ABSTRACT Background: Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are a significant cause of mortality and morbidity across the globe. Spontaneous reporting systems are the commonest means of reporting adverse drug reactions with the overall aim of protecting patients from the harmful effects of medications. ADR reporting is however low among healthcare professionals due to several factors. A large number of Ghanaians often visit community pharmacies as the first point of call to access healthcare; however...
ABSTRACT Background: Internationally, STIs is found to be a key public health problem an estimation of 499 million new curable sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are detected each year with seventy five percent to eighty five percent in developing countries. STIs continue to present major economic, social, and health problems in the developing world, causing considerable mortality, morbidity and stigma. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the factors associated with S...
ABSTRACT Background: Physiotherapy has been shown to reduce the risk of disability among stroke patients. Poor adherence to physiotherapy can negatively affect outcomes and healthcare cost. However, very little is known about the barriers to physiotherapy services in Ghana. Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the barriers to physiotherapy services for stroke patients at TGH. The individual / personal and health system barriers to physiotherapy services at TGH were determined....
ABSTRACT Background: The high prevalence rate of skin infections is strongly linked to socioeconomic level whereas the incidence of skin infections is linked to poor hygiene, climatic factors and interpersonal transmission Aim: The main aim of the study was to assess skin infections among long-stayed patients at the Accra Psychiatric hospital. The study also assessed facility based factors, as well as Patient based factors. Methods: This research employed both qualitative and quantitative r...
ABSTRACT Background: Postpartum family planning (PPFP) is the prevention of unintended or closely spaced pregnancies within first year following delivery. Family planning (FP) is essential during the course of an individual's and couple's reproductive life (WHO, 2013). Globally, two hundred and twenty-five (225) million women do not want to become pregnant but are not using any family planning method; leading to 54 million unintended pregnancies. Objective: To assess the determinants and us...
ABSTRACT Introduction: Life expectancy and prosperity have risen over the past 5 decades globally, and are expected to continue to rise. The relevance of routine medical and dental examination cannot be overemphasized with an increase in advocacy as individuals are encouraged to undergo these examinations regularly especially among the young adult. This is to increase the prevention of disease rather than curative measures. Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted among ad...
ABSTRACT Tuberculosis (TB) is a major occupational hazard in resource limited healthcare settings. Owing to this, the World Health Organization (WHO) has suggested the adoption and implementation of Tuberculosis Infection Prevention and Control (TBIPC) programs in all healthcare facilities. However, studies have reported improper implementation and practice of these TBIPC measures in healthcare facilities in developing countries. Thus, this study examined the knowledge and practice of TBIPC m...
ABSTRACT Introduction: Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Many factors contribute to the development of hypertension, which may include nutrition, obesity, lack of exercise, alcohol intake, and tobacco use. The prevalence of hypertension in adolescents far exceeds the number who have been diagnosed. Early diagnosis of hypertension in adolescents will help reduce the prevalence of hypertension and its complications in adulthood. The objective of this study was to ...
ABSTRACT Although access to highly active antiretroviral therapy has expanded rapidly and led to effective reduction in HIV/AIDS related morbidities and mortalities, inadequate dietary intake and food insecurity are barriers to the success of the therapy. Few studies have reported on the association between dietary intake coupled with food security and HIV in Ghana. This study describes dietary practices of HIV-infected adults on ART in Ghana. The study collected data on demographic characte...
ABSTRACT Introduction: Malaria, though a preventable and treatable disease, remains a major public health problem worldwide. It is mesoendemic in Africa, with increased rate of morbidity and mortality among children under five and pregnant women. Efficient case management includes accurate diagnosis, the use of Artemisinin based combination therapy (ACT) and appropriate dispensing practices. These form the basis for optimal therapeutic outcomes. Despite the strategies adopted in Ghana to rol...
ABSTRACT Psychoactive and illicit drug use constitutes significant cause of morbidity and mortality but empirical laboratory data that complement epidemiological evidence are lacking. The study sought to examine the patterns of substance use among individuals who were investigated for evidence of psychoactive and illicit drug use at the Accra Psychiatric Hospital during the review period. All medical laboratory reports of investigations conducted on substance use at the facility over the fiv...
ABSTRACT The study was intended to find out the knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and practices of dog owners on dogs, rabies and rabies control and make appropriate recommendations to the authorities concerned, in the design of effective awareness campaigns in the control of the disease in the Tamale Municipality. As research and information on rabies is limited in Ghana, it is hoped that this study will serve as the basis on which other research on rabies can be built. An exploratory study wa...
ABSTRACT This study was designed to elicit the factors that contributed to the high default rate of the DOTs system in the Yendi District. Questionnaires were administered to all patients who registered for DOTs in 1998. 1999 and 2000. Focus group discussions were also conducted to explore the underlying factors for the health-seeking behaviours of the people. In-depth interviews were conducted with service providers so as to elicit the service-related factors of default alongside the patien...
ABSTRACT Introduction Tuberculosis remains a major public health concern affecting one-third of the world’s population despite numerous interventions put in place to curb its occurrence by the national TB control programme. Early case detection and prompt treatment cures the patient’s breaks the transmission chain and improves the effort of control. The aim of this study was to determine the factors contributing to low TB case detection in Bawku west District in the Upper East Region. Met...
ABSTRACT Background: Internationally, STIs is found to be a key public health problem an estimation of 499 million new curable sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are detected each year with seventy five percent to eighty five percent in developing countries. STIs continue to present major economic, social, and health problems in the developing world, causing considerable mortality, morbidity and stigma. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the factors associated with ST...