ABSTRACT Background: Childhood tuberculosis (TB) remains a major public health problem worldwide, especially in developing countries. Despite clear evidence that isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) can reduce the risk of progression from TB infection to disease in TB contacts, uptake of IPT in children is low and IPT delivery is a challenge in many resource-limited settings with high TB-burden. Furthermore, the IPT initiation rates amongst child TB program implementation settings in Cameroon h...
ABSTRACT Breast cancer has been identified as a leading malignancy and one of the most common causes of hospital admission among women. According to hospital records at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital most women visiting the breast clinic delay their presentation of breast cancer symptoms. This study therefore examined the health seeking behaviour and late presentation among patients with breast cancer visiting the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital. A descriptive quantitative study was employed. ...
ABSTRACT Background: The World Health Organization places emphasis on the test and confirm any suspected malaria case either by microscopy or by rapid diagnostic test before treatment with ACT. Almost half of all suspected malaria cases in endemic countries in Africa are still being treated presumptively. This study assessed prescribers’ compliance to the Test, Treat and Track (T3) strategy for diagnosing and managing uncomplicated malaria. Methods: Out Patients Department records covering ...
Abstract Background Road traffic accidents are the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries in Ghana. The purpose of this study is to estimate the social costs of motorcycle accidents in the Bolgatanga Municipality.. Method The study was a retrospective cross-sectional cost study. Data on direct, indirect and intangible costs were obtained from patients and their families using a structured questionnaire. The costs are calculated from the social perspective which includes out-of-pocket e...
ABSTRACT Optimal breastfeeding practices ensure adequate nutrients for growth, development, and protection of infant and young child. However, some mothers are unable to breastfeed their children as recommended due to their work. In light of this, the study sought to describe the determinants of breastfeeding practices of working mothers with children 4-23 months in Accra. A cross-sectional design, utilizing a quantitative approach was used to sample 400 working mothers of children 4-23 month...
ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, (HIV-AIDS) is an incurable disease estimated to cause an annual worldwide mortality of above 1 million, most of which are in Sub Saharan Africa alone (WHO, 2014). Female Sex Workers are a higher risk Key Population where HI is concentrated. FSW HIV prevalence in Ghana is 11.1%, several times higher than the national prevalence of 1.3% (NACP, 2014). This study focused on FSW in Takoradi, a city which has...
ABSTRACT Introduction About 90% of HIV new infections among infant and children younger than 14 years are due to mother-to-child transmission. More than half of these children die before their second birthday in the absence of treatment. However, mortality among HIV positive infants can be reduced by over 70% if treatment is initiated within the first three months after birth. Though Ghana has well established Prevention of Mother to Child/Early infant diagnosis (PMTCT/EID) service, over 80 %...
ABSTRACT This study assessed dry season farming profitability and examines farming practices and their influence on the environment. Dry season farming practices identified from the literature were irrigation practices, land preparation, tillage practices and use of agrochemicals. A cross sectional design was adopted as quantitative data was collected from respondents. Five (5) communities along the White Volta River in the Bawku West District were purposively selected based on their proximit...
ABSTRACT Studies have established that suicidal ideation is associated with risk of suicide attempt or suicide. Thus understanding more about Suicidal ideation may have implications for prevention. The study was a descriptive cross-sectional survey which utilized secondary data from the most recent Global School Health Survey (GSHS) conducted in 2012. Both Bivariate and Multivariate analyses were done to examine the associations between demographic and psychosocial factors and suicidal ideati...
Abstract This study was aimed at providing comprehensive information on infant and young child feeding practices adopted by HIV positive mothers participating in the nation’s pilot PMTCT programme in the Manya Krobo District, Eastern Region of Ghana. It also drew comparisons with the same feeding practices among mothers of unknown HIV status. Secondly, the study provided information on the relationships between infant and young child feeding practices and selected background factors o...
ABSTRACT Background Cervical cancer is a Public Health threat. The disease imposes economic burden on resources in the form of medical and non-medical expenditure and loss of productivity. Cervical cancer cases are expected to increase in 2030 by 1.5-fold in view of the rising world population. A woman who develops cervical cancer in sub-Saharan Africa has at least 79 percent chance of dying from this malignancy. Cervical cancer risk can be reduced by 80 percent through regular screening. Gen...
ABSTRACT Background: Congenital auomalies are among the leading causes o f fetal and infant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Prenatal ultrasound (US) screening has become an essential part o f antenatal care in the developed world. Such practice is just evolving in die developing countries such as Nigeria. The aim of this article is to present our initial experience and demonstrate the effectiveness o f a prenatal US screening program in detecting congenital malformation in a developing cou...
ABSTRACT In Nigeria, as in many developing countries, the private. health sector provides a significant proportion of reproductive health services. However, there-are concerns about the quality of the reproductive health services' provided by personnel operating in this sector. Few interventions exist to improve the quality of reproductive health services being provided by 'private practitioners', 'This three year intervention project, which was implemented in Oyo, Ogun and Gombe States, was ...
ABSTRACT Globally, the devastation that befalls women diagnosed of breast cancer remains inestimable. Early detection remains a major effective approach that should be employed to combat the disease. The issue of concern, however, is whether women in the rural underserved areas are aware of these early detection methods. This study was designed to assess rural women’s awareness and knowledge of breast cancer and their screening practices. The study was a descriptive cross-sectional study ut...
ABSTRACT Tetracylines are among the most commonly available range of broad spectrum antibiotics that are abused and misused in livestock production. Although there are available records on veterinary drug residues; however because of the accessibility of oxytetracycline and tetracycline antibiotics and consequent abuses, there is need for further information on dietary exposure and assessment of risk inherent in ingestion of their residues in treated cattle. Therefore, the concentrations and ...