ABSTRACT Warfarin (vitamin K antagonist) is effective for the management of thromboembolic disorders. However, continued use of warfarin is challenged by its complex pharmacology and inherent risk of adverse outcomes which needs drug monitoring to ensure safe and effective therapy. The purpose of the study is to examine the knowledge of anticoagulation and its relationship with international normalized ratio control among patients, after discharge from hospital. A cross sectional survey was ...
ABSTRACT Background: Mercury is commonly used in Artisanal Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) to amalgamate gold. Mercury use in ASGM is a global public health problem, since it is the world’s fastest source of mercury contamination. Mercury is toxic even at low concentration and exposure is of great concern since it is a potent neurotoxicant. Mercury poisoning among small scale gold miners has been observed in many small scale gold mining regions across the world. ASGM is a rapidly growing in...
ABSTRACT Introduction Influenza is a major cause of morbidity and mortality globally especially during pandemics. For this reason countries have set up surveillance systems to continually monitor Influenza like illnesses (ILI) for early detection of outbreaks and rapid response. However, in sub-Saharan Africa, specifically Ghana where medication can be purchased over the counter, it is more likely that people might have taken some antipyretics before reporting to the health facility. This...
ABSTRACT The study is a community-based study to determine the factors contributing to the delayed arrival of women with pregnancy-related complication to the health facilities in the Assin District of Ghana. The women with pregnancy-related complications in the district often arrive at the health facilities in the district so late, that this makes the outcome of the management poor with resultant high maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. The study aimed at finding the factors whi...
ABSTRACT Background: Natural cocoa powder (NCP) has been recognized to possess significant amounts of procyanidin flavonoids, methylxanthines, catechin and epicatechin with healthful effects. Stimulus for this work was to validate claims that NCP was a healthful product best for the aged with cardiovascular health problems and also for daily consumption for all age groups as a preventive measure. Literature review does not show any work done in healthy adult Ghanaians involving the long term...
ABSTRACT Background: Overweight and obesity among children is a major public health concern globally. Childhood obesity is likely to persist into adulthood. Little is known about the prevalence and determinants of overweight and obesity among school-age children in Ghana. Knowing the determinants of overweight/obesity among basic school pupils is important for obesity intervention design. Objective: To determine overweight and obesity prevalence and its risk factors among basic school pupi...
ABSTRACT Cervical cancer is an abnormal growth or tumour of the cervix, often predisposed by Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and other factors. Cervical cancer is the third most frequent cancer among women globally with about 527,624 cases diagnosed and 265,672 mortalities annually. It is the leading cause of cancer death among women in Ghana. Women living with cervical cancer are affected psychologically, physically, socially, sexually, spiritually and in many forms, after they are diagnosed wi...
ABSTRACT A study on assessment of X-ray radiation among X-ray workers and associated potential health problems in Owerri was carried out with the thermolumolunescent dosimeter between 12th April to 30th December 2011. A total of 50 workers were used for the study. Comprising 24 male X-ray workers and 26 female X-ray workers. The mean X-ray dose below permissible doses is 9.4.7 the T-test is -4.29; the P-value is 0.000. The mean exposure factor is 20msv upto six test which involve 3 male x-r...
ABSTRACT Background: Earlier investigations have demonstrated that the accuracy of foetal weight estimation is significantly higher if several ultrasonic foetal parameters are measured, because the total body mass depends on the size of foetal head, abdominal circumference and femur length. Aim: This study aimed to determine the best ultrasound regression models that use the common foetal biometric measurements in predicting foetal weight for normal singleton pregnancies in ClearVue 350 ultr...
ABSTRACT Introduction: HIV and AIDS is one of the major public-health problems worldwide which affects mostly people who are at the utmost productive stage of life. Out of the estimated 36.7 million people living with HIV and AIDS globally as at the end of 2015, 71% live in sub Saharan Africa. Antiretroviral therapy averted 5.5 million deaths in low- and middleincome countries during the peak in 1995 until 2012. Sub-Saharan Africa accounted for most of those lives saved; it keeps people pr...
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...