ABSTRACT Introduction Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is known to be the oldest form of healthcare available and are found in almost every country around the world. Complementary and alternative medicine is used worldwide, both in developed and developing countries. About 80% of people in developing countries such as China, India, Latin America and large parts of Africa are known to rely on CAM as a source of primary health care. In Ghana, about 70% of the population depends on C...
ABSTRACT Background: The Okwawuman Mutual Health Insurance Scheme (OMHIS) had been operating since 2002. However, performance reviews have reported mainly on deficits/surpluses, coverage rates and effects on health services utilization. Objective: The study seeks to assess the performance of the scheme with respect to the performance ratios and its impact on the utilization of differential components of health services and also on maternal care outcomes including caesarean section, vacuum ext...
ABSTRACT HIV/AIDS is still a big public health issues as adolescents today have not known a world without AIDS. The school environment offers great opportunity for HIV high risk behaviours. Despite a great awareness of the dangers of the disease and the abundance of knowledge, young people continue to engage in behaviours that place them at risk of contracting the disease. The main objective of the study is to determine the relationship between HIV risk perception and sexual behaviours among ...
ABSTRACT Caregivers of children with sickle cell disease experience psychological and physical challenges that affect their role as a caregiver. The aim of the study was to find out whether health belief, psychological wellbeing, social support, and some selected demographic variables influence the compliance of caregivers on the treatment of their children. Using a cross sectional survey method, 200 participants (100 caregivers of sickle cell children and 100 caregivers of acutely ill childr...
ABSTRACT Background: Hepatitis B is a major public health challenge and WHO is making all efforts at eliminating it as a public health threat by 2030. Elimination includes reduction of the reservoir of transmission through antiviral therapy. Sub-Saharan Africa is one of the regions of the world with high burden of disease. Treatment with antiviral therapy is almost unavailable and/or inaccessible. The study seeks to find factors affecting response to antiviral therapy in chronic hepatitis B (...
ABSTRACT An oral health survey was carried out among young adults in the Ga district to assess the oral health status of young adults in and out of school and to recommend types of treatment needed. A stratified random sample of young adults 1 5 -3 2 years old was selected from rural and urban Senior Secondary Schools and the communities. Questionnaires were administered by Ccommunity Health Nurses after which oral examinations and recording of data was carried out by the principal investigat...
ABSTRACT Background: The efficacy of Plumpy’nuts (PPN) has been technically and medically documented as an appropriate product for the treatment of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in children. SAM is a chief killer of children < 5 years, responsible for 1 million deaths yearly. Children with SAM risk dying 9 times more than non-SAM children. Aim: To evaluate the acceptability of PPN, “a ready-to-use therapeutic food” among malnourished children in selected rehabilitation centers in the ...
ABSTRACT Background: Post Abortion Care (PAC) is extensively identified as a critical practice to address hitches related to miscarriage and incomplete abortion and reduce repeat abortions. The WHO has established that every service delivery site at every level of the health system should be equipped and have personnel trained to recognize abortion complications and to provide or refer women for prompt care, 24 hours a day. A health facility is said to be providing perfect post abortion care ...
ABSTRACT Salted and dried Tilapia, Koobi, obtained from retail outlets and that processed in the laboratory (under various treatments) were analyzed for their histamine content. These were done with a view to establishing baseline data on histamine levels in Koobi as well as investigate the effect of handling, processing and storage on histamine evolution in Koobi. Sodium chloride levels, moisture contents, water activity and microbial counts were also determined for the Koobi samples. The hi...
ABSTRACT The aim of the study was to determine the cognitive and neuropsychological deficits associated with seizure disorders. The study also examined the effects of age at onset, socio-economic status, compliance with medication and sex of the patient. Seventy two patients visiting the neurological clinic at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and a healthy control group from West African Basic School were sampled for the study. Analysis was done using Pearson correlation and the ANOVA. Findin...
ABSTRACT The study examined the perceived social support and its effects on quality of life among people living with HIV/AIDS in Kumasi Metropolis. The descriptive cross-sectional survey design was adopted for the study. Out of a population of 1,027 People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), 320 were selected through the purposive sampling technique. The SF-36 health survey questionnaire and multidimensional perceived social support questionnaire were used to collect the required data. Data gathere...
ABSTRACT Introduction: Adolescents access and correct usage of contraceptives is low leading to unwanted pregnancies which has multiple adverse effect on the adolescent such as teenage pregnancies and early motherhood, sexually transmitted infections, family and community especially in Ghana. Objective: The objective of this study is to determine the factors influencing contraceptive use by adolescents in the Sunyani West District. Methods: The study adopted a cross sectional study using se...
ABSTRACT Introduction: Medical referral system is a vital and critical aspect of patient care from a primary health care professional to a tertiary care provider or specialist. Referral letters have become the most common means by which health care providers communicate with each other on patient information transfer. Objectives: The aim of this research is to determine the quality and appropriateness of medical referrals to the Ga West municipal hospital, Amasaman. Methods: This research i...
ABSTRACT The research investigated the influence of religiosity on the psychological well-being (PWB) of persons with chronic kidney disease (CKD) receiving dialysis treatment at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital-Ghana. The descriptive cross-sectional survey design was employed and the purposive sampling technique was used in selecting sixty-two (62) CKD patients for the study. Data was collected on the respondents’ demographic characteristics, their religiosity, and their PWB using demograp...
ABSTRACT Background Access to essential medicines is a major component for an effective health service delivery system. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the availability and affordability of essential medicines used in the treatment of the top ten registered diseases in Builsa District in the year 2009. Method The survey was a cross sectional descriptive study, that employed both quantitative and qualitative approaches, following the standardized World Health Organization and Healt...