ABSTRACT The complexity in measuring feeding practices makes it difficult to study the relation between infant feeding practices and other characteristics. This cross-sectional study carried out in Upper Manya Krobo District (UMKD) among 260 children aged 6-23 months (mo) was aimed at understanding the association between infant and young child feeding index (ICFI), the nutritional knowledge of the care-giver and the nutritional status of children in UMKD. A structured questionnaire was used...
ABSTRACT Introduction: Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Many factors contribute to the development of hypertension, which may include nutrition, obesity, lack of exercise, alcohol intake, and tobacco use. The prevalence of hypertension in adolescents far exceeds the number who have been diagnosed. Early diagnosis of hypertension in adolescents will help reduce the prevalence of hypertension and its complications in adulthood. The objective of this study was to ...
ABSTRACT Continuous and noninvasive method of monitoring and regulating the blood glucose level in diabetic patients is essential to avoid complications that may result from the condition. Over the last few years, efforts have been made to replace the existing invasive method of glycemic monitoring with the novel noninvasive approach by taking advantage of recent developments in biosensors and enhanced computing power of microprocessors. This work sought to explore the combined technologies ...
ABSTRACT Although access to highly active antiretroviral therapy has expanded rapidly and led to effective reduction in HIV/AIDS related morbidities and mortalities, inadequate dietary intake and food insecurity are barriers to the success of the therapy. Few studies have reported on the association between dietary intake coupled with food security and HIV in Ghana. This study describes dietary practices of HIV-infected adults on ART in Ghana. The study collected data on demographic characte...
ABSTRACT Introduction: Malaria, though a preventable and treatable disease, remains a major public health problem worldwide. It is mesoendemic in Africa, with increased rate of morbidity and mortality among children under five and pregnant women. Efficient case management includes accurate diagnosis, the use of Artemisinin based combination therapy (ACT) and appropriate dispensing practices. These form the basis for optimal therapeutic outcomes. Despite the strategies adopted in Ghana to rol...
ABSTRACT About 1.6 billion people in more than one hundred countries including Ghana suffer the consequences of micronutrient deficiencies, namely iron, iodine and Vitamin A. A thousand million people were estimated to be at risk of iodine deficiency alone in 1990. Two hundred million have goitres, 20 million are mentally retarded; six million of these being cretins. Iron deficiency anemia is the most widespread nutritional deficiency in the world today. Two billion people are affected by ane...
ABSTRACT Psychoactive and illicit drug use constitutes significant cause of morbidity and mortality but empirical laboratory data that complement epidemiological evidence are lacking. The study sought to examine the patterns of substance use among individuals who were investigated for evidence of psychoactive and illicit drug use at the Accra Psychiatric Hospital during the review period. All medical laboratory reports of investigations conducted on substance use at the facility over the fiv...
ABSTRACT Background: Needle stick and sharp injuries (NSSIs) or needle stick injuries (NSI) have been recognized as one of the most serious occupational health hazards among health care workers (HCWs) with a potentially high risk of transmitting blood borne pathogens. Such pathogens include hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The incidence of NSIs is highest in low income countries ostensibly due to lack of strict adherence to the use of pe...
ABSTRACT The study was intended to find out the knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and practices of dog owners on dogs, rabies and rabies control and make appropriate recommendations to the authorities concerned, in the design of effective awareness campaigns in the control of the disease in the Tamale Municipality. As research and information on rabies is limited in Ghana, it is hoped that this study will serve as the basis on which other research on rabies can be built. An exploratory study wa...
ABSTRACT The rising mortality rate of diabetes mellitus and the upsurge in diabetes complications is very alarming. This has been attributed to the poor knowledge patients living with diabetes have on diabetes and its management, especially the nutritional management. This study sought to explore the knowledge on nutritional management of diabetes mellitus among patients living with diabetes mellitus who attended clinic at the National Diabetes Management and Research Centre of the Korle-Bu T...
ABSTRACT This study was designed to elicit the factors that contributed to the high default rate of the DOTs system in the Yendi District. Questionnaires were administered to all patients who registered for DOTs in 1998. 1999 and 2000. Focus group discussions were also conducted to explore the underlying factors for the health-seeking behaviours of the people. In-depth interviews were conducted with service providers so as to elicit the service-related factors of default alongside the patien...
ABSTRACT Background: Synedrella nodiflora is a common weed in Ghana that is boiled to treat epilepsy and threatened abortion. The ethanolic whole plant extract has been demonstrated to have antiinflammatory, antioxidant, hypoglycemic, anticonvulsant, sedative, antidepressant and antipsychotic effects in murine models. The study presents the anti-oxidant and antihyperglycaemic effects of the ethanolic extract of the whole plant extract of Synedrella nodiflora (SNE) on a diabetic rat model. Met...
ABSTRACT Introduction Tuberculosis remains a major public health concern affecting one-third of the world’s population despite numerous interventions put in place to curb its occurrence by the national TB control programme. Early case detection and prompt treatment cures the patient’s breaks the transmission chain and improves the effort of control. The aim of this study was to determine the factors contributing to low TB case detection in Bawku west District in the Upper East Region. Met...
ABSTRACT Background: Internationally, STIs is found to be a key public health problem an estimation of 499 million new curable sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are detected each year with seventy five percent to eighty five percent in developing countries. STIs continue to present major economic, social, and health problems in the developing world, causing considerable mortality, morbidity and stigma. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the factors associated with ST...
ABSTRACT Background: Obstetric Fistula is an abnormal opening between a woman‟s vagina and bladder (Vesico Vagina Fistula (VVF)) and or rectum (Recto Vagina Fistula (RVF)) through which her urine and or faeces continually leaks. This condition often leads to psychosocial, economic or medical care challenges and a potential threat to quality of life. Objective: The aim of the study was to explore the experiences of women living with Obstetric Fistula at the Mfantseman Municipal Area (MMA). M...