Health Science Reports最新文献

{"title":"The Current Landscape of Pancreatic Cancer Management in Sub-Saharan Africa - A Perspective Review.","authors":"Hareesha Rishab Bharadwaj, Matan Bone, Dushyant Singh Dahiya, Aditya Gaur, Khabab Abbasher Hussien Mohamed Ahmed, Umar Akram","doi":"10.1002/hsr2.71330","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.71330","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and aims: </strong>Pancreatic cancer remains a significant public health challenge in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), with a high mortality-to-incidence ratio driven by late-stage diagnoses, limited therapeutic access, and systemic healthcare disparities. This perspective aims to synthesize current evidence on the epidemiology, diagnostic capacity, treatment options, and structural barriers contributing to poor outcomes, while highlighting opportunities for targeted interventions and policy reforms.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a narrative review of peer-reviewed literature, regional reports, and epidemiological studies describing the burden and management of pancreatic cancer across SSA. Data were synthesized to characterize diagnostic pathways, surgical and palliative care practices, workforce capacity, and environmental risk factors. Strategies to address identified gaps were developed based on published evidence from similar resource-constrained settings.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Available data indicate that over 80% of patients in SSA present with advanced or metastatic disease. Diagnostic imaging, including CT and MRI, remains inaccessible in many regions, and biopsies are frequently obtained intraoperatively due to limited endoscopic capacity. Curative surgical resections are rare (< 10%), with palliative bypass procedures predominating. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy services are inconsistently available, and access to opioid analgesics remains below 50% in many centres. Contributing factors include underdeveloped infrastructure, insufficient specialized training, high out-of-pocket costs, and heavy metal environmental exposures.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Improving pancreatic cancer outcomes in SSA requires a comprehensive, multi-sectoral response that prioritizes infrastructure investment, workforce training, and equitable access to diagnostics and therapies. Establishing regional cancer centres, expanding perioperative and palliative nursing roles, strengthening cancer registries, and enforcing environmental regulations are critical steps. Collaboration with international organizations and community stakeholders will be essential to develop context-specific guidelines and sustainable solutions that can reduce disease burden and improve survival rates in the region.</p>","PeriodicalId":36518,"journal":{"name":"Health Science Reports","volume":"8 10","pages":"e71330"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12500524/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145252995","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"CD40LG as a Biomarker in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Links to Bone Destruction and Interstitial Lung Disease - A Bioinformatic Analysis With Clinical Validation.","authors":"Chuanhui Yao, Hui Xu, Xun Gong, Xieli Ma, Yuchen Yang, Dan Dou, Qiuwei Peng, Juan Jiao, Xiaopo Tang, Quan Jiang, Congmin Xia","doi":"10.1002/hsr2.71318","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.71318","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and aims: </strong>Biomarkers are essential tools in the diagnosis and management of various diseases. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic inflammatory disorder that frequently results in damage to joints and organs. Here, we examined potential biomarkers and therapeutic agents for RA patients.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Three microarray datasets and clinical data for synovial tissue were sourced from the publicly available Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in RA versus osteoarthritis (OA) patients were identified, followed by functional enrichment analysis, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis to explore DEG-associated pathways and identify hub genes. Furthermore, serum levels of relevant antibodies were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Additionally, potential therapeutic compounds for RA were predicted using the Connectivity Map (CMap) database, and molecular docking was conducted to assess their binding affinities with target proteins.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 409 DEGs were identified, with Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and GSEA analyses highlighting enrichment in cytokine activity, cytokine-receptor interactions, and the primary immunodeficiency pathway. Five key modules and hub genes were found using Cytoscape, and expression levels of CD40LG, ITGAX, and PTPRC were validated with another GEO data set. ELISA confirmed elevated serum CD40LG antibody levels in RA patients, suggesting its potential as a biomarker, especially in those with interstitial lung disease (ILD) or bone destruction. Connectivity map analysis identified small molecules that may reverse DEGs, and molecular docking showed emetine, oligomycin, cromoglicic acid, sulfinpyrazone, buspirone, and chlorogenic acid had favorable binding energies.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>CD40LG is a potential biomarker for RA, especially in patients with ILD or bone damage. Emetine, oligomycin, cromoglicic acid, sulfinpyrazone, buspirone, and chlorogenic acid are potential therapeutic agents for RA treatments.</p>","PeriodicalId":36518,"journal":{"name":"Health Science Reports","volume":"8 10","pages":"e71318"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12500530/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145253145","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Neuroanatomical and Psychosocial Effects of Heavy Alcohol Use Among Young Adults in Angola: A Cross-Sectional Study.","authors":"Bevaldo de Oliveira Guerra, Celestino Delgado, Euclides Nenga Manuel Sacomboio","doi":"10.1002/hsr2.71358","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.71358","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and aims: </strong>Excessive alcohol consumption is a critical yet under-researched public health problem in Angola, particularly among young adults. Although per capita consumption is among the highest in Africa, little is known about the specific neuroanatomical and psychosocial consequences in this group. This study aimed to evaluate sociodemographic, neuroanatomical, and psychosocial factors associated with heavy alcohol consumption among young adults in the Rangel district, Luanda, with emphasis on cranial tomography findings and psychosocial outcomes.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted an analytical cross-sectional study with a non-probabilistic convenience sample of 61 young adults aged 18-35 years. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and cranial CT scans at Prenda Hospital. Associations were tested using chi-square (two-sided, <i>α</i> = 0.05).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Heavy alcohol consumption was identified in 59.0% (95% CI: 46.3-71.0) of participants, predominantly among males (77.8%; 95% CI: 60.9-89.9), those aged 30-35 years (83.3%), and those with education at or below high school level (96.0%). CT scans showed a high prevalence of general cortical atrophy (71.4%; <i>p</i> < 0.001) and significant parietal lobe atrophy (100%; <i>p</i> = 0.043) among heavy drinkers. Temporal and frontal lobe atrophy were observed but were not statistically significant. Neurological symptoms included memory loss, tremors, and aggressiveness, while social consequences included stigma (<i>p</i> < 0.001) and unemployment.</p><p><strong>Conclusion and recommendations: </strong>Heavy alcohol use among young adults in Rangel is linked to sociodemographic vulnerability and significant neuroanatomical damage, particularly in the parietal lobe. Public health strategies should combine school-based prevention, early screening, neurocognitive rehabilitation, and stigma reduction, alongside strict enforcement of alcohol sales regulations.</p>","PeriodicalId":36518,"journal":{"name":"Health Science Reports","volume":"8 10","pages":"e71358"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12500527/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145253193","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Toward Tuberculosis: A Cross-Sectional Study in Balkh, Afghanistan.","authors":"Mohammad Masudi, Abdul Wahid Hamidi, Ali Rahimi, Nasar Ahmad Shayan","doi":"10.1002/hsr2.71338","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.71338","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and aims: </strong>Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major public health challenge in Afghanistan, requiring enhanced community engagement for effective control. This study assessed the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to TB among outpatients in Balkh to inform targeted interventions.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A convenience-based, face-to-face cross-sectional study was conducted from June 2024 to April 2025 on 867 hospital outpatients in Balkh using a structured questionnaire developed from peer-reviewed articles. A pilot study with 30 participants showed Cronbach's <i>α</i> = 0.767. Descriptive statistics, <i>χ</i> ² test, multivariable logistic regression analysis, and Spearman's correlation were performed using SPSS v.27, with statistical significance set at <i>p</i> < 0.05.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 867 participants, 63.7%, 52.7%, and 51.4% showed good knowledge, attitude, and practice, respectively. Additionally, good TB-related knowledge was significantly associated with being married (OR = 6.67), university education (OR = 3.31), prior awareness of TB (OR = 2.29), history of TB treatment (OR = 2.79), and TB vaccination (OR = 1.97) (all <i>p</i> < 0.05). Positive attitudes were linked to being married, unskilled employment (OR = 1.83), higher income (OR = 2.50), prior TB awareness (OR = 1.69), and having a window at home (OR = 8.03). Better practice was associated with female gender (OR = 4.20), higher income (OR = 2.02), TB awareness (OR = 1.48), and windowed housing (OR = 6.48), though unvaccinated individuals showed slightly better practice (OR = 1.44). Spearman's correlations showed significant positive associations between KAP scores (all <i>p</i> < 0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Significant gaps in TB KAP in Balkh reflect socioeconomic and systemic barriers. Targeted education and community-based interventions are essential for effective TB control.</p>","PeriodicalId":36518,"journal":{"name":"Health Science Reports","volume":"8 10","pages":"e71338"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12500522/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145253176","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Deep Learning for Early Detection of Cardiovascular Diseases From Medical Imaging.","authors":"Sangeeta Davi, Mukesh Kumar, Zainab Muhammad Hanif, Ashvin Kumar, Muskan Kumari, F N U Ridham, Aiman Salam Shaikh, Insiya Fatima Azad, Manesh Kumar, F N U Suwasi, F N U Venjhraj, Amogh Verma","doi":"10.1002/hsr2.71334","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.71334","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain a leading cause of mortality worldwide, making early detection vital for reducing morbidity and death rates. Echocardiography is a widely used, noninvasive imaging tool for diagnosing CVDs, but manual interpretation can be time-consuming and subject to variability. This study aims to evaluate the performance of a deep learning model using echocardiogram videos for the early detection of CVDs.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We applied a convolutional neural network (CNN), based on the ResNet-50 architecture, to the EchoNet-Dynamic data set, which includes echocardiogram videos. Preprocessing involved resizing frames and applying augmentation techniques to enhance model robustness. The data set was split into training (80%) and testing (20%) subsets. The model was trained to classify patients based on the presence or absence of CVD using temporal video features.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The CNN model achieved strong performance metrics, with an overall accuracy of 92.3%, a precision of 91.5%, a recall of 92.7%, and an F1-score of 92.1%. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC-ROC) was 0.95, indicating excellent discriminatory ability. These results highlight the model's capability to detect CVDs accurately from dynamic echocardiographic imaging.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study demonstrates the potential of deep learning, particularly CNN-based models, for automating the early detection of CVDs using echocardiogram videos. The high performance of the model suggests it could contribute to faster, more accurate, and cost-effective diagnosis in clinical practice. Future research should focus on improving model generalizability across diverse populations and enhancing interpretability for integration into clinical workflows.</p>","PeriodicalId":36518,"journal":{"name":"Health Science Reports","volume":"8 10","pages":"e71334"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12500533/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145253117","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Immune System-Related Genetic Risk Factors for Inhibitory Antibody Development in Patients With Hemophilia: Reviewing an Old Problem From a New Perspective-A Narrative Review.","authors":"Fatemeh Zeylabi, Mojtaba Aghaei, Najmaldin Saki","doi":"10.1002/hsr2.71331","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.71331","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and aims: </strong>Hemophilia A and B are two of the most common bleeding disorders. Genetic risk factors are associated with the development of autoantibodies released in hemophilia patients against alternative factors and are the most important problems associated with the care of these patients.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>In this study, we reviewed genetic risk factors related to the immune system in patients with hemophilia A and B who developed inhibitory antibodies against factors 8 or 9.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study is based on the PubMed database and Google Scholar search engine information (2016-2025) in English using the terms \"inhibitors\", \"inhibitory antibodies\", \"immune system\", and \"hemophilia\".</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Studies have shown that multiple genetic factors (CTLA-4, PTPN22, and cytokine polymorphisms) increase the risk of producing an inhibitor against alternative factors (8 and 9) in patients with severe hemophilia.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The presence of inhibitory antibodies in patients with severe hemophilia may be associated with immune system-related genetic risk factors, and several studies have shown that in most cases, immune system-related polymorphisms (rs2476601 PTPN22, rs2069812 IL5, and rs1800629 TNF-α) produce autoimmune antibodies or exacerbate them.</p>","PeriodicalId":36518,"journal":{"name":"Health Science Reports","volume":"8 10","pages":"e71331"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12500536/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145253179","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prevalence and Distribution of HPV Genotypes in Patients With Genital Warts: A Cross-Sectional Study From South of Iran.","authors":"Maryam Sadat Sadati, Soodeh Jahangiri, Ahmadreza Azizi, S Yasamin Parvar, Mojgan Akbarzadeh Jahromi, Yasamin Dehghan","doi":"10.1002/hsr2.71345","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.71345","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and aims: </strong>Human papillomavirus (HPV), the most prevalent sexually transmitted infection, causes genital warts primarily through low-risk genotypes. However, the presence of high-risk genotypes highlights the need for genotype-specific surveillance to guide clinical management and prevention strategies.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the prevalence and distribution of HPV genotypes among patients diagnosed with genital warts at Shahid Faghihi Hospital in Shiraz, Iran, from 2017 to 2024. HPV genotyping was performed using PCR, and statistical analyses were used to evaluate associations between genotypes, sex, and age groups.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The study included 291 patients, predominantly female (85.2%) and aged 20-34 years (58.08%). Low-risk HPV genotypes accounted for 91.35% of cases, while high-risk genotypes HPV-16 and HPV-18 were detected in 6.92% and 1.73% of cases, respectively. A significant association was observed between sex and genotype distribution (<i>p</i> = 0.003), with high-risk genotypes more prevalent in males (18.6%) than females (6.8%). No significant differences were found across age groups.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Low-risk HPV genotypes were most common in genital warts (91.35%), and HPV genotype distribution was significantly different between female and male patients. These findings emphasize the need for HPV vaccination programs and routine genotyping to guide clinical management in Iran's population.</p>","PeriodicalId":36518,"journal":{"name":"Health Science Reports","volume":"8 10","pages":"e71345"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12500521/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145252086","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring Neurobiological and Pharmacological Dimensions of Psychological Distress in Pre-Eclampsia: Implications for Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes.","authors":"Daniel Matovu","doi":"10.1002/hsr2.71348","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.71348","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":36518,"journal":{"name":"Health Science Reports","volume":"8 10","pages":"e71348"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12500410/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145253100","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Narrative Review on the Recent Insights Into the Pathogenicity and Potential Role of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in the Emergence of \"Disease X\".","authors":"Zubaier Ahmed, Kazi Milenur Rahman Prattay, Sabrina Sharmin, Fatema-Tuz-Zohora, Asef Raj, Forhad Bin Faruk, Bagdad Ahmed, Humair Bin Md Omer, Anika Awal Omi, Fazle Rabbi, Nasiba Binte Bahar, Sumiya Sharmin Mou, Mehedi Islam, Eshaba Karim, Md Elias Al-Mamun","doi":"10.1002/hsr2.71327","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.71327","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and aims: </strong>Following the end of the COVID-19 global emergency, concern has shifted to \"Disease X,\" a hypothetical, highly transmissible, and deadly pathogen, and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is a prime candidate for this. This review explores its epidemiology, mutations, transmission, and potential to become a pandemic-capable pathogen, aiming to support future research and public health preparedness against the disease.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A comprehensive search of major databases was conducted for peer-reviewed English articles (2000-2025) focusing on virology, outbreaks, treatments, and public health using relevant but definite keywords. Studies met strict inclusion criteria and standardized methods to ensure quality, reproducibility, and transparency.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Since it was identified in 2012, MERS-CoV has spread across 27 countries, presenting a high case fatality rate (~34.5%) and zoonotic origin. It is primarily linked to dromedary camels, but shows limited human-to-human transmission (<i>R</i>₀ < 1). Unlike SARS-CoV-2, MERS-CoV's spread is confined to close contact and healthcare settings, largely in the Middle East and parts of Africa. Its pathogenesis involves severe respiratory illness, driven by immune evasion and systemic inflammation, especially in individuals with comorbidities. While MERS-CoV lacks pandemic-level transmissibility, its genetic plasticity poses a risk for future evolution. Vaccine and therapeutic development remain limited due to sporadic outbreaks and low global urgency.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Despite not currently fitting the Disease X archetype, MERS-CoV's high mortality, zoonotic spillover potential, and possibility for increased transmissibility warrant continued surveillance, targeted research, and strengthened public health infrastructure to prevent localized outbreaks from escalating into broader crises.</p>","PeriodicalId":36518,"journal":{"name":"Health Science Reports","volume":"8 10","pages":"e71327"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12500531/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145253148","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pharmaceutical Waste Disposal: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Disposal Practices and Awareness in Sefwi Wiawso Municipality, Ghana.","authors":"Seidu Atta Ishmael, Rita Opoku, Michael Konney Laryea, Emmanuel Amponsah, Godfred Darko, Enoch Jones Borketey, Lawrence Sheringham Borquaye","doi":"10.1002/hsr2.71320","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.71320","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and aims: </strong>The rising global demand for medication has intensified concerns about improper pharmaceutical waste disposal in Ghana. Although disposal laws exist, enforcement is weak. While some Ghanaian regions report poor disposal practices, the Western North remains unstudied. Sefwi Wiawso Municipal (SWM), a rapidly growing area with numerous health facilities, pharmacies, and OTCMs, lacks data on how pharmaceutical waste is handled. This study assessed disposal practices and environmental awareness among households and pharmacies/OTCMs in SWM.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A survey was conducted among 230 households and 31 pharmacies/OCTMs. Using the Kobo toolbox and Kobo Collect application, pre-validated structured questionnaires were administered randomly in major towns within the SWM.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the household respondents, 77.39% reported the disposal of unused or expired drugs by placing them in the garbage before disposal at a dumpsite. Similarly, pharmacies reported that 45.16%, 41.94%, and 51.61% of solid, liquid, and semi-solid pharmaceutical wastes, respectively, were disposed of in the same manner. The majority of household respondents (86.09%) were unaware that they could return unused or expired medications to pharmacies for proper disposal. The survey revealed unhealthy disposal practices in both homes and pharmacies in the SWM, with analgesics, antimalarials, and antibiotics being the most frequently disposed of drugs. A higher percentage of respondents lacked knowledge about the potential effects of these residues on nontargeted organisms in the environment.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study underscores the pressing need for public education on the proper disposal of unused and expired medications to mitigate the potential adverse effects of pharmaceutical residues on the environment and non-targeted organisms.</p>","PeriodicalId":36518,"journal":{"name":"Health Science Reports","volume":"8 10","pages":"e71320"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12500417/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145253164","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}