ABSTRACT Background Cholera is an intestinal disease caused by the bacterium vibro cholerae. The disease is characterized by severe watery diarrhoea with vomiting and severe dehydration. It is spread through faecal-oral route from an infected person and fomites (surfaces). In 1982, Ghana recorded as many as 15,032 cases considered as the highest in a single year. Since 1970, the trend of cholera outbreak has changed, from the usual occurrence of one in every 4 - 6 years to a more frequent typ...
ABSTRACT This study examined psychological health and coping strategies among caregivers of burns patients. A sample of 100 caregivers (50 formal and 50 informal) were recruited from the Reconstructive Plastic Surgery and Burns Centre, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. The study employed a cross-sectional survey method and the participants were administered the Brief COPE (Carver, 1997), Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (Zimet, Dahlem, Zimet & Farley, 1988), Beck Anxiety Inventory...
ABSTRACT A study was undertaken to determine the total hydrocarbon (THC) and heavy metal contents of water (surface: 0-15 cm and bottom: 2-13 m), sediments (intertidal and waterbed) in coastal areas of Cross River and Akwa Ibom States of Nigeria affected by a major oil spill in 1998.
ABSTRACT To obtain epidemiological data on the prevalence and risk factors for open angle glaucoma in hospital workers of African origin, and investigate appropriate methods of a rapid, cost-effective screening procedure for glaucoma. A cross-sectional study of workers in the University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan, using a structured questionnaire for data collection.
ABSTRACT The declining malaria burden in endemic regions is predicted to increase the proportion of malaria infections that progress to cerebral malaria (CM). This epidemiologic scenario appears ominous against the backdrop of a poor understanding of CM pathogenesis, lack of effective adjunctive therapies, and poor prognosis after onset. Thus, the need to better understand the pathogenesis of CM has become more apparent. To better understand the pathogenesis of CM, this study explored both ge...
ABSTRACT Public health education is a major strategy for controlling the spread of HIV. An important component of this strategy is the effective utilization of well-designed Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) materials. The Oyo State World Bank-assisted HIV and AIDS programme funded 40 Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) from 2006 to 2008, to produce BCC materials to reach target audiences. However, the process evaluation of the development of the materials in line with the WHO model has...
ABSTRACT Background Globally over 195 million pre-school children are vitamin A deficient, whilst in Ghana, it was estimated that 72 % of pre-school children are vitamin A deficient. Periodic administration of high dose vitamin A capsules is currently used as a prevention strategy, but this requires appropriate healthcare infrastructure and is donor dependent, hence may not be sustainable if donor support is withdrawn. Inadequate dietary intake of vitamin A-rich foods is a major etiological f...
ABSTRACT Background: Vegetarianism is a dietary lifestyle that involves the restriction of diet, disallowing some or all foods of animal origin, thereby consuming mainly foods of plant origin. Vegetarian diets are composed of only plant products which include fruits and vegetables, as well as grains, legumes, nuts and seeds. The plant products they consume are rich sources of vitamins such as Vitamins A, C and E which act directly as antioxidants, as well as protein and minerals such as zinc,...
ABSTRACT In recent times, alcoholism has become very common among youth. The growing incidence of alcohol consumption among the youth has become a topical issue within healthcare industry because of its potential negative effects especially on student youth. To address these concerns, this study sought to identify the student youth source of information on alcohol consumption, explore their knowledge level on harmful alcohol consumption, benefits they derived from alcohol consumption and the ...
ABSTRACT The aims of the studies presented in this paper were to investigate the causes of mental retardation in Ghana and the attitude of parents towards their mentally retarded children. There was the need for this type of investigation because what people think is the cause of mental retardation affects their attitude towards it. The sample comprised 120 rural and urban literate and illiterate parents and their mentally retarded children. A questionnaire was used for investigating the caus...
ABSTRACT Avian Influenza (AI) is a serious public health problem in Nigeria and Primary Health Care (PHC) workers have important roles to play in its control. However, their knowledge and practices relating to AI have not been fully investigated. This study was designed to determine the knowledge, perceptions and practices of PHC workers relating to AI prevention and control in Akinyele, Egbeda, Lagelu, Ido and Oluyole areas of Ibadan. A total population study was planned. However, only 515 ...
ABSTRACT Hospitalization of a preterm baby presents significant burden to parents especially the mother. This study explored the experiences of mothers of preterm babies on support services in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the Techiman Holy Family Hospital. The study utilised an explorative descriptive qualitative case study design with homogenous purposive sampling of mothers of preterm babies admitted in the NICU. In-depth interviews were conducted with a semi-structured interv...
ABSTRACT The availability of VCT for HIV booked antenatal patients offers a unique opportunity of best obstetrics practices but not for patients presenting with emergencies and unknown HIV status.
ABSTRACT The World Health Organization (WHO) having recognized Buruli ulcer disease as an important cause of human suffering introduced treatment guidelines of a new protocol of 8-week initial therapy of intramuscular streptomycin and oral rifampicin in 2005. Although there has been some level of success in the treatment of Buruli ulcer with this new antibiotic protocol, some patients do not respond favourably as expected. Also, the response to chemotherapy of BU lesions including large ulcer...
ABSTRACT In Ghana, fertility rates continue to vary widely; ranging from 2.5 children per woman in the Greater Accra region to 6.8 children in the Northern Region. Moreover, the use of any contraceptive method is highest among women in the Volta Region (32%) and lowest among women in the Northern Region (11%).Using a qualitative explorative descriptive design, this study explores the factors affecting contraceptive utilization among married women in the reproductive age group (15 – 49 years...