ABSTRACT Background: Yaws is a treponemal infection in humans that is common in children who are less than 15 years of age. The causative organism of yaws – Treponema pallidum subspecies pertenue – is genetically related to T. pallidum subspecies, the causative agent of syphilis. Mostly, people who are affected by yaws live in poor socioeconomic conditions. Ghana seems to be the number one yaws endemic country in the WHO African Region, reporting over 20 000 cases annually. The Kintampo N...
ABSTRACT Background: Over the last couple of years, Ghana’s Ministry of Health has continuously strived at improving health care quality and make healthcare delivery in Ghana patient centered. However, challenges remain. This study sought to assess caregivers’ perceptions of quality of care at the Out Patient department of the Princess Marie Louise Hospital in Accra. Objectives: The general objective this study was to assess caregivers’ perception on quality of health care at the outpat...
ABSTRACT Background: Postpartum/postnatal depression is a type of mood disorder, which is associated with childbirth but could affect both sexes. Women with postnatal depression can experience disabling symptoms of low mood, irritability, fatigue, insomnia, changes in appetite, anxiety, guilt, inability to cope, feelings of worthlessness and thoughts of suicide. However, epidemiological data on the prevalence of postpartum depression and its associated factors are still unclear in Ghana. The ...
ABSTRACT Introduction: Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease which has substantial financial and nonfinancial burden on sufferers, their families and the society. Family caregivers continue to be the primary source of care for children with asthma in Ghana which may have financial and psychosocial implications. Aim: The objective of the study was to determine the household cost of caregiving for children with asthma at Princess Marie Louis Hospital in Accra. Methods: A retrospective cross-s...
ABSTRACT Introduction: Antibiotics are by far the most common drugs administered to children. They account for about one-fourth of all medications administered to children, with a third of its use in children considered unnecessary. Due to the lack of education of both healthcare professionals and the general population, antibiotics are commonly used to treat a variety of viral infections including: the common cold, cough, sore throat and acute watery diarrhoea in children. Irrational use of ...
ABSTRACT Background Risky alcohol use and sexual risk behaviours co-occur, particularly among young people. However, little is known about how these are related, particularly in low and middle income settings where increasing trends are reported. The main objective of the study was to determine the association between risky drinking and sexual risk behaviour (SRB) among in-education young adults aged 14years to 24 years in La-Nkwantanang. Methods: A cross-sectional study among in-educa...
ABSTRACT Background Emergency and rescue services ensure public health and safety by addressing diverse emergencies. An increasing disproportion between acute injuries or illnesses and clinical facilities has led to an over whelming burden on the Ghanaian Emergency Healthcare System. Recent deaths in the media resulting from this overburdened and challenged healthcare system has shone light on the importance of building a heath care system that meets the demand of population. The zeal on the ...
ABSTRACT Background: Young people aged 10-24 years form the larger proportion of Ghana‟s population; with the majority being sexually active, and are exposed to adverse health outcomes. Among the young age group, undergraduate students in the university are faced with various challenges on campus including stress, risky sexual behaviour and use of drugs. Although a major public health concern, only few studies have examined mental health as a catalyst to risky sexual behaviour among young p...
ABSTRACT The study assessed women’s knowledge and attitude towards ANC and PHC in the Sekyere West District. The coverage of ANC has been persistently higher than PNC. Even though the DHMT was aware of the difference, they had no knowledge about the underlying factors. The information was needed by the DHMT, to help improve Information based planning. The main objective was to find out women’s knowledge and attitude towards ANC and PNC as well as any constraints the women might face in th...
ABSTRACT Background-Malnutrition is an underlying factor in many diseases for both children and adults and is particularly prevalent in developing countries, where it affects one out of every three preschool-age children. Under nutrition (malnourished) a form of malnutrition has been a worldwide problem which is being tackled in various ways and is usually prevalent among children in developing economies. One of the appropriate measures to support the fight against malnutrition in general and...
ABSTRACT Background: Quality of care for neonates is one of the key factors that contributes to the survival of babies in the under-five group. So the assessment of the quality of care given at the first 28 days of the baby’s life is very crucial and upon which improvement of health service delivery can be undertaken. The Donabedian model of quality of care was adopted in the assessment of quality of care (structure, processand output). The aim of the study is to explore on the perceptions ...
ABSTRACT Background: Ghana established National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in 2004 to replace out-of-pocket payment popularly referred to as „cash and carry‟, which created financial barrier to health care access to the poor and vulnerable. However, the NHIS was fully implemented in 2005 and has since faced performance challenges such as delays in issuance of ID cards to registered members and payment of provider claims. Objective: To assess performance of the Ga District Mutual Healt...
ABSTRACT Introduction: Healthcare facilities like other work places are characterized by a high level of exposure to occupational hazards which could significantly endanger the safety and health of workers, and impact on the rate of occupational injury and infections among hospital workers. Traditionally, healthcare workers are viewed as professionals who are capable of maintaining their health without assistance. Hospitals and health institutions were also considered to be safer than other w...
ABSTRACT On daily basis, the police force in Ghana interacts with people, including those with mental disorders. This is one of the biggest challenges facing the police service as high expertise is required of anyone who deals with people with mental disorders. It is unfortunate though that this area remains grey and seems to be given little attention in Ghana. Several reports have also lamented the existence of very little or no scientific literature on the subject of police services` strate...
ABSTRACT Worldwide facility delivery remains a serious concern and challenge to all international, nation al and local stakeholders. It is important to reduce this burden of large number of women and neonates who die annually from preventable causes as a result of home delivery. Facility delivery is a critical strategy to improve maternal and newborn health in the world, but still a large number of home deliveries occur in the developing countries, mostly in the Sub Sahara African countries. ...