ABSTRACT Introduction: The spacing of children is a foremost public health issue worldwide due to its consequence on maternal and neonatal health as well as development as a whole. Childbirth within the first two years after delivery considered highly risky, this notwithstanding, most women do not pay attention to family planning (FP) usage as the record show a low patronage of family planning services by postpartum women leading to pregnancies at shorter intervals than recommended. Obje...
ABSTRACT Background: A detailed understanding of lumbar vertebral body morphometry and disc degeneration among Ghanaians is relevant for clinical and research purposes. Studies exist on how age and sex affect lumbar vertebral morphometry and disc degeneration among Caucasians, but there is paucity of similar information in African populations including Ghana. Association of weight and height with lumbar vertebral morphometry and disc degeneration remains inadequately investigated in both p...
ABSTRACT Background Global challenge and commitment to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity burden in developing countries, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa required Ghana to improve maternal health and achieve the Millennium Development Goal 5 targets. Ghana in 2003 introduced delivery care user fees exemption policy in four regions to remove financial access barrier to maternal health care services and increase utilization of facility delivery and caesarean section; extended to Tema G...
ABSTRACT Obtaining sexual and reproductive health services by young women in Ghana is fraught with numerous problems amidst efforts to promote access to these services. This study examined the factors influencing contraceptive use among young women in Ghana. Data from the 2014 GDHS on a sample of 2116 sexually active women 15-24 years was used in the analysis. Sociodemographic variables, knowledge of contraceptives, knowledge of ovulatory cycle and media exposure to family planning messages ...
ABSTRACT Background In the past decade though Ghana achieved some improvements in Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) implementation, challenges of inequalities, geographical disparities and sustaining the progress still remain, (MOH 2011). The 2017 Eastern Regional Health Directorate’s annual report mentioned decreasing trends in Reproductive and Child Health indicators leading to poor maternal and child health outcomes in the Region, (GHS 2017). Maternal and Child Health Nutrition Impro...
ABSTRACT The malaria menace continues to claim the lives of children. More than a third of children under five die before the first month of life. In any malaria control programme, treatment seeking behaviour of caregivers acting in synergy with other factors such as sociocultural factors, economic and health system factors has been identified as contributing significantly to the survival of children. They contribute directly or indirectly to the high morbidity and mortality rate in childre...
ABSTRACT The consumption of foodstuffs contaminated with aflatoxins may lead to hepatotoxic effect particularly in coexistence with chronic viral hepatitis infection. In Sub-Saharan Africa, hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most common malignancies. The aim of this study was to measure the level of exposure of aflatoxin and liver damage markers in adults with viral hepatitis in Ghana. The study was conducted in the EjuraSekyedumase district, Ghana. Five hundred adults were screened for ...
ABSTRACT Background: Household food consumption is a dynamic process that may influence the dietary intake and nutritional status of children living in the household. Children in their first five years are nutritionally vulnerable given their increased energy and nutrient needs. As these children are completely weaned and depend solely on household foods, less attention might be paid to the adequacy and quality of diet as compared to when they were receiving complementary foods. Objectiv...
ABSTRACT The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which were adopted in September 2015 represent a challenging worldwide action plan that aims to end poverty, achieve gender equality, in diverse dimensions, promote decent work among others. The International community agreed on 17 SDG which is very impressive in its content. Global realization of the SDGs by 2030 is highly dependent on the localization and effective implementation of the goals, yet little is known about diverse perspective o...
ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: End Stage Renal Disease is the condition of total and permanent kidney failure, in which dialysis or kidney transplantation is vital for survival. The economic burden of ESRD is enormous and is borne not only by the patient but also society and the nation at large. OBJECTIVES: To determine the economic cost of care of patients with ESRD undergoing haemodialysis. METHOD: A cross-sectional study of patients at the Dialysis Unit of the Korle-Bu teaching hospital was undertak...
ABSTRACT Background: Unintended pregnancy among young women is a major challenge that hinders attainment of optimal reproductive health. Little is known about contraceptives young women use and factors that influence their use. Knowledge on the determinants of modern contraceptive use among young women in Ghana is essential for intervention programmes targeted at improving young women’s reproductive health. Objective: To examine the use of modern contraceptives and its determinants amo...
ABSTRACT Background: As an effective vaccine and cure for HIV is absent, testing and counseling for HIV remains an essential intervention in the control of the infection. However, uptake of this service in Ghana is very low especially among the youth. This study sought to assess the factors influencing the uptake of HIV testing and counseling services among the youth in the Sefwi Wiawso Municipality. The objective of this study was to assess the factors influencing uptake of HIV testing and c...
ABSTRACT Introduction Electronic medical record (EMR) systems, have the potential of improving the quality and reliability of health information and communication and the overall quality of healthcare services in the healthcare system. Reliable health information leads to timely health policies and planning, which improves the general health status of a country, as well as, serving as a vital element for individual health facilities in managing and improving healthcare delivery. The key objec...
ABSTRACT Background: fire emergency preparedness is so important to hospital staffs in order to prevent avoidable fire outbreaks or prevent injury and death in the event of a fire outbreak. Aim: The aim of this study, therefore, was to assess fire emergency preparedness among staff of Tarkwa Municipal Hospital. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out using quantitative methods. The study assessed the recent status of fire emergency preparedness of staffs of Tarkwa Municip...
ABSTRACT The growing need to capture data on health events using faster and efficient means makes active surveillance an alternative means to capture anti-malarial drug safety data. A prospective cohort study was conducted at the Navrongo War Memorial hospital to determine the level of adverse events reporting following the intake of artimisinin based combination therapies (ACTs) by patients with uncomplicated malaria. The study employed active follow-up by telephone or home visit to documen...