ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: HIV/AIDS is a disease of public health importance. HIV related stigma is a process of devaluing the people living with or associated with HIV/AIDS. “Courtesy stigma” comprises of public negative judgment as a result of associating with a stigmatized individual or group. There are arguments that formal HIV care providers experience stigma as a result of taking care of the people living with HIV/AIDS though it is part of their work schedule in the hospital or health cen...
ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to assess the quality of tuberculosis (TB) care rendered to TB patients within Tema Metropolis. The study examined three domains within which quality of care is assessed namely: structural factors, process factors and client satisfaction with services. Using a concurrent mixed method design, data was gathered through a survey among 113 TB clients and, by means of an interview among four healthcare professionals who provide care for TB patients. Pu...
Whole-foods plant-based diets (WFPBD) have surged in popularity secondary to the recognition that it is a healthier alternative to the standard Western diet which is characterised by high-intakes of animal-products. In recent years, research has suggested that a WFPBD offers an array of health benefits. This includes, but is not limited to, the reversal and prevention of chronic diseases such as coronary artery disease (CAD) (Tuso et al., 2015). Atherosclerosis, a main component in the pathog...
ABSTRACT Introduction: Tuberculosis and Human Immuno- deficiency Virus (HIV) infections represent two of the greatest threats in African prison. They are both endemic diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa. They have been associated with poor sanitation, overcrowding, poor ventilation, sharing of sharps and other body fluids. Tuberculosis is caused by bacteria whilst HIV is caused by a virus. Objective: The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB)...
ABSTRACT Background: Unsafe abortion is a significant public health problem. It accounts for 13% of maternal mortality worldwide and 11% in Ghana. Currently, Misoprostol is a drug used in the provision of medical abortion. Community pharmacies in Ghana are regularly the first port of call for most Ghanaians seeking healthcare advice or treatment, but little research has been done to assess community pharmacists‘ attitudes and prescribing regarding the use of misoprostol for medical...
ABSTRACT Background: The use of herbal products has gained popularity especially in developing countries. A number of patients are known to take these herbal products concurrently with conventional drugs. Concomitant use of herbal preparations and conventional drugs may result in herb-drug interactions, often via modulation of drug metabolizing enzymes, in particular, Cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes. Swedish bitters is one of such herbal preparations on the market which may be concomitan...
ABSTRACT Perilipins are phosphoproteins that are found in fat cells where they are restricted at the uppermost layer of lipid droplets. Over-expression of perilipin proteins in fat cells cause the storage of triacylglyceride (TAG) to increase in connection with a reduction in fats and lipd breakdown that causes increases in weight and type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. There are two types of perilipin which have a common N-teminal amino acids sequence which are perilipin A (P...
ABSTRACT Malaria is one of the major public health problems in developing countries and its prevalence in Nigeria is dependent on the vector, Anopheles gambiae. The control of Anopheles is a major component of vector management but effectiveness has been limited by factors like insecticide resistance, cost, toxicity on non-target organisms and environmental pollution concerns. There is an increasing interest in developing plant-based insecticides as sustainable alternatives to chemical insec...
ABSTRACT The study examined subscription to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in the Cape Coast Metropolis. Specifically, the study examined trends of subscription in the metropolis from 2005 to 2014, as well as barriers and motivation for subscription. The research adopted descriptive and explanatory study designs. Checklist and in-depth interview guides were used in collecting data from NHIS databases and 30 residents of the metropolis. Informed consent was sought from respondents...
ABSTRACT The aim of this study is to assess the determinants of contraceptive use among females in Ghana. The rate of contraceptive use among females in Ghana is very low. That leads to high fertility, high maternal mortality and high infant mortality in the country. So to improve the overall reproductive health status of women, it is important to encourage contraceptive use among women. This study investigates the effects of some demographic, social programmatic factors on current use of con...
ABSTRACT The inadequacy of reach-all health budgets in many developing countries has usually been a matter of political and social concern in several countries affected by budgetary constraints. In a bid to achieve some level of equity in health care, Ghana officially introduced National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in 2004. This study sought to investigate conditions under which health personnel work to ensure the sustainability of the NHIS. The study used triangulation method, which invol...
ABSTRACT Emergency care is care that must be rendered without delay. Though today’s nurses in emergency departments (ED) are faced with many challenges, little time is spent in teaching or learning the content of emergency nursing care during the basic, master’s or doctoral level nursing education program. The purpose of this research was to explore the lived experiences of nurses working in EDs in selected hospitals in the Volta Region of Ghana. The study is a qualitative research in whi...
ABSTRACT Background Diarrhoea in children under five years has become a major public health concern worldwide. It is possible that diarrhoea will remain a leading cause of child mortality worldwide in the future. World Health Organisation has indicated that children under five years are vulnerable to diarrhoeal disease especially Sub-Saharan Africa, it is therefore important for a study to be conducted to examine factors influencing health care utilisation in children under five years ...
ABSTRACT Background: Micronutrient deficiencies are a public health concern worldwide negatively affecting maternal and child health outcomes. Globally, micronutrient deficiencies have been found to be the major leading cause of maternal and child mortality. Deficiencies of these same nutrients are the most common among Women of Reproductive Age (WRA) and are associated with increased risk of adverse consequences such as anaemia during pregnancy and maternal mortality, low birth weight infant...
ABSTRACT The migration of health professionals after completion of medical school causes the health system in Ghana to be less resourced in terms of human capital. The role of doctors is very essential in health care delivery as it is reflective in the quality of services given. It is in view of this that the study was done to find out the migration intentions of final year medical students and the factors that influence their intentions. The research further identifies some of the retention ...