Ghana was the first sub-Saharan country to implement a National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). In furtherance of the nation’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) goals, in 2008, Ghana actualized plans for a Free Maternal Healthcare Policy (FMHCP) under the NHIS. The FMHCP was aimed at removing financial barriers to accessing maternal and neonatal health services. This scoping review was conducted to map out the literature on the effects of the FMHCP under the NHIS on the utilization of maternal and infant health care in Ghana. Six databases including CINAHL, PubMed, Sage Journals, Academic Search Premier, Science Direct, and Medline were searched in conducting this review with key terms. A total of 175 studies were retrieved after the search and finally, 23 articles were included in the study after various stages of elimination. The review followed the reporting guidelines stated in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic and Meta-analyses Extensions for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). The results showed an overall increase in the utilization of antenatal care, facility-based delivery, and postnatal care services. However, certain systemic issues persist regarding access to maternal and infant healthcare. Socio-demographic inequalities such as maternal level of education, place of residence, and economic status likewise barriers such as the existence of out-of-pocket payments, long distance to health facilities, and poor distribution of resources in rural areas hindered the utilization of maternal and infant healthcare. The country faces significant work to eliminate existing barriers and inequalities to ensure that it achieves its UHC goals.

Background/Objectives: Healthcare discrimination poses significant challenges to the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of people living with type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, the role of social support in alleviating these effects has not been fully explored. Drawing on Cohen and Wills’ social support buffering model, this study examined whether social support moderates the association between healthcare discrimination and HRQoL among individuals with T2D. Methods: We analyzed data from 5180 adults with T2D enrolled in the All of Us Research Program. Healthcare discrimination was assessed using the modified Everyday Discrimination Scale (mEDS), social support with the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey (MOS-SSS), and HRQoL (physical and mental domains) with the PROMIS Global Health Scale. Moderation analyses were conducted through linear regression models. Results: Greater exposure to healthcare discrimination was associated with poorer physical and mental HRQoL. Social support demonstrated a significant moderating effect on mental HRQoL: as social support increased, the negative association between healthcare discrimination and mental well-being weakened. However, this buffering effect was not observed for physical HRQoL. Conclusions: Findings suggest that social support can mitigate the adverse mental health consequences of healthcare discrimination among individuals with T2D. Interventions aimed at strengthening social support networks warrant investigation as potential strategies to improve the mental HRQoL of people with T2D who encounter discrimination in healthcare environments.

Introduction: Lawyers are uniquely vulnerable to substance use and disorders due to the use of different substances mainly because of the demanding and adversarial nature of the legal profession. Substance use often begins during law school years. Aims: This study aims to examine substance use and disorders due to the use of different substances. Methods: A scoping review was adopted to collect literature from January 2000 to November 2023. The review followed the Arksey and O’Malley framework. Literature was retrieved from CINAHL Complete, PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Scopus. A total of 1,808 studies were retrieved and 14 were included for the final synthesis. The combined sample size was 16,722, comprising 15,150 lawyers and 1,572 law students. Data was extracted into a data matrix and then synthesized into the results. Results: Many lawyers and law students have experienced substance use disorders or problematic use. Alcohol and tobacco were the most used substances among them. Suicide due to substance use was also detected. Findings reveal the use of illicit substances, demographic disparities in substance use, and unprofessional behavior such as substance use during working hours. The role of support systems in battling substance use was critical among lawyers and law students. Even though few lawyers sought help for substance use related issues, treatment was effective. Conclusions: Substance use is pervasive in the legal profession. Although various health promotion and education interventions have been carried out to address this problem, the scale of the problems

The study assessed parental satisfaction with nursing care rendered to their children in a pediatric ward in Ghana. The descriptive cross-sectional study design was adopted. A total of 238 parents of children admitted to the pediatric unit of a regional hospital in Ghana who met the inclusion criteria were conveniently sampled. Data were obtained using the Parent Satisfaction Survey (PSS) at the end of their child’s admission. Data collected were coded, entered, and analyzed using Statistical Product AND Service Solution(SPSS) version 29.0, and results were summarized using descriptive statistics. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the factors associated with parental satisfaction with nursing care. The results were presented in adjusted odds ratios (aOR) with their Confidence Intervals (CIs). Overall, 60.1% of parents were satisfied with the nursing care provided to their children. The results of the multivariate logistic regression showed that parents who had children who were 5 to 7 years (aOR= 0.07, 95%CI: 0.01-0.780) and 8 years and older (aOR= 0.03, 95%CI: 0.00-0.62), parents residing in urban area were less likely to be satisfied (aOR= 0.19, 95%CI: 0.04-1.02). On the other hand, parents who had higher expectations were more likely to be satisfied with nursing care (aOR= 1.4, 95%CI: 1.24-1.57). Information sharing on the child’s condition and treatment and respect for privacy were also determinants of satisfaction in this study.

Objective: To explore how adults newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes experienced and navigated the transition from diagnosis to engagement in diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES).Methods: Secondary qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews and focus groups with 42 adults in the United States diagnosed with type 2 diabetes within the previous 12 months, drawn from two qualitative parent studies. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis, with Meleis' Transitions Theory applied as an interpretive lens following inductive theme development.Results: Diagnosis initiated a period of largely unsupported self-management during which participants made treatment decisions and sought information with limited professional guidance. Readiness for DSMES varied and, for many participants, developed through early self-management experiences and emotional adjustment. Movement toward DSMES was also shaped by personal and structural conditions, including employment, finances, and geographic access. How providers introduced and explained DSMES shaped participants’ understanding of its purpose and perceived importance. Participants who engaged in DSMES described gaining practical knowledge, greater confidence in self-management, and increasing integration of diabetes management into daily life.Conclusion: The period between T2D diagnosis and DSMES engagement is an active phase of self-management, learning, and adaptation rather than simply a waiting period between referral and attendance. Recognizing this interval as a distinct phase of care may help identify opportunities to support individuals before formal education begins.Practice implications: Support should extend from diagnosis through entry into DSMES rather than be concentrated at referral. Clear communication about DSMES, proactive follow-up, access to interim professional guidance and educational resources, and flexible delivery options may address support needs during this interval.