ABSTRACT Background: Hepatitis is a disease defined by the inflammation of the liver and it is characterized by the existence of inflammatory cells in the tissues of the liver leading to fibrosis or cirrhosis. Viral hepatitis has become a global public health threat affecting millions of people yearly, causing disability and mortality. There are an estimated five hundred million people who are chronically infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) or Hepatitis C virus (HCV). Reliable data is requi...
ABSTRACT Introduction Hyperbilirubinemia (jaundice) is the yellowish coloration of the skin, sclera of the eyes and the mucosa due to excess bilirubin in the blood. All age groups are susceptible to jaundice, but neonates are particularly at risk. Annually, neonatal jaundice affects about 60% of the 130 million babies born worldwide. Severe Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia (SNHB) and Chronic Bilirubin Encephalopathy (CBE) are complications with neonatal jaundice that can have fatal outcome. About ...
ABSTRACT This study aims to find out factors associated with antimalarial drug resistance in some selected areas in Ibadan.
ABSTRACT Microsoft Abigail Brago Ofosuhene1, 2,, Kenu1, E Afari1, F. Wurapa1, S. O. Sackey1, D. Ameme1, P. Nortey1. F. Anto1 1Ghana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon. 2Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana. Background: World Health Organization (WHO) define hypertension as a systolic blood pressure (BP) equal or above 140mmHg and/or diastolic BP equal to or above 90mmHg. Hypertension is a dominant risk factor of cardiov...
ABSTRACT Background: Despite reducing from 451 in 2007 to 350 in 2010 per 100,000 live births, Ghana has a high maternal mortality rate. NMCP target for IPTp2 is 80%, Ghana‟s coverage was 64.4% in 2011.This contrasts with 84.7% ANC attendance coverage for at least 4 visits. Northern Regional IPTp2 coverage is lower than the national average at 51.2%. In Gushegu 44% registered pregnant women received IPTp2 in 2013. Low IPTP coverage is a threat to reducing malaria incidence and maternal mort...
ABSTRACT HIV/AIDS is one of the most challenging pandemic globally. More than two-thirds of adults infected with HIV live in Sub-Saharan Africa. Adherence to Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART) is a key factor that determines the success or failure of treatment, while non-adherence is a major cause of HIV drug resistance and subsequent immunological and clinical failure. Social support is a significant resource for individuals undergoing stress, and has been found to improve adherence among patie...
ABSTRACT Background Many countries across Sub Saharan Africa are rapidly stepping up insecticide –treated nets (ITN) coverage to combat malaria and Ghana is not left out in this trail. Studies have been done in Ghana on ITN utilization but a few of such studies have been done in the Agona East District of the Central of Ghana. This study was conducted to assess factors influencing the utilisation of ITNs in the Agona East district in the Central Region of Ghana, an area with an in-between i...
ABSTRACT Introduction: More than five million newborns are stillborn or die within the first 7 days of life each year globally. In Ghana prematurity, low birth weight, multiple births, birth complications and first order pregnancies are known to be major determinants of perinatal deaths. However it is unclear what the major contributors to perinatal mortality in the Tema Metropolis are. This study was conducted to assess the determinants of perinatal mortality in the Tema Metropolis in the Gr...
ABSTRACT Cyanide toxicity is of public health concern. Cyanide is among the most potent and deadly poisons and sources of potential human exposure to it are numerous, arising through its release into the environment from both natural and anthropogenic sources. Gnetum Africanum (GA) and Ocimum Gratissimum (OG) which contain essential amino acids required to abate cyanide toxicity effects, are widely used local plants for both nutritional and therapeutic purposes in Nigeria. There is dearth of...
Abstract Background: Cancers constitute a significant public health problem in Nigeria. Breast, cervix and prostate cancers are leading causes of cancer-related deaths. Changing diets, lifestyles, HIV/AIDS and macro-structural factors contribute to cancer morbidity and mortality. Poor health information linking cancer risk to individual behaviors, environmental pollutants and structural barriers undermine prevention/control efforts. Studies suggest increasing health literacy and empowering i...
ABSTRACT Violence against women (VAW) is a major public health problem affecting women globally. In addition to causing injuries and eroding women’s self esteem, violence increases the risk of reproductive health problems. However, only little is known about the magnitude and determinants of violence in female sex workers (FSWs) in Nigeria. This study assessed the prevalence and the risk factors that contribute to violence against FSWs in Abuja. A descriptive cross-sectional study design w...
ABSTRACT Low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) constitute the majority of the world’s population and bear more than 80% of the global burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD).1,2 The recent increases in CVD globally are also reflected in LMIC, where the prevalence of overall deaths from CVD was 28% in 20013 and premature CVD mortality was 37% in 2015.4 The paucity of data regarding the drivers of the CVD epidemic and contextualized solutions is, in part, because less than 10% of the global ...
ABSTRACT Background: The World Health Organization places emphasis on the test and confirm any suspected malaria case either by microscopy or by rapid diagnostic test before treatment with ACT. Almost half of all suspected malaria cases in endemic countries in Africa are still being treated presumptively. This study assessed prescribers’ compliance to the Test, Treat and Track (T3) strategy for diagnosing and managing uncomplicated malaria. Methods: Out Patients Department records covering ...
ABSTRACT Introduction About 90% of HIV new infections among infant and children younger than 14 years are due to mother-to-child transmission. More than half of these children die before their second birthday in the absence of treatment. However, mortality among HIV positive infants can be reduced by over 70% if treatment is initiated within the first three months after birth. Though Ghana has well established Prevention of Mother to Child/Early infant diagnosis (PMTCT/EID) service, over 80 %...