ABSTRACT Background: Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) -G is a non-classical major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I protein which has been described as being selectively expressed on the invasive trophoblast at the materno-foetal interface at the beginning of pregnancy. HLA-G has the potential role of protecting the trophoblast from cytotoxicity and enhancing maternal acceptance of the semi-allogeneic foetus by modulating the maternal immune system. HLA-G exerts several immunomodulatory e...
ABSTRACT Background: Globally, anaemia in pregnancy has been a public health challenge, especially in developing countries like Ghana. Ghana has achieved remarkable decline in the prevalence of anaemia in pregnancy from 70% in 2008 to 45% in 2014. However, anaemia in pregnancy remains a threat to maternal and foetal outcomes. To reduce the risk, indigenous factors associated with anaemia must be identified. Few studies were conducted in Ghana, but no study was carried out in Keta Municipality...
ABSTRACT This study addressed the problem of stigma and discrimination (SAD) exhibited by nurses against patients living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA). The study was conducted among nurses in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA) in the Western Region of Ghana. It measured the prevalence of HIV and AIDS related stigma and discrimination (HARSAD) among the nurses, assessed their knowledge of HARSAD and examined the influence of their knowledge and personal characteristics on their perp...
ABSTRACT Background: Despite the encouraging outcomes, the use of the WHO SSC is poor, with compliance as low as about 12% in some areas. This study was conducted to investigate the factors that influence acceptability and utilization of the WHO SSC among surgical personnel in Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) in Ghana. Methods: A cross-sectional design that employed quantitative method of data collection was conducted among 186 surgical personnel at the KBTH in Ghana. Data was obtained from ...
ABSTRACT Background: Despite the encouraging outcomes, the use of the WHO SSC is poor, with compliance as low as about 12% in some areas. This study was conducted to investigate the factors that influence acceptability and utilization of the WHO SSC among surgical personnel in Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) in Ghana. Methods: A cross-sectional design that employed quantitative method of data collection was conducted among 186 surgical personnel at the KBTH in Ghana. Data was obtained from ...
ABSTRACT Soybean, a high protcin/oil legume is known (o contain high levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are susceptible to lipid oxidation and hydrolysis. However, suitable processing methods and storage conditions can enhance the stability o f lipid in soyflour. The objective of the project was to investigate the effects of some processing methods and storage conditions on the stability o f lipid in soyflour and to define the parameters for the prediction o f the shelf life soyflou...
ABSTRACT Men who had prostatectomy are confronted with several negative health issues, some of which include pain, fatigue, sexual and urinary dysfunctions among others. The purpose of the study was to explore the wellbeing of men post prostatectomy in the Ho municipality in the Volta region of Ghana. The Quality of Life Model Applied to Cancer by Betty Ferrell (1995) was the organizing framework for this study. A qualitative exploratory descriptive design was employed. A purposive sampling t...
ABSTRACT According to the World Health Organization report in 2012, 285 million people are visually impaired worldwide. Of these people, 39 million are blind and 246 have low vision. Ninety percent of these visually impaired live in developing countries. In Ghana the prevalence is reported to be 2%. Visual impairment is reported to cause a limitation in performing usual duties of the individual. Visual impairment hampers normal activities such as eating, writing, dressing, travelling from pla...
ABSTRACT Vision 2020 aims to eliminate avoidable blindness in the world by 2020 and targets the leading causes of avoidable visual impairment (WHO, 2010). Many eye and vision problems have no obvious signs and symptoms. Early diagnosis and treatment of eye and vision problems are important for maintaining good vision and eye health, and when possible, preventing vision loss. This study attempted to find the eye health seeking behaviours of workers in Ghana. A descriptive cross – sectional s...
ABSTRACT Introduction: Herbs have been used as an alternate form of treatment amidst the advent of orthodox therapies for health care. Herbs have been used as wellspring of potent remedies and have become an intrinsic part of various autochthonous cultures around the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that about eighty percent (80%) of rural populations residing in developing countries rely on herbal medicines for their health needs including its use during pregnancy. Studie...
ABSTRACT In recent years, iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) have emerged as an important public health problem in Ghana. In the Hohoe district the prevalence o f goitre was 26% (Asibey- Berko, et al 1994). Ghana has adopted the continuous use o f iodated salt as a solution to 1DD. This was supported by Act 523, which requires that, any salt meant for human and animal consumption in Ghana should be iodized. After the launching o f a national campaign against IDD at Hohoe in 1997, awareness on ...
ABSTRACT Background: Nutritional factors such as micronutrient deficiencies and excess gestational weight gain have been reported to be involved in the development of oedema in preeclampsia. Oedema is one of the common symptoms of preeclampsia. This study aimed to determine nutritional factors associated with oedema as a risk factor for preeclampsia among a cohort of pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in the La-Nkwantanang-Madina municipality of the Greater Accra region of Ghana. Metho...
ABSTRACT Background: Several neonatal deaths are recorded in developing countries such as Ghana, and some of these result from inappropriate neonatal care practices of mothers. The neonates of first-time mothers in particular are more at risk of receiving improper care due to lack of experience of the mothers. That is why mothers are encouraged to attend postnatal clinic. However, there is very little research information on the neonatal care practices of first-time mothers and the associatio...
ABSTRACT Every year, four million infants die within their first month of life, representing nearly 40 per-cent of all deaths of children under age 5 globally. Also, over 99% of all newborn deaths occurs in developing countries with about two-thirds of them taking place in the Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. Therefore, understanding factors that influence newborn care practices in the home environment where most newborns are cared for is essential in order to develop appropriate approaches and i...
ABSTRACT Tuberculosis is one of the communicable diseases that infect people across the world. Various drugs are available for the effective management of the disease but most patients default treatment. Defaulting treatment is often attributed to the long duration of treatment and the stigma associated with the disease. Like other stigmatized diseases such as mental illness and HIV/AIDS, patients are discriminated by the family and community members. They are isolated and refused socializati...