ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION: Increasing the proportion of birth supervised by skilled birth attendants is an internationally agreed objective. However, available data indicate that little progress has been made in Ghana and the Sub-Saharan Africa. Though there is over 80% coverage of antenatal attendance in Ghana, there is a pervasive maternal services utilization that would result in an increase in skilled supervised delivery. Yet, there may be some mediating factors that are poorly understood. OB...
ABSTRACT Background HIV/AIDS continues to have a staggering impact on people’s health and on the social and economic stability of nations. HIV Counselling and Testing is one of the key strategies in the prevention and control of HIV and AIDS worldwide AIDS worldwide. This study therefore sought to determine factors that determine the choice to test for HIV among tertiary students in the Ho municipality. Method A quantitative cross –sectional study was conducted. Study population was divid...
ABSTRACT An increasing demand for health care services and getting health care closer to doorsteps of communities coupled with the shortage of professional health care providers has made health service managers resort to seeking greater collaboration with communities and the use of nonprofessional health workers to provide health care services to people in communities. Community volunteerism in Ghana has therefore, been identified as an effective strategy in the implementation of Primary Heal...
ABSTRACT Background Male sterilization is a simple, safe and less expensive method of birth control, equally effective as other forms of permanent birth control measures, yet least known and patronized. Vasectomy does not only provide health benefits to the user and his direct family, but to the whole population, by reducing and regulating it. Therefore the study sought to explore the community perceptions, level of knowledge on male sterilization, availability of services and reasons for use...
ABSTRACT This research is an attempt to find out, through the expectations and evaluations of prenatal classes by groups of expectant parents at tending the classes, why particular groups of pregnant women appear to attend prenatal classes more than other groups. The subjects included primigravidas and multi gravidas. The data was collected through participant observation and tape recording of the prenatal classes, discussions with the c l ass instructor, the subjects' hospital records and Un...
ABSTRACT Introduction and Objectives: The second cycle institution corresponds with late adolescents. Adolescence is a period marked by increasing participation in health risky behaviors such as alcohol use. The use of alcohol at this critical age can lead to serious health outcomes such as causing harm to body organs such as the liver and sometimes injuries. It is also associated with negative social and behavioral consequences such as unsafe sexual behavior. This study therefore aims to det...
ABSTRACT The objective of the study was to investigate the factors that influence mothers’ utilization of health services for supervised delivery in the Lower Manya Krobo District. A cross-sectional study was made. The study involved the administration of structured questionnaires to collect information from 350 women with children under one year in the Lower Manya Krobo district. In-depth interviews were carried out with service managers (Midwives) and community leaders. A combined multi-s...
ABSTRACT Introduction Research from several Western countries has revealed that most pregnant women are likely to engage in pica practice. Despite the dangers associated with pica and its prevalence in various communities across the world and particularly in Ghana, most pregnant women still engage in the practice.Investigation was conducted to assess perception and practices of pica among pregnant women in La Nkwantanang-Madina Municipal. Methods A descriptive cross –sectional design was us...
ABSTRACT Background: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) testing and counseling is a precarious and vital gateway to HIV prevention and treatment. Ghana has a policy of free or subsidized HIV testing and counseling services. However the utilization of the HIV testing services remains generally low. This study assessed community perceptions and factors influencing HIV testing and counseling services in the Kassena-Nankana East and West Districts of Northern Ghana. Methodology: This was an explo...
ABSTRACT Introduction Epidemics can be lethal and if not approached appropriately, it may take away many lives and even disrupt the stability of a nation. In most cases, Children (0 - 59months) are found to be one of the most susceptible populations. In Africa, childhood immunization remains a critical health service. Outbreak of the Ebola virus disease led to collapse of health services including immunization services. Hence, this study seeks to investigate factors influencing health seeki...
ABSTRACT Objective: This study assessed current food safety measures of food handlers in the school feeding programme. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study design was employed where a questionnaire was used to collect data from 75 food handlers‟ on their demographic characteristics, knowledge, attitude and practices on food safety. An interview guide was used to assess eight matrons or caterers‟ in-depth knowledge on food safety, a nonparticipant observation was made on the person...
ABSTRACTThough the threat of HIV/AIDS is universal, there appears to be a real threat of the disease to the young people of Hohoe District in the Volta Region. The district was selected in 1999 from the national level for HIV/AIDS control activities following progressively increasing results from Sentinel Surveillance Surveys conducted on antenatal clinic attendants at the Hohoe District Hospital (a sentinel site) where only 50% of pregnant women attend. The HIV prevalence in the district is ...
ABSTRACT Background: Female commercial sex workers are a group of people who are important in the transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STI‘s). Studies have shown that, both their commercial and non – commercial partners are sources of STI infections and other diseases. Regular health seeking behaviour to health facility has been proven to remarkably reduce the transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and therefore its important for the success of any STI contr...
ABSTRACTThe main objective of the study was to classify the Ghanaian female figure into body sizes. A proportionate sample of 313 Ghanaian female students from the University of Ghana, Legon selected from four age strata were the respondents. The Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS/PC) software was used to analyse the background information, perceived figure types, and figure preferences. The Combination Statistic was used to categorise body measurements to obtain the respondents bod...
ABSTRACT Introduction: Evidence indicates that antenatal care coverage in Ghana is high and encouraging, however gap still exists in the continued use of public health facilities. Many pregnant women seek care from other different sources apart from the formal public health facility. This study sought to examine the knowledge of antenatal care use, to examine the socio – cultural factors that affected the use of Public Health antenatal care services, and also to determine alternative ante...