ABSTRACT The intrauterine contraceptive device (IUD/IUCD) is a safe, effective and long-acting reversible contraceptive method commonly used worldwide. Despite its proven safety, efficacy and its reversibility, the IUD/IUCD is one of the contraceptive methods that is under-utilized in many African countries, including Namibia. The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding the IUD/IUCD among family planning (FP) providers and acceptors ...
ABSTRACT Continuing formal education is essential to the growth of the nursing profession due to the dynamic environment of the health industry. Nurses after their initial training received at school, have the opportunity to engage in continuing formal education. The study sought to have an in - depth exploration of the perceptions, motivators, barriers and measures to enhance the continuing formal education of non - professional nurses. The qualitative descriptive design was employed and the...
ABSTRACT Physical Activity, a core component of weIIness promotion, does not command intense research interest in Africa in general and Ghana in particular. Data on physical activity prevalence in Ghana is lacking despite the apparent knowledge, belief, attitude and practices on its potential benefits. Physical activity promotion seems to be the least of the priorities of public health surveillance interventions in Ghana. This cross-sectional, exploratory academic enquiry sought to determine ...
ABSTRACT Background: Pn". . Vtnlion ofmother-ID-child transmission ofHlV (PMTCn is delivered in stages (or cascades) and high level of retention at each cascade step by mother and lalcrb ymother-infant pairs is required to eliminate maternal transmission of HIV which occurs through pregnancy. childbirth andbreastfeeding. Reasons for low rates of retention in Ghana are nOI well understood though HIVsentinel sites situated across the country serve as good resourcefo rcollectingdatafor generatin...
ABSTRACT Health emergenc ies occur everywhere from the market place to the house to by the roadside, and each day they consume resources regardless of whether there are systemsca pableofachieving good outcomes or not. Ina low resource country like Ghana policy and guidelines will play a very integral role in ensuring quality and efficiency of emergency servic es at all tiersofservicc. In 2011,the Accident and emergency policy was introduced to helpstren gthen the capatitiesof facilities in em...
ABSTRACT Apart from contributing to the degradation of lagoons, litter on the banks of coastal lagoons reduces their aesthetic values and denies them of their functions in ecosystem conservation and sustainability – a condition that results in the disappearance of coastal lagoon. The main objective of the study is to assess the litter load on the banks of coastal lagoons (Kpeshie, Mukwei, Sakumo II, Gao and the Keta) located along the eastern coast of Ghana over a six month period (i.e. fro...
ABSTRACT This study was carried out to investigate socio–cultural factors that influence male partner’s participation in antenatal care and its impact on maternal health care. Qualitative method was employed to explore socio-cultural determinants of male partners’ participation in antenatal care services in the Wa municipality of the Upper West Region. A total of 15 male partners were purposively selected from communities in the Wa Municipality. Thematic content analysis was employed fo...
population is expected to triple from the current estimate of 700milliont02 billion by the year 2050. In Ghana, the ageing populat ion as at 2010 was 6.T'1o ofthetotaJpopuJationand it is projected that by the year 2050, the aged population would have increased to 11 .9. Unfortunately, these people have limited knowledge of how to manage their health conditions and whereto seek appropriate help resulting in untim ely deaths. The National Health Insurance Scheme (N HIS), a fonn of health financ...
ABSTRACT Background: Solid waste generated from activities involving health protection, medical diagnosis and treatment, known as solid medical waste (SMW), is increasing in households due to home based care, treatment of chronic diseases, shortened lengths of hospital stay, and home management of illnesses such as malaria. The hazardous properties of SMW require specific management to minimize potential harm to human health and the environment, which is often undertaken in healthcare facilit...
ABSTRACT Background: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a mood disorder that affects 10 - 20 % of women after child birth. It has been observed that gestational iron deficiency which affects mostly mothers and their infants causes a deficit in behavioural, cognitive and affective functions precipitating depressive symptoms in both mothers and their infants during the postpartum period. The present work examined the role of iron in depression during the postpartum period in animal models. Method: ...
ABSTRACT Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is one of the seven neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) identified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as controllable and potentially eliminable with effective interventions. It is a vector borne parasitic infection transmitted by mosquitoes which belong to the Anopheles, Culex, Aedes, Mansonia, Coquillettidia and Ochlerotatus genera. The nematode parasites responsible for causing the disease are Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi and Brugia timori. Thes...
Abstract Mutualisms, where organisms benefit from cooperation, are common in nature, but payoffs are dynamic and mutualists can incur costs as well as benefits from their association. Nevertheless, selection can favour the coevolution of behaviour that increases benefits. Such coevolution can potentially result in new mutualistic behaviours. Our study considered associations between Fork-tailed Drongos (Dicrurus adsimilis), birds which use both false alarms and aggression to steal food from o...
ABSTRACT Mining in Ghana is an important economic activity that can be traced back to the colonial times. Although it has contributed substantially to the national income purse, its benefits to the local populace have been of contestation because of the negative impact on the livelihoods of people who live close to mining areas. In order to mitigate the negative impacts of mining, an administrative fiat in 1992 created the Mineral Development Fund (MDF) as a way of redistributing part of mine...
ABSTRACT Background: Current conventional antidepressant drugs have delayed onset of action, significant adverse effects, are costly and about 30-40% of patients are non-responsive, underscoring the need for alternative therapies for depression. Presently, no known scientific evidence exists to support the efficacy of Trichilia monadelpha in depression treatment, though used in Ghana in managing psychosis, epilepsy and mood disorders. Aim: This study investigated the antidepressant effect of ...
AOSTRACT Background: Significant increase in aged population in society has come with deteriorating health issues negating the effects of major inputs th eaged make to nation development Objectins: Thisstudyassessed factors influencing access to healtllcare among the aged in the Keta Municipality. Methods: A community-based cross-!>ectional study carried out among the aged. The Andersen's Healthcare Utilization Model was adapted for the study. A c luster and systematic random sampling approoc...