ABSTRACT Contraceptive choices that couples make is a key component of the Sustainable Development Goal agenda and a major contributor to national health. In spite of the importance of increased contraceptive uptake among couples of reproductive age, meeting the reproductive health rights of women remains an issue due to multi-faceted obstacles within complex environments. The issues which impact women’s reproductive health rights in relation to contraception relate to availability, accessi...
ABSTRACT Stroke has a devastating effect on young adults between the ages of 18-45years. In Ghana, there is paucity of research in stroke among young people, but stroke is said to be increasing among younger age groups of adults less than 45 years; forming greater than 30% of strokes seen and at a higher mortality rate. This research was conducted in Accra, Ghana, to explore the experiences of Young Adults (18-45years) living with stroke. A qualitative explorative descriptive design was used ...
ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Obesity has become a major public health problem globally. Once more common in developed countries, the prevalence of obesity has been observed to be increasing in developing countries as well. In the past, obesity was attributed to factors such as individual genetic make-up and lifestyle behaviours. These factors however, do not exclusively explain the global increase in the prevalence of obesity over the last three decades. Rather, a built environment that encourages ex...
ABSTRACT The peri-urban community of Prampram is characterized by filthy and choked open drains, indiscriminate waste disposal and open defecation. Waste handlers engage in different types of activities such as sweeping, collection, transportation and disposal with little or no personal protection and thus are often confronted with serious public health problems related to their work. The purpose for this study was to assess the different degrees of health risks associated with different acti...
ABSTRACT Diabetes Mellitus (DM) has become an important area of research over the years, due to the increasing number of people suffering from the disease. In Ghana for instance, the increasing prevalence rate had led to increase in healthcare budget with high economic burden on diabetes patients, families, healthcare system and the nation. There is a great need for self- care management which is relatively cheaper and very important in the treatment of diabetes. The aim of this research is t...
ABSTRACT This study examined the influence of religious coping and psychosocial factors on quality of life of type-2 diabetic patients in Ghana. Social support, depression, stress, anxiety, and self-care constituted the psychosocial factors examined. A mixed method design comprising a crosssectional survey (study I) and a focus group discussion (study II) was employed. A total of 164 participants were purposively sampled for both study 1 (n=156) and study II (n=8). In study I, there were 76 T...
ABSTRACT The major objective o f this work was to establish the assay o f faecal elastase I in spot stool samples as an exocrine pancreatic function test for the Korle-Bu teaching hospital. The assay o f faecal elastase I was carried out in spot stool samples from apparently healthy persons and subjects with various pancreatic and non pancreatic diseases. The result obtained confirmed the diagnostic efficiency o f pancreatic elastase 1 determination in stool as a standard test o f exocri...
ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Cardiac arrest is a significant public health problem projected to account for 15–20% of all deaths. It is also recorded by WHO to be an important cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in both developed and developing countries. Cardiac arrest if not treated immediately, can cause sudden cardiac death. With fast and appropriate medical care, survival is possible. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is a lifesaving medical procedure for victims of sudden cardiac arre...
ABSTRACT Background: Over the years the prevalence of HIV in Ghana has reduced significantly; from a peak of 3.6% in 2003 it is now recorded as 1.6% - in 2014. Prevalence among young persons (15-24 years) which is quoted as a proxy for incidence is reported as 1.8%, higher than the national prevalence. This clearly depicts the fact that although some gains have been made in containing the disease, they remain fragile. The need to examine other unconventional means to control transmission is a...
ABSTRACT Background: Quality of antenatal care (ANC) is important because it has profound effect on health status of both the mother and the baby. Studies have revealed that several factors contribute to poor quality of antenatal care services including inadequate resources, medical supplies and drugs and poor provider client relationship. In the Greater Accra region, little is known about the quality of antenatal care services provided to pregnant women. The aim of the study was to assess th...
ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Emergencies/Disasters be they natural or manmade can occur without warning and therefore there is the need for effective emergency/disaster preparedness and management plan in any organization. It is therefore important to have knowledgeable personnel in the management of emergencies/disasters through emergency drills training and simulation. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated emergency and disaster preparedness in Ghana Cocoa Board Head Office through availability and emplo...
ABSTRACT Background Malaria remains a major public health problem in the world. In Ghana, the entire population of24.2 million is at risk of malaria infection. Malaria is end emic and perennial in all parts of the country, with seasonal variations that are more pronounced in the north. From 2010 to 2015, Ghana has reduced by 45% malaria deaths. Progress in reduction of malaria prevalence has been recorded in the routine surveillance system through Health Management Information System but unfo...
ABSTRACT Background: Adolescence is an important growth and development life stage which has implications for future nutritional status and food consumption habits. School meals may offer an opportunity to enhance dietary intakes and nutritional status of adolescent girls in boarding school settings. However, there is limited information on the nutritional quality of school meals, dietary habits and nutritional status of adolescent girls in senior high boarding schools in Ghana. Objective: Th...
ABSTRACT Introduction: Breast cancer is a malignant tumor that grows in the cells of the breast. A malignant tumor is a group of cancer cells that can invade surrounding tissues or spread (metastasize) to distant areas of the body. Globocan puts the annual estimated incidence rate of breast cancer in Ghana at 25.8 cases per 100,000 women and mortality rate at 15.2 deaths per 100,000 women. In Ghana, treatment of cancer at all stages in combination with mammography screening cost $2000-6000 pe...
ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Lymphoma is a type of blood cancer that affects the white blood cells.Lymphoma is a major cause of high morbidity and mortality rates worldwide with over 350,000 cases yearly. In sub- Saharan Africa, its high incidence rate has been attributed to the high prevalence of malaria and HIV/ AIDS thereby increasing the burden of the disease. Lymphoma is the highest contributor among the top four cancers with leukemia, eye and kidney cancers, which together account for 70% predo...