Numerous studies attest to the salubriousness of social participation across contexts. Factors such as health-related behaviour, health risk aversion, and psychosocial traits partly explain this association. While a study of these factors contributes to an understanding of the role that social participation plays in health-related outcomes, significant gaps still exist in this field of investigation. In particular, existing studies have not explored the relationship between social participation and health literacy and how it affects health and well-being adequately. This paper addresses this gap by examining the responses of some 779 rural and urban residents in Ashanti Region in Ghana. The study used path analyses within structural equation modelling (SEM) to assess the mediational role of health literacy in the association between social participation (religious participation, volunteer activities and group membership), and health status and subjective well-being. All the proxies of social participation significantly predicted health literacy. It was also evident that social participation influences health and well-being substantially. After controlling for socio-demographic variables, religious participation and group membership indirectly predicted well-being and health status through health literacy. Volunteer activities showed a negative indirect effect; thus, social participation does not always have a favourable effect on health and well-being. However, the findings suggest that overall, enhancing social participation may be promising for effective health promotion.

Background: Globally, the use of mobile health (mHealth) apps or interventions has increased. Robust synthesis of existing systematic reviews on mHealth apps may offer useful insights to guide maternal health clinicians and policy makers. Objective: This systematic review aims to assess the effectiveness or impact of mHealth apps on maternal health care delivery globally. Methods: We systematically searched Scopus, Web of Science (Core Collection), MEDLINE or PubMed, CINAHL, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews using a predeveloped search strategy. The quality of the reviews was independently assessed by 3 reviewers, while study selection was done by 2 independent raters. We presented a narrative synthesis of the findings, highlighting the specific mHealth apps, where they are implemented, and their effectiveness or outcomes toward various maternal conditions. Results: A total of 2527 documents were retrieved, out of which 16 documents were included in the review. Most mHealth apps were implemented by sending SMS text messages with mobile phones. mHealth interventions were most effective in 5 areas: maternal anxiety and depression, diabetes in pregnancy, gestational weight management, maternal health care use, behavioral modification toward smoking cessation, and controlling substance use during pregnancy. We noted that mHealth interventions for maternal health care are skewed toward high-income countries (13/16, 81%). Conclusions: The effectiveness of mHealth apps for maternity health care has drawn attention in research and practice recently. The study showed that research on mHealth apps and their use dominate in high-income countries. As a result, it is imperative that low- and middle-income countries intensify their commitment to these apps for maternal health care, in terms of use and research. Trial Registration: PROSPERO CRD42022365179; https://tinyurl.com/e5yxyx77

In this article, we reflect on critical questions relating to the future of African migration to China in the post-COVID-19 world at the backdrop of the mistreatment many Africans received as part of the pandemic control in China. These questions include: Is this the end of African migration to China as we know it? Will COVID-19 fundamentally change how we think about migration, mobility and wellbeing in the People’s Republic of China (PRC)? What will be the effect of the post-COVID-19 regime on the social identity and wellbeing of the African diaspora in Guangzhou and other Chinese cities?

Relatively little research has been conducted on the place of health literacy (HL) as an essential mechanism to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal for gender equality (SDG 5) or to enhance its role in SDG 3, good health and well-being, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The present analyses examined the role of socio-economic, health and behavioral factors associated with HL among men and women in the Ashanti Region of Ghana using a cross-sectional design and data collected from 779 rural and urban residents from June 2015 to October 2015. HL was higher among men. In multivariate logistic regression analyses, income and education were positively associated with HL for both men and women. Ethnicity showed a positive relationship with HL among men, while religious affiliation was associated with HL of overall population. Smoking was negatively associated with HL among men. Among women, self-reported health was positively associated with HL but having health insurance was inversely related. These gender differences may be due to dominant male gender roles and differing expectations and opportunities for socio-economic advancement for men and women. An inter-disciplinary approach is suggested for understanding and improving HL in both genders and especially in women, given their current low HL.

Communities and individuals in many sub-Saharan African countries often face limited access to healthcare. Hence, many rely on social networks to enhance their chances for adequate health care. While this knowledge is well-established, little is known about the nuances of how different population groups activate these networks to improve access to healthcare. This paper examines how rural and urban dwellers in the Ashanti Region in Ghana distinctively and systematically activate their social networks to enhance access to healthcare. It uses a qualitative cross-sectional design, with in-depth interviews of 79 primary participants (28 urban and 51 rural residents) in addition to the views of eight community leaders and eight health personnel. It was discovered that both intimate and distanced social networks for healthcare are activated at different periods by rural and urban residents. Four main stages of social networks activation, comprising different individuals and groups were observed among rural and urban dwellers. Among both groups, physical proximity, privacy, trust and sense of fairness, socio-cultural meaning attached to health problems, and perceived knowledge and other resources (mainly money) held in specific networks inherently influenced social network activation. The paper posits that a critical analysis of social networks may help to tailor policy contents to individuals and groups with limited access to healthcare.