ABSTRACT Road traffic accidents have numerous public health and economic repercussions to developing countries, of which Ghana is no exception. In addition to death, there is maiming, financial cost and psychological ramifications of road accidents on victims and families. In Accra, the problem of increased numbers of motorcycle accidents along with the increase in the use of motorcycles to help escape traffic congestion is a major source of concern. Thus, this research wass designed to inves...
ABSTRACT Introduction Childhood immunization is one of the most successful public health interventions worldwide. It has contributed enormously to public health including the eradication of small pox and near eradication of poliomyelitis. High immunisation coverage is vital in the control, elimination and eradication of vaccine preventable diseases which accounts for many childhood morbidities and mortalities worldwide. The introduction of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) has made...
ABSTRACT This study reports on artisanal and small-scale gemstones mining (ASGM) in the Taita Taveta County in Kenya using a variety of methods including review of literature, key informant interviews, administration of questionnaires to miners and local communities, direct observations in the gemstones mining areas, and collection and analysis of gemstones-bearing rocks for their mineral and element compositions. Literature sources used include legal and institutional documents, geological r...
ABSTRACT This study investigated the concentration of seven heavy metals (As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Se and Zn) in water, soil and plant leaves in some selected coastal communities in the Western Region of Ghana near the jubilee oil field using acid digestion and Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer methods. Some physicochemical properties of water and soils were also determined to evaluate the quality of drinking water and soils. The ranges of metal concentration in water analysed in the wet season were...
ABSTRACT Background: Even though skilled birth attendance is useful for reducing maternal mortalities and morbidities, utilisation of skilled delivery in Ghana is sub-optimal. The main purpose of this study is to identify the factors that influence the utilisation of skilled delivery in the East Akim District of the Eastern region, Ghana. Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study employing quantitative research methods was carried out among 352 postnatal women attending child welfare cl...
ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Worldwide, occupational injuries have become an important public health issue leading to greater economic burden for a country. The Brewing Industry remains a very important industry that contributes greatly to the socioeconomic development of the country. The International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that about 2.3 million fatalities annually occur from involuntary occupational injuries and diseases. Even though several efforts have been put in place to minimiz...
ABSTRACT Background There is little interest in the sexual lives of PLWPD. It is usually assumed that PLWPD have little or no desire to engage in sexual intimacy, marriage or procreation. Little attention is paid to these aspects of the lives of PLWPD. PLWPD are often thought of as incapable of enjoying the same rights as people without physical disability and thus discouraged from pursuing marriage, sexual intimacy and childbearing. This study explored perceptions about marriage of people li...
ABSTRACT Background: Anaemia is an important public health problem worldwide and the most vulnerable group, are pregnant women and children. Anaemia associated with pregnancy is a serious health problem and its control requires the initial identification of the major factors responsible. Determination of the possible causes of nutritional anaemia among pregnant women is important to ensure satisfactory birth outcomes. In Ghana there is little data on the usual dietary intake among pregnant wo...
ABSTRACT Background: Quality of life (QOL) assessment is recommended to better plan and distribute health care resources with the aim of achieving a better quality of life. Chronic diseases adversely affect the quality of life, and there is also generally an increase of herbal medicine use in chronic disease patients. However, it is unclear whether there is a direct link between the use of herbal medicines and quality of life, particularly among patients with chronic diseases. Objective: The ...
ABSTRACT Background Infants who acquire HIV infection vertically experience rapid deterioration, usually leading to death. Early initiation of ART can reverse this trend. The WHO therefore recommends virological HIV testing in all exposed infants by six weeks, and if positive, promptly initiate ART. Despite the implementation of early infant testing in Ghana, coverage among eligible infants remains low and infants are tested late, resulting in erosion of possible benefits. Study Objectives Th...
ABSTRACT Cervical cancer (CC) is a severe disease and one of the most prevailing and dreaded conditions which affect women all over the world with devastating effects, particularly in Low and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). To prevent and reduce the morbidity and fatality linked with CC, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended cervical cancer screening (CCS). However, screening uptake in Ghana is low. Male participation in women’s health issues and CCS is a significant factor i...
ABSTRACT Background: Anemia, defined as blood hemoglobin level below established cut-off points, is a pervasive global public health problem. An estimated 2 billion people are affected globally. Anemia prevalence is highest in developing countries but also high in developed countries. Worldwide, over 30% of all women suffer from anemia, with abnormal uterine bleeding being a risk factor for anemia. Uterine fibroids are the most common benign gynecologic tumors affecting premenopausal women, w...
ABSTRACT Introduction and Objectives: The second cycle institution corresponds with late adolescents. Adolescence is a period marked by increasing participation in health risky behaviors such as alcohol use. The use of alcohol at this critical age can lead to serious health outcomes such as causing harm to body organs such as the liver and sometimes injuries. It is also associated with negative social and behavioral consequences such as unsafe sexual behavior. This study therefore aims to det...
ABSTRACT Malaria remains a major public health problem in Africa. An estimated 525,600 people died of malaria in 2013. The burden of malaria is heaviest in children less than 5 years who account for about 78 percent of all deaths. There was an increasing trend of reported severe malaria cases at the Kintampo Municipal hospital since 2012. This study was done to determine the association between household and community factors and severe malaria in children less than five years using a case co...
Abstract Background Healthcare staff work in an environment considered to be one of the most hazardous occupational settings. This is especially true in developing countries where health service delivery is fraught with inadequate protection against exposures to numerous fomites and pathogens. Studies have shown that inadequate knowledge of occupational hazards and unavailability of safety measures contribute greatly to the increased incidence of occupational accidents and injuries among heal...