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Background The health system plays a critical role in safeguarding the well-being of communities in the face of health risks associated with climate change. This review maps evidence on health systems' adaptation to climate risk and barriers to effective adaptation. Methods This review followed the recommendations by Arksey and O’Malley for conducting scoping review. Search for records was conducted in PubMed, Central, Web of Science, JSTOR, Google, and Google Scholar. Only peer-reviewed papers published in English language were included in this review. All the 63 included studies were critically appraise d. Results We found that efforts are being made to create resilient health systems by incorporating climate change into health policies. Investments are being made in innovative technologies, climate-resilient health infrastructure, enhancing healthcare delivery, developing the capacity of climate specialists and agencies to provide high-quality evidence for resilient health systems. We also found that several obstacles prevent health system adaptation to climate risk, including poor policy implementation and evaluation. The obstacles are further exacerbated by financial constraints, including poverty, a lack of political commitment, inadequate data, and deficient healthcare systems, especially in developing countries. There is also a lack of integration of climate change into mental health actions and the health and safety of healthcare workers. Conclusion Efforts to develop resilient health systems against climate risks are underway, but persistent obstacles, including inadequate policy implementation, resource limitations, and a lack of integration of climate change into critical health domains, hinder comprehensive adaptation measures, particularly in developing nations.

Background While much research is available on the implications of environmental and occupational exposures to chemicals on infertility and sperm quality, less is known about the impact of psychosocial work exposures on male reproductive health, including sperm quality. Therefore, this scoping review maps evidence of the psychosocial work factors and their effects on male fertility, including sperm quality. Methods Searches were conducted in JSTOR, Central, PubMed, and Web of Science, with additional searches carried out in Google and Google Scholar. The study included only peer-reviewed articles published in the English language, conducted among male working population between January 1990 and January 2024. Two authors independently extracted data from eligible full-text records, which the other two authors reviewed the extracted data. Results The search conducted in the selected databases produced 1,322 records, and through a rigorous screening process, 18 full-text peer reviewed articles were included in this review. The findings about the influence of shift work, long working hours, and job strain on male fertility and sperm quality remain inconclusive. Unfortunately, job stress and cognitive weariness reduce male fertility by lowering sperm quality. Fortunately, social support at work is found to buffer the effect of high job demands on sperm quality. Moreover, workers who smoke tobacco, have poor sleep quality, and have history of depression and diabetes are more likely to suffer infertility and have poor sperm quality. Conclusion Workplace interventions are needed to match high job demands with adequate job resources such as social support, job control, adequate breaks and rest periods, and to encourage healthy lifestyles for improved reproductive health outcomes among male workers. More quality studies are needed to explore the influence of psychosocial working conditions on sperm quality.

IntroductionThis systematic review aims to highlight the methodological inconsistencies in studying psychosocial safety climate (PSC). Highlighting the diverse dimensions and implications of PSC, this review seeks to enhance the replicability and comparability of studies, contributing to the development of standardised measurement techniques for the construct.Methods and analysisThe methodology encompasses a comprehensive search strategy in PubMed Central, Web of Science, Scopus, JSTOR, Embase, Science Direct, ProQuest, Google and Google Scholar from 28 January 2024 to 30 September 2024. A team of trained reviewers, under the guidance of the authors, will scrutinise eligible studies for inclusion based on predefined criteria. This will ensure a diverse yet focused selection of articles aligned with the research objectives. Robust data extraction and appraisal processes will be followed. Adopting a qualitative synthesis approach, the review aims to generate descriptive and analytical themes, uncovering nuanced dimensions of PSC beyond individual study findings. The protocol emphasises consultation with domain experts and a chartered librarian to refine research questions and optimise search strategies for selecting very relevant articles for the review. We will adopt qualitative data synthesis in summarising and presenting the results and findings for our review of PSC methodological issues.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval is not needed for this systematic review because the data for this review will be extracted from already published journal articles. The protocol for this review has been registered in the Open Science Framework. This review and its findings will be published in an academic journal and or presented at scientific conferences.Trial registration numberOSF registration: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/3UZC2.

Background The effectiveness of eLearning in enhancing healthcare professionals’ capacity has received substantial attention globally. This review sought to synthesis evidence on the effectiveness of various types of eLearning programmes, and the facilitators and barriers to its use. Methods The review was guided by Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Four main databases (PubMed, Web of Science, JSTOR, and Scopus) in July 2023 and 44 articles met the eligibility criteria and were included in the review. The JBI critical appraisal checklist was used to appraise the methodological quality of the studies. The data were examined using narrative review to determine the effectiveness of the intervention as well as the barriers and facilitators to its use. Results This review found that asynchronous, synchronous, blended, and self-learning methodologies are effective eLearning approaches for continuous professional development. Previous positive experiences, user-friendly interfaces and relevance of the eLearning content to daily practice are critical elements that facilitate eLearning usage. Poor computer competence and literacy, lack of personal computers and high family duties were the main personal factors that hindered eLearning use. Some systemic barriers included; heavy workloads, shortage of specialised eLearning facilitators poor management involvement, and technical inadequacies within the ICT departments. Environmental issues such as poor infrastructure, including limited internet and frequent power outages acted as barriers. Conclusion The review highlights the effectiveness of various eLearning approaches among health professionals and presents the disparities between developing and developed economies in relation to the facilitators and barriers.

Background The older person population is rapidly increasing globally, including sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Concurrently, malnutrition is also increasing among older persons in SSA, with a dearth of empirical evidence on nutritional status and associated factors among the older persons in the region to inform effective interventions to promote healthy ageing. Aim/Objective This review assessed the nutritional status and associated factors among older persons in SSA. Method PubMed, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Library electronic databases were searched for published articles from 2010 to 2021 using keywords and Boolean logic. Also, we carried out a free web-based search to retrieve other relevant evidence that assesses the older persons’ nutritional status. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses flow chart was used to appraise the research articles that responded to the study’s research questions. Findings Twenty studies met the inclusion criteria, from which data were extracted as findings. The malnutrition prevalence was between 6 to 54% among older persons in SSA. We found that the prevalence of malnutrition vary and could be as high as 28.4% in a low socio-economic status area. Of these studies, twelve (12) provided data on undernutrition with prevalence ranging from 2.9 to 41%;10 provided data on overweight (8.1–54.1%) and 5 on obesity (2.7–44.7%). Seventeen of the studies evaluated factors associated with malnutrition; 4 studies revealed the association between socioeconomic status and malnutrition, 7 studies reported a significant association between dietary habits and malnutrition. Four studies showed an association between educational status and malnutrition. Disease conditions associated with malnutrition were reported in four of the studies. Conclusion This review shows that malnutrition is a problem among older persons in SSA coupled with many risk factors which should be given critical attention. We recommend nutrition education for older persons as well as the development of nutrition interventions for this vulnerable group.

Background Gestational diabetes (GD) can threaten the health of both the mother and the foetus if it is not effectively managed. While there exists a growing body of research on self-management interventions for GD, there is a lack of reviewed studies regarding the various self-management interventions in Africa. The purpose of this review is to map the evidence of self-management interventions for GD in Africa. Methods Searches for records were conducted in four major databases, including PubMed, PubMed Central, Science Direct and Journal Storage. Additional documents from Google and Google Scholar were also added. The guidelines for conducting scoping reviews by Arksey and O’Malley were followed. Results The results revealed that intermittent fasting, education on diet, insulin injection, blood glucose monitoring, physical activities, lifestyle modification and foot care were the available self-management interventions for GD in Africa. Most of the reviewed studies reported intermittent fasting and patient education as effective self-management interventions for GD in Africa. The barriers identified in the reviewed studies were either patient-related or facility-related. Patient-related barriers included lack of awareness, and negative attitude, while facility-related barriers included lack of access to education on GD, especially, face-to-face educational interventions. Conclusion It is crucial to consider the cultural and personal needs, as well as the educational level of women with gestational diabetes when creating an effective self-management intervention. Optimal results can be achieved for self-management of gestational diabetes by integrating multidisciplinary approaches.

Background Bullying remains a serious public health and educational concern among school-going adolescents worldwide. However, no national survey has examined the prevalence and correlates of physical bullying (on and off-school property) among school-going adolescents in the Island country of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. This study sought to examine the prevalence and correlates of physical bullying among adolescents from St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Methods We analysed data from the 2018 Global School-based Student Health Survey using Pearson Chi-square and Binomial Logistic Regression, with an adjusted odds ratio (AOR) at a 95% confidence interval (CI). Results Among this population, physical bullying on/off-school property was prevalent among 24% and 18%, respectively. After adjusting for other predictors, we found that males were less likely to be bullied on school property than females. However, being a younger adolescent (≤ 15 years old), being physically attacked, cyberbullied, having close friends, and having suicidal ideas were associated with increased odds of being physically bullied on school property. Also, being physically attacked, cyberbullied, worried, and having suicidal plans increased the odds of being physically bullied off school property. Conclusion We recommend a multidisciplinary approach to adolescent bullying prevention in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and countries with similar characteristics based on our findings. Trail registration Global School-Based Student Health Survey 2018 (VCT_2018_GSHS_v01) Registered August 20, 2021, https://extranet.who.int/ncdsmicrodata/index.php/catalog/878.

Background. Diabetes is one of the leading causes of sickness, death, and decreased quality of life globally. The prevalence of diabetes keeps rising globally due to lifestyle changes and urbanization. Therefore, improved quality of life (QoL) and appropriate diabetes self-management practices, including treatment adherence, are crucial to improving and sustaining the health of diabetic patients. Some studies have adopted the self-determination theory (SDT) to study diabetes interventions, but less is known about its effectiveness in improving QoL, treatment adherence, and diabetes self-management. Aim/Objective. This review assessed the effectiveness of SDT in improving self-management practices, treatment adherence, and QoL among adult diabetic patients. Method. We followed the six-stage framework by Arksey and O’Malley in conducting the review. PubMed, JSTOR, Central, and ScienceDirect databases were searched for published articles from January 2011 to October 2021 using keywords and Boolean logic. Furthermore, we screened a reference list of related articles. Also, Google Scholar, Z-library, and web-based searches were carried out to retrieve other relevant evidence that applied SDT in improving QoL, diabetes self-management, and treatment adherence. Findings. Fifteen studies met the inclusion criteria, from which data were extracted as findings. SDT effectively improved QoL, diabetes treatment adherence, and diabetes self-management among diabetic patients. Of these studies, 11 provided data on SDT and diabetes self-management and affirmed the effectiveness of the theory in improving appropriate diabetes self-management practices. Two studies confirmed the effectiveness of SDT in improving treatment adherence. SDT and QoL were assessed in 4 of the studies, which demonstrated the effectiveness of SDT in enhancing the QoL of diabetic patients. Conclusion. SDT effectively improved QoL, diabetes treatment adherence, and diabetes self-management. The application of SDT in diabetes management will improve the health and QoL of diabetic patients. Hence, diabetes management interventions could adopt SDT to guide treatment.

IntroductionSickle cell disease (SCD) poses a significant global health burden, particularly affecting individuals in developing countries with constrained healthcare resources. While research on self-management in the context of SCD is emerging, it has predominantly focused on primary studies, and there is a notable dearth of evidence synthesis on SCD self-management in developing countries. This scoping review aims to identify and map self-management needs of individuals living with SCD, the strategies they employed to meet those needs, and the support systems available to them.Methods and analysisThe review will be conducted following the Arksey and O’Malley’s (2005) 29 framework to comprehensively examine the landscape of SCD self-management research. Searches will be performed in PubMed, Scopus, Embase and Dimensions AI, with additional searches in other databases and grey literature. Indexed literature published in English from inception to January 2024 will be included. Reference list from included studies will also be searched manually. Two teams will be constituted to independently screen titles, abstracts and full text against the eligible criteria. Data will be extracted from included studies onto a customised data extraction form.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval is not required for this review due to the fact that it synthesises information from available publications. The findings will be disseminated through publication in a peer-reviewed journal. Also, the findings will possibly be presented at relevant international and national conferences. This protocol has already been registered with the Open Science Framework. The study characteristics such as design and setting will be descriptively analysed and presented as graphs, tables and figures. Thematic analysis will also be conducted based on the study objectives and presented as a narrative summary.

Background The Adolescent and Youth-Friendly Health Services (AYFHS) program in Ghana aims to improve access to reproductive and sexual health services for young people. However, despite its importance, low utilization rates persist. Existing studies report various barriers, but there is a lack of synthesized evidence on AYFHS utilization and the specific barriers in Ghana. This gap limits the development of targeted interventions. Therefore, this study systematically reviews the prevalence and barriers to AYFHS utilization in Ghana to inform context-specific solutions. Methods This review adhered to the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Four main databases (PubMed, Web of Science, JSTOR, and Scopus) were searched for relevant papers. Papers (peer review and grey literature) on Ghanaian adolescents and young people aged 10–24 years, published online in 2010–2023 and published in English were selected for the review. Finally, 11 records were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. Results Six studies were conducted in the Ashanti region, with most being cross-sectional surveys. Sampling methods varied: three used purposive sampling, one combined purposive and convenience sampling, and another used both purposive and stratified sampling. Random and multi-stage stratified sampling were used in other studies. The overall prevalence rate of AYFHSutilization in Ghana was 42% (CI 24%- 60%). Education and financial constraints significantly affected AYFHS access. Religious beliefs, limited education, financial constraints, negative attitudes, and a lack of parental consent deter its use. Facility-related issues like medicine shortages, long waiting times, and confidentiality concerns acted as barriers. Cultural, religious, and educational norms impact decisions to use AYFHS. Conclusion and recommendation To enhance utilization and align with Sustainable Development Goal Three (ensuring good health and well-being for all), culturally sensitive interventions, improved access, comprehensive sex education, and awareness campaigns are vital.