyses were performed to assess the associations between alcohol consumption and inadequate FnV intake. Results A total of 3533 Ghanaians aged 50 years and older, 41.0% men and 59.0% women, were included in this study. The prevalence of lifetime alcohol consumption was 22.8% (95% CI 20.7% to 25.1%). Alcohol consumption was significantly associated with sex, age group, marital status, religion, place of residence and history of smoking. The prevalence of adequate FnV intake was 52.6% with a mean daily intake of 6.45 servings: 2.98 for fruits and 3.47 for vegetables. There was a significant positive correlation between inadequate FnV intake and alcohol consumption. Inadequate FnV consumption was significantly higher among lifetime alcohol consumers compared with non alcohol consumers. (Poisson estimate; adjusted Prevalence Ratio (aPR) (95% CI)=1.35 (1.12 to 1.63), logistic estimate; adjusted Old Ratio (aOR) (95% CI)=1.13 (1.05 to 1.21) and probit estimate; adjusted normalized coefficient (aβ) (95% CI)=0.19 (0.07 to 0.31)) Conclusion About a quarter and nearly half of older Ghanaian adults consume alcohol and inadequate FnV, respectively. Alcohol consumption is significantly associated with inadequate FnV intake. Interventions to address inadequate FnV intake among older adults in Ghana should also include policies that regulate the use of alcohol in this population.Item Changing landscape of public health and medical education curriculum(Ghana Medical Journal, 2018-09) Ofori-Adjei, D.The landscape of public health in many sub-Saharan African countries has been changing rapidly over the past few decades. Marked changes have been seen in the demographic structure of populations, economics, lifestyle changes, social upheavals (war and migration) and these have impacted disease patterns. The population structure indicates that the workforce age band is showing a bulge and life expectancy is ris-ing with an increasingly elderly population. The eco-nomic status of many of these sub-Saharan countries are said to be improving with changes in status from low income to low middle income status. Newer health technologies have influenced the diagnos-ing, assessment and treatment of health problems. Pub-lic health challenges are transitioning from communica-ble diseases to non-communicable diseases, with no discernible reduction in infections, such that sub-Saharan African countries are said to be suffering from the double burden of disease. This change has risen to such levels that non-communicable diseases are rapidly becoming major causes of morbidity and mortality. While some communicable diseases remain endemic, several strategies exist for minimising their health ef-fects. Outbreaks of new and emerging infections have exposed the inadequacies of the health systems, such as occurred with the recent outbreak of Ebola virus disease in West Africa.