ABSTRACT Background: Food and water borne illnesses are of great concern to all humanity and for this reason there is a need for every individual to take part in curbing this condition since it is preventable to a large extent. This could be achievable when the contributing factors are well known. This study therefore sought to assess the factors that contribute to food and water borne illnesses among households in the Ashaiman Municipality. Method: A descriptive cross sectional study was car...
ABSTRACT Infertility is a significant public health issue with grave social consequences that seems to affect women more than men. Globally, 15% of couples in their reproductive stage of development are affected with infertility at an estimated prevalence of 48.5 to 70 million couples worldwide. The vulnerable impression of infertility makes women with infertility wander in circles not knowing exactly what to do to avert childlessness; worsening their plight, wasting time and increasing treat...
ABSTRACT The family planning acceptor rate in the Nkwanta District is generally very low - 3.0% as compared to the National figure of 16.8%. This is against the background of the fact that the district is a deprived one in its' early stages of development, a fact which makes population control very crucial if the new development is not outstripped by an unregulated population growth. This study which was a descriptive qualitative and quantitative cross-sectional one, was designed with the obj...
ABSTRACT Introduction: Human Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease of man caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) complex. The rate of decline in incidence of the disease is low due to the emergence of Multi-Drug Resistance tuberculosis (MDR-TB). The numerical contribution of bovine tuberculosis (BTB) to the general tuberculosis burden is unknown. Herdsmen, livestock workers, and veterinarians are at high risk of contracting BTB. There are information about BTB infection in cattle and...
ABSTRACT HIV/AIDS continue to affect millions of people especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. In the developed countries 10-30% of people infected present late for care whiles in developing countries 40-63% of people infected with the disease present late for clinical care. Late presentation classified as WHO stage 3 or 4 of infection is associated with increased morbidity and mortality and presents the opportunity of onward transmission of the infection. Antiretroviral therapy ART initiated at a...
ABSTRACT Road traffic accidents have numerous public health and economic repercussions to developing countries, of which Ghana is no exception. In addition to death, there is maiming, financial cost and psychological ramifications of road accidents on victims and families. In Accra, the problem of increased numbers of motorcycle accidents along with the increase in the use of motorcycles to help escape traffic congestion is a major source of concern. Thus, this research wass designed to inves...
ABSTRACT Introduction Childhood immunization is one of the most successful public health interventions worldwide. It has contributed enormously to public health including the eradication of small pox and near eradication of poliomyelitis. High immunisation coverage is vital in the control, elimination and eradication of vaccine preventable diseases which accounts for many childhood morbidities and mortalities worldwide. The introduction of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) has made...
ABSTRACT This study reports on artisanal and small-scale gemstones mining (ASGM) in the Taita Taveta County in Kenya using a variety of methods including review of literature, key informant interviews, administration of questionnaires to miners and local communities, direct observations in the gemstones mining areas, and collection and analysis of gemstones-bearing rocks for their mineral and element compositions. Literature sources used include legal and institutional documents, geological r...
ABSTRACT This study investigated the concentration of seven heavy metals (As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Se and Zn) in water, soil and plant leaves in some selected coastal communities in the Western Region of Ghana near the jubilee oil field using acid digestion and Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer methods. Some physicochemical properties of water and soils were also determined to evaluate the quality of drinking water and soils. The ranges of metal concentration in water analysed in the wet season were...
ABSTRACT Background: Even though skilled birth attendance is useful for reducing maternal mortalities and morbidities, utilisation of skilled delivery in Ghana is sub-optimal. The main purpose of this study is to identify the factors that influence the utilisation of skilled delivery in the East Akim District of the Eastern region, Ghana. Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study employing quantitative research methods was carried out among 352 postnatal women attending child welfare cl...
ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Worldwide, occupational injuries have become an important public health issue leading to greater economic burden for a country. The Brewing Industry remains a very important industry that contributes greatly to the socioeconomic development of the country. The International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that about 2.3 million fatalities annually occur from involuntary occupational injuries and diseases. Even though several efforts have been put in place to minimiz...
ABSTRACT Background There is little interest in the sexual lives of PLWPD. It is usually assumed that PLWPD have little or no desire to engage in sexual intimacy, marriage or procreation. Little attention is paid to these aspects of the lives of PLWPD. PLWPD are often thought of as incapable of enjoying the same rights as people without physical disability and thus discouraged from pursuing marriage, sexual intimacy and childbearing. This study explored perceptions about marriage of people li...
ABSTRACT Background: Anaemia is an important public health problem worldwide and the most vulnerable group, are pregnant women and children. Anaemia associated with pregnancy is a serious health problem and its control requires the initial identification of the major factors responsible. Determination of the possible causes of nutritional anaemia among pregnant women is important to ensure satisfactory birth outcomes. In Ghana there is little data on the usual dietary intake among pregnant wo...
ABSTRACT Background: Quality of life (QOL) assessment is recommended to better plan and distribute health care resources with the aim of achieving a better quality of life. Chronic diseases adversely affect the quality of life, and there is also generally an increase of herbal medicine use in chronic disease patients. However, it is unclear whether there is a direct link between the use of herbal medicines and quality of life, particularly among patients with chronic diseases. Objective: The ...
ABSTRACT Background Infants who acquire HIV infection vertically experience rapid deterioration, usually leading to death. Early initiation of ART can reverse this trend. The WHO therefore recommends virological HIV testing in all exposed infants by six weeks, and if positive, promptly initiate ART. Despite the implementation of early infant testing in Ghana, coverage among eligible infants remains low and infants are tested late, resulting in erosion of possible benefits. Study Objectives Th...