ABSTRACT Introduction Ghana adopted a new Intermittent Preventive Treatment (IPT) of malaria in pregnancy policy in 2004, thus, from use of weekly Chloroquine chemoprophylaxis to use of Sulphadoxine-Pyrimethamine (SP) at intervals of four weeks as IPT for malaria in pregnancy. Despite its full implementation, the coverage still remains below the set target of 100% of at least IPT2. This study sought factors affecting IPT-SP uptake among pregnant women in the Sunyani Municipality Methodology T...
ABSTRACT Improving coverage of immunisation is a key component of programmes for reducing childhood morbidity and mortality. Despite several resources committed, Akinyele Local Government Area (LGA) had low immunisation coverage of 28% of OPV-3 as at October 2007 when the study was conducted. The factors contributing to these problems were yet to be fully explored. This study was therefore designed to assess the factors influencing utilisation of immunisation services in Akinyele LGA, Oyo St...
ABSTRACT Background: Despite high knowledge about modern contraceptives among young women, utilization levels are still low. Contraceptive prevalence is particular low among minority and under-served populations including refugees. Among young refugee women in the Budumburam refugee camp in Ghana, however, little research has been done to assess modern contraceptive use. The purpose of this study was to assess the use of modern contraceptives. Among young refugee women in the Budumburam ref...
ABSTRACT Background: Hepatitis B has been reported to be the 10th leading cause of death worldwide which accounts for 500,000 to 1.2 million deaths every year (Alavian et al., 2007). Alavian et al., (2007) also reported that hepatitis B related deaths are caused by chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. The WHO estimated that, there are 240 million people who are chronically infected worldwide, particularly in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). The purpose of...
ABSTRACT The study, which was conducted in July 2003 focuses on assessing the provision of water, sanitation and related hygiene practices in Kpassa Township in Nkwanta District. This will serve as an update on baseline data to be used for informing policy makers about water, sanitation and hygiene practices in the District. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used in data collection. Sixty (60) households were interviewed and observed using the multistage approach to select ...
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 Communities and their composition (individuals and households) coupled with spatial factors have impact on neonatal mortality. However, considering the smallest health administrative units as communities (sub-districts) and investigating the impact of these communities, their composition and spatial factors on neonatal mortality in Ghana has not been considered. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of communities, households, individuals and spatial factors...
ABSTRACT The danger of dying from an unsafe abortion in Africa was almost three times higher than that in the Asia, and more than 15 times higher than that in the Latin America. However, reporting complications resulting from abortion remains difficult for some women. This study therefore examined post abortion care at the Volta Regional Hospital. Specifically, the study reviewed reported abortion complications, assessed the post abortion care services rendered to clients, examined the aborti...
ABSTRACT Linkages are the social and material links and networks that connect migrants to their places of origin. Linkages are employed by migrants to sustain relations as well as improve the socio-economic status of their places of origin. It is against this backdrop that the study sought to assess origin-destination linkages as livelihood strategy among migrants from the Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions of Ghana who are resident in the Cape Coast Metropolis. To accomplish this, a...
ABSTRACT Background: Upper respiratory tract infections are the most frequently occurring illness of children due to their low immunity and are of high cost to society, being responsible for children absenteeism from school and parents from work. Despite their predominant viral aetiology and self-limiting nature, they continue to be treated with antibiotics. The inappropriate use of these antibiotics in children is accompanied by serious adverse effects. When antibiotics are indicated, there ...
ABSTRACT Background Malaria is a public health problem affecting vulnerable populations in sub-Saharan Africa. It is has deleterious effects during pregnancy on foetal and neonatal health. The WHO recommended regimen for treating uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in the first trimester of pregnancy, and adopted by the Ghana Health service, is 10 mg/kg body weight of oral Quinine given three times daily for 7 days or 10 mg/kg body weight of Quinine plus clindamycin to be taken orally...
ABSTRACT The rate at which people age with disability is increasing with respect to the growing aged population in Ghana. This increasing number of the aged with disability is occurring at a time when there is declining social support for the aged in the Ghanaian traditional family system. The main objective of this study was to assess the perceived overall Quality of Life (QOL) of the aged with disability in the Wa Municipality, Nadowli-Kaleo, Jirapa and Wa East districts in the Upper West R...
ABSTRACT Background: Successful treatment of tuberculosis (TB) involves taking anti-tuberculosis drugs for at least six months. Poor adherence to treatment means patients remain infectious for a longer period, and are more likely to relapse or succumb to tuberculosis and could result in treatment failure as well as foster emergence of drug resistant tuberculosis. Sierra Leone is among countries with high tuberculosis burden globally. Objective: To identify factors associated with default ...
ABSTRACT Induced abortions continually contribute to the issue of maternal mortality in Ghana. The use of contraceptives by women of reproductive age is thought to aid in reducing the prevalence of abortion in the country. With these facts, this study seeks to establish the relationship between contraceptive use and abortion and determine how the two influence each other. Factors that have been influencing the prevalence of contraceptive use and abortion were also assessed in this study. Gain...
ABSTRACT As work practices and living arrangements change rapidly in Ghana, mothers, who are considered as primary child caregivers, despite the considerable changes in gender roles, can be faced with making difficult decisions as they try to balance childcare with the demands of the workplace. Consequently, a large number of children grow up in the care of their mothers and other household non-maternal child caregivers. Despite these childcare arrangements, a comparative study of child careg...