Jaiyeola Kofi Bohli

Background: Artificial Intelligence (AI) offers transformative potential for healthcare education, yet its adoption among key frontline cadres in low-resource settings remains poorly understood. This study is the first to investigate the predictors of AI usage and knowledge among nursing and midwifery students in Ghana. Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted with 676 students from the University of Health and Allied Sciences, recruited via convenience sampling. A validated questionnaire assessed AI knowledge, usage patterns, and sources of information. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, binary logistic regression, and ROC analysis in STATA v17.0. Results: Most participants (78.6%) used AI, with significantly higher odds among males (aOR: 2.33, 95% CI;1.21–4.47, p = 0.011) and final-year students (aOR: 3.05, 95% CI;1.64–5.67, p = 0.001). While 73.7% demonstrated adequate knowledge, acquisition occurred primarily through informal sources (internet/media), with ChatGPT being the dominant tool. Predictive models for AI usage and knowledge demonstrated significant associations but modest discriminative power (AUC range: 0.58–0.63), indicating the role of unmeasured factors. Conclusion: A high reliance on informal, self-directed AI learning exists among students, revealing a critical gap in formal education. Despite strong adoption, significant demographic disparities and a clear “usage-knowledge disconnect” necessitate the urgent integration of structured, equitable AI curricula into Ghana’s nursing and midwifery training programs.

Malaria remains a major public health challenge in Ghana. However, heterogeneous transmission necessitates localized data for effective subnational targeti

Malaria remains a significant public health challenge in Ghana, with haematological alterations being a common feature of infection. Understanding these changes is crucial for improving disease management, particularly in endemic regions where resource limitations may affect diagnostic capabilities. This study aimed to evaluate variations in haematological and inflammatory biomarkers and their association with Plasmodium falciparum malaria in a Ghanaian setting. A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted at the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority Clinic from January to May 2018, involving 200 participants (100 P. falciparum-infected and 100 malaria-negative participants). Full blood count parameters and derived inflammatory indices were analysed. Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney U tests were used to determine the variations in haematological and inflammatory biomarkers across malaria and non-malaria groups. Logistic regression was also used to find the haematological and inflammatory biomarkers associated with malaria. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Significant differences were observed in several haematological parameters between P. falciparum malaria and non-malaria groups. Plasmodium falciparum malaria patients showed markedly lower white blood cell counts (4.88 vs. 5.84 × 10⁹/L, p < 0.001), lymphocyte counts (0.91 vs. 2.10 × 10⁹/L, p < 0.001), and platelet counts (117.50 vs. 224.50 × 10⁹/L, p < 0.001). Inflammatory indices revealed elevated neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (3.49 vs. 1.43, p < 0.001) and systemic inflammatory response index (1.83 vs. 0.73, p < 0.001) in P. falciparum malaria patients. Notably, the platelet-monocyte ratio was significantly reduced in malaria patients (207.45 vs. 457.78, p < 0.001). Haemoglobin levels showed significant variation across parasite densities, particularly between moderate and low parasitaemia groups (p = 0.026). The logistic regression also revealed that the odds of malaria decreased with increasing haematocrit (aOR: 0.77,95% CI 0.60–0.97, p = 0.032), platelets (aOR:0.96, 95% CI 0.94–0.99, p = 0.013) and platelets-monocyte ratio (aOR:0.98, 95% CI 0.97–0.99, p = 0.004), and increased with increased platelets-lymphocyte ratio (aOR:1.04, 95% CI 1.00–1.07, p = 0.031). This study demonstrated significant alterations in haematological and inflammatory biomarkers during P. falciparum malaria infection. These findings reveal the importance of haematological parameters in malaria diagnosis and severity assessment, with potential implications for improving early detection, risk stratification, and clinical management of P. falciparum malaria patients.

Background: Communication milestones are critical indicators of children's developmental health and predictors of future academic and social outcomes. As frontline healthcare providers, nurses play a vital role in monitoring these milestones routinely. However, research suggests this surveillance role is often inadequately fulfilled, particularly regarding the identification of communication disorders in children aged 0-5 years. Aim: This study aimed to assess nurses’ knowledge of communication milestones in children aged 0–5 years, examine their current practices regarding milestone surveillance, and identify training needs to enhance their capacity in monitoring communication development. Method: This descriptive qualitative study was conducted from May to June 2020 at Princess Marie Louise Children's Hospital in Accra, Ghana. Twenty-six nurses (16 for questionnaires, 10 for interviews) with experience ranging from less than one year to 20 years participated in the study. Data collection included semi-structured questionnaires and in-depth interviews. The questionnaire assessed nurses' knowledge of communication milestones and clinical practices, while audio-recorded interviews explored their experiences, perceptions, and training needs. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics for quantitative components and inductive thematic analysis for qualitative data. Results: While 68.75% of nurses reported being able to identify changes in children's language development, most lacked detailed knowledge regarding specific communication milestones. The majority correctly identified some key milestones (75% for babbling before 6 months; 62.5% for first words between 6-12 months), but demonstrated inconsistent knowledge regarding expressive speech development. Key findings from the qualitative analysis revealed limited formal education on communication milestones, with participants noting it was insufficiently covered in their training curriculum. There was a complete absence of continuing professional development in this area, with just one participant reporting self-directed learning. While nurses demonstrated theoretical understanding of identifying communication difficulties, its application in clinical practice was inconsistent. Missed opportunities in identifying communication disorders were frequently attributed to workload constraints, time limitations, and inadequate clinical exposure. Parental education on communication milestones was minimal to non-existent due to both knowledge limitations and workplace pressures. Notably, all participants expressed a strong interest in further training, recognizing its value for improving early detection capabilities and enhancing parent education. Conclusion: This study demonstrates significant gaps between perceived and actual knowledge of communication milestones among nurses in Ghana, with implications for early identification of developmental delays. Findings suggest the need for curriculum enhancement, implementation of standardized screening protocols, and targeted professional development programs. A collaborative approach involving speech-language therapists could strengthen both educational practices and clinical surveillance, ultimately improving developmental outcomes for children in Ghana and similar resource-limited settings.