Malaria is hyper-endemic in Ghana. Haematological alterations in the disease pathology may offer complimentary criteria to improve clinical and microscopy diagnosis. Our primary outcome was to evaluate haematological parameters in children with Plasmodium falciparum infections and report their predictive risk and diagnostic performance for malaria infections in Ghana. Haematological data, including thin and thick blood films were examined for children less than 12 years of age in a multicenter-based active case finding approach. Haematological changes were common in P. falciparum infected children and more pronounced in severe malaria cases. More so, a unit increase in parasiteamia increased the odds for severe malaria infection by 93 % [OR, 95 % CI: 1.93 (1.28–2.91); P value = 0.02]. In multivariate regression, low haemoglobin was a significant haematological change in predicting P. falciparum infections [OR, 95 % CI: 3.20 (1.26–7.09); P value = 0.001]. Low haemoglobin levels 7,500 µL. In malaria endemic settings, low haemoglobin concentration (<11 g/dl) in children with febrile illness should prompt a more diligent search for the malarial parasite to limit the misuse and abuse of anti-malarial drugs.

Background and Aims: The environment within prisons, such as overcrowding, lack of access to portable water, poor sanitation, and hygiene predisposes inmates to infections, including intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs). This study therefore determined the prevalence and associated factors of IPIs among prison inmates in Southern Ghana.Methods: A cross‐sectional study using the stratified sampling technique was employed. The study recruited 461 prison inmates across three notable prisons, with 50 inmates from Ho Central, 357 inmates from Nsawam Medium Security, and 54 inmates from Sekondi Central Prisons all in Southern Ghana. A structured closed‐ended questionnaire was administered to collect data on sociodemographics, lifestyle/behavioral characteristics, and signs and symptoms of IPIs. In addition, stool samples were collected and analyzed for the presence of various stages of intestinal parasites (trophozoites, cysts, ova, and larva) using formol‐ether concentration, and the modified Ziehl–Neelsen techniques.Results: The prevalence of IPIs among inmates of the three selected prisons was 38.2% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 33.72%–42.79%). The prevalence of IPIs among inmates of the three prisons, the Ho Central, Nsawam Medium Security, and Sekondi Central were 46% (95% CI: 31.82%–60.68%), 37.5% (95% CI: 32.49%–42.79%), and 35.2% (95% CI: 22.68%–49.38%), respectively. After adjusting for confounders, the following factors; handwashing after defecation (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 0.05 [0.00–0.67];p = 0.024), trimmed fingernails (AOR: 0.32 [0.13–0.76];p = 0.011), itchy skin (AOR [95% CI]: 5.99 [3.43–10.43];p < 0.001), anal itching (AOR [95% CI]: 0.35 [0.19–0.62];p < 0.001), nausea (AOR [95% CI]: 5.57 [3.22–9.65];p < 0.001), and worm expulsion (AOR [95% CI]: 3.80 [1.42–10.18];p = 0.008) were found to be associated with intestinal parasitic infections.Conclusion: The study revealed that the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among prisons in Southern Ghana is high and is therefore an important public health concern. The Public Health Department of Ghana Health Service should therefore embark on health promotion and deworming exercise in all prisons in Ghana.

Trichomonas vaginalis is the causative agent for the most prevalent non-viral sexually transmitted infection (STI) among women of child-bearing age. In Ghana, although the infection is prevalent, there is a dearth of data on the risk factors and symptoms associated with T. vaginalis infection. This study was conducted on 492 women visiting gynaecological and STI clinics in the Volta Region (VR) and Greater Accra Region (GAR) in southern Ghana. Wet mount microscopy and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were used to diagnose T. vaginalis infection. Infection prevalence was 13.2% and 18.1% by WMM and PCR, respectively. Diagnosis by PCR was significantly more sensitive (McNemars test, p=0.0003). The regional prevalence of T. vaginalis infection by PCR was 21.7% in the VR and 12.8% in the GAR. There was a significant difference in prevalence between the two regions (Fishers exact test, p=0.02). T. vaginalis infection was associated with vaginal itch (odds ratio [OR]=1.71, p=0.04) and a history of engaging in oral sex (OR 1.90, p=0.04). A high prevalence of T. vaginalis infection was recorded among women visiting gynaecological and STI clinics in southern Ghana. There was no consistent association of infection with any recorded clinical signs and no clear risk factors for infection were identified.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) contact tracing and malaria reactive case detection (RACD) are effective strategies for disease control. The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic and the global attention COVID-19 has received in the recent past and present has hampered malaria control efforts. Among these are difficulties in finding and treating malaria-infected individuals in hypoendemic settings in the community, due to lockdown restrictions by countries. It is common knowledge that malaria cases that cannot be identified remain untreated. To sustain the gains made in malaria control, we proposed a two-pronged hybrid approach for COVID-19 contact tracing and malaria RACD in communities with COVID-19 and malaria coinfections. Such an approach would equally factor the burden of malaria cases and COVID-19 to support an effective strategy for responding to current and future pandemics.