ABSTRACT Stroke remains the leading cause of serious, long-term neurologic impairment and functional disability. Stroke affects the quality of life of its survivors. This study seeks to determine factors influencing the quality of life of stroke patients in order to promote maximal health related quality of life (HRQOL) improvements in these patients. The objective of the study is to determine the factors influencing the quality of life of stroke patients attending Tema General Hospital This ...
ABSTRACT Intense exercise alters the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and may be an effective means to reduce their deleterious effect on the body. Two major classes of endogenous protective mechanisms work together to reduce the harmful effects of oxidants in the cell. The enzymatic scavenging system such as superoxide dismutase and the nonenzymatic antioxidants such as, albumin and uric acid can reduce ROS and protect tissues against oxidative damage. This oxidant-antioxidant bal...
ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is known to result in 700,000 deaths each year worldwide, mostly in low and middle income countries. Currently, Ghana faces a double disease burden from communicable and non-communicable diseases, coupled with poor monitoring of antibiotic use and weak regulatory systems. There is also a lack of capacity to link results of laboratory diagnostic tests to sale of medicines as well as uncontrolled veterinary use of antibiotics, compounding the ...
ABSTRACT Growth Monitoring and Promotion (GMP) is a public health intervention which makes use of frequent assessment of the growth of children under five years. The programme enables health workers to early detect growth failure and take corrective actions through improvements in feeding and care practices. Despite evidence that most caregivers in Ghana have contact with GMP through monthly child welfare clinics (CWC), child feeding practices remain sub-optimal and child undernutrition persi...
ABSTRACT Background: Nutrition support remains a key component of medical care. It is beneficial for critically ill patients with eating difficulties and their inability to meet their nutritional requirements. Nutrition support has been shown to positively affect clinical outcomes. Notwithstanding, there is paucity of published data on nutrition support practices and delivery in Ghanaian hospitals. Aim: To investigate nutrition support and its related practices in hospitals in Ghana. Method: ...
ABSTRACT Background Malaria continues to be a menace in many parts of the world, contributing to high morbidity and mortality especially in developing countries. Irrespective of the immense contributions made to control malaria infection rates, the infection perpetually plagues numerous lives in sub-Saharan Africa. Malaria infection has also been implicated in renal and hepatic dysfunction. The renal dysfunction typifies an increase of urea and creatinine levels in serum whiles the hepatic dy...
ABSTRACT Malaria and anaemia continues to be a burden in the Hohoe Municipality of the Volta region of Ghana. In 2006, two cross- sectional studies were carried out in thirty communities among children under five years in the municipality in June and November to determine the prevalence of malaria and anaemia. This formed the baseline malaria and anemia prevalence in the municipality. After this study, insecticide treated nets (ITNs) and Artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACTs) were intro...
ABSTRACT Background: Adolescents are experiencing early maturity and are therefore engaging in early sexual initiation; which exposes them to negative outcomes such as unintended pregnancy, unsafe abortions, STIs, among others. Identifying the drivers of early intercourse among adolescent is key in developing interventions targeting adolescent sexual and reproductive health. Objective: This study examined factors influencing early sexual initiation among adolescents aged 15 to 19 years in Gha...
ABSTRACT Background: The commonest occurring cancer among women worldwide is breast cancer. In addition, it is the principal cause of mortalities in women resulting from cancer (O’Mahony et al, 2013). Statistics show that one out of nine women, will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime (Torre et al, 2015). There is 95% survival rate if the disease is detected early (Seer, 2008). Early detection can be achieved through the adoption of screening practices (Tavafian et al, 2009). ...
ABSTRACT Introduction: Adolescent pregnancies are high risk obstetric occurrences. Antenatal care (ANC) provides opportunities to recognize and treat obstetric complications, enhancing the pregnancy outcomes for mothers and babies. Objective: The purpose of the study is to identify factors influencing adolescents' utilization of ANC services in Amenfi West. Methods: A quantitative, cross-sectional, descriptive research design was adopted, using structured questionnaire to collect data. Purpos...
ABSTRACT BACKGROUND Malaria remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in malaria endemic countries. About 3.2 billion people, nearly half of the world's population are at risk of malaria but children under five years of age and pregnant women are at higher risk of severe illness due to lowered immunity. In Ghana, Malaria tops Out Patients Department (OPD) reported cases. According to Ghana Health Service (GHS) reports malaria kills 3 children every day and accounted for about 38.1 % ...
ABSTRACT The neural folds comprise two epithelial layers, namely, surface epithelium and neuroepithelium. In the fore and midbrain regions of the chick embryo, neural fold fusion in the dorsal midline involves a complete fusion of both layers. In the hindbrain region, however, fusion of the neuroepithelial portion of the neural folds does not occur. Rather, following apposition of the tips of the neural folds, many of the neuroepithelial cells that should participate in neural fold fusion und...
ABSTRACT It is very important to assess adherence to ARTs to understand why treatment fail. However, measurement of adherence especially in the clinic setting is very difficult as there is no single method that best measures it. The main objective of this study was to measure adherence to ART among HIV patients (PLWHA) at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) using, pill counts and Self-report and also to identify factors that contributes to optimal adherence. The design was a cross sectional...
ABSTRACT Background: Microscopic examination of hair has been useful in personal identification in the forensic sciences for years. However, increasing artificial modification of scalp hair, especially by women for the purposes of beautification, threatens its relevance in this vein. Microscopic characterization of such hair could provide reference data that could help maintain its usefulness in personal identification in the forensic sciences and other areas. Aim: The study determined the ef...
ABSTRACT This study was done to ascertain the food security and nutritional status of children aged between two and five years in Kpone, a fishing community in the Greater Accra region of Ghana. The objectives were to assess (i) some household and child health characteristics, (ii) dietary adequacy for energy, protein, iron and vitamin A, (iii) the food security status of the children, (iv) growth by anthropometry and (v) serum iron and vitamin A status of the children. In the major fish seas...