Abstract Iodine deficiency disorders are a major public health concern affecting an estimated 2 billion people worldwide. As part of efforts to achieve the Universal Salt Iodization goal, the Government of Ghana launched the Universal Salt Iodization program backed by an act of parliament to oversee the attainment of this goal. Notwithstanding these efforts, iodine consumption amongst households and individuals is generally low in the Northern region especially in the Gushegu district. We...
ABSTRACT Socio-economic inequalities in basic maternal health interventions exist in Ghana, yet little is known about health-seeking of poor households. Further understanding of issues surrounding availability, affordability and quality of maternal health services among the poor is crucial to eliminating inequalities in maternal health coverage in Ghana especially in rural communities. The study was carried out to assess the effects of socio-cultural factors on maternal health care delivery...
ABSTRACT The control of the spread of endemic malaria is incumbent on the prevention of many mortalities and morbidities that are associated with the disease in the Upper East Region of Ghana. The insecticide treated bed nets are the most reliable and cost effective tools to use in the prevention of malaria. This study explored the usage patterns and decision making processes, level of knowledge on the risk of the non-use of the Insecticide Treated Net (ITN), barriers to sustained usage and ...
ABSTRACT The trend of caesarean section (CS) rate continues to increase worldwide. This trend of increasing CS has raised a lot of concerns among health professionals and countries world over. The World Health Organisation in 2007 reached a consensus around the world with the recommendation of an acceptable Caesarean Section rate of 10---15% among countries. This study evaluated the trend of Caesarean Section in the KassenaNankana Municipal of the Upper East Region, Ghana. The study evaluated...
ABSTRACT Child survival remains one of the most important public health challenges in Ghana. The implementation of Community-based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) is one of the key strategies to improve child survival. The aim of this study was to assess the implementation realities of Community-based Management of Acute Malnutrition programme on child survival in Savelugu/Nanton Municipal of the Northern Region of Ghana. The specific objectives are: 1. Assessing the CMAM service pr...
ABSTRACT Infant and young child feeding practices have been identified as one of the major determinants of children's nutritional status and account to a large extent for the high rates of malnutrition among children in Ghana. This study is aimed at determining infant and young feeding practices in relation to nutritional status of children under two years in the Kumbungu District of Ghana. This was a cross-sectional study conducted on 274 pairs of children and their mothers who were randoml...
ABSTRACT Prenatal care provides the opportunity for early detection of pregnancy related problems for treatment to improve pregnancy outcomes. However, our knowledge is incomplete about the degree to which the content and delivery of prenatal care are associated with postpartum care practices such as infant feeding behaviors and newborn care. This study aimed at assessing the relationship between prenatal care and the adoption of newborn care practices including child feeding practices among...
ABSTRACT Generally, Muslims religious leaders are often viewed as potential obstacles towards family planning practices owing to their incessant condemnation of family planning. In Northern Region family planning practices is very low, especially among Muslim couples. In view of this, the study sought to examine how Muslim women and men in the Tamale Metropolis take decisions regarding family planning. The social survey was adopted as research strategy due to the larger nature of the study p...
ABSTRACT Soil and water degradation is a source of problem confronting sub-Saharan Africa with regard to improving agricultural productivity, reducing poverty and securing food insecurity. Unfortunately, many Soil and Water Conservation (SWC) programmes design to address soil and water degradation in the traditional agricultural sector have fallen far short of expectation. This study therefore assessed the effects of soil fertility and conservation technologies on farmlands in Yendi Municipa...
ABSTRACT Alcohol consumption is prevalent among young women in Ghana. Many of these women are becoming heavy drinkers. Alcohol has negative effects on pregnancy and health. It is on this backdrop that the researcher carried out this survey to determine the prevalence, and the factors that affect the consumption of alcohol among women of childbearing age in Nandom district of the Upper West region of Ghana. The study, a descriptive cross-sectional, was conducted in seven health facilities pro...
ABSTRACT Background: Efficient infection prevention and control (IPC) practices are basic requirements for all health facilities to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with microbial agents and hence excellent patient outcome. Adherence to IPC is important to reduce the transmission of nosocomial infections.
ABSTRACT Maternal mortality remains a major public health challenge despite numerous strategies devised by the international community to curb it. Globally, maternal mortality is the leading cause of death among females within the reproductive age. The Upper West region being one of poorest regions contribute significantly to the high prevalence rate of maternal death at the national level. However, little attention is paid to the factors that lead to these deaths in the Region. The objectiv...
ABSTRACT A significant number of children do not comply with the Routine Immunization even after the health extension program was launched. This study was conducted to assess the determinants of noncompliance with the routine infant immunization schedule among residents of the Tamale Metropolis. A cross sectional survey involving 406 caregiver/child pair and also selected officials of the health services in Tamale was conducted. The rates for each scheduled date were 15.5% for Polio Zero, 41...
ABSTRACT There is a high global burden of diseases that are related to poor sanitation. Developing countries including Africa are more affected and Ghana is not left out. Ecological sanitation (EcoSan) is a strategic comprehensive sanitation approach which integrates all aspects of sanitation and links sanitation with agriculture and food production. Faeces and urine serve as vehicles for transmitting many communicable diseases to man. This study was therefore to assess the acceptability of ...
ABSTRACT Unplanned teenage pregnancy constitutes an important health problem whilst contraceptive services are less costly in Ghana and abortion services are increasing in most health facilities. The main objective of the study was to examine the application of information communication technology in the awareness and usage of contraceptive information among teenagers in the Sunyani East Municipality. Five specific objectives were formulated to set as a guide for the study. Descriptive cross...