ABSTRACT Background: The high prevalence rate of skin infections is strongly linked to socioeconomic level whereas the incidence of skin infections is linked to poor hygiene, climatic factors and interpersonal transmission Aim: The main aim of the study was to assess skin infections among long-stayed patients at the Accra Psychiatric hospital. The study also assessed facility based factors, as well as Patient based factors. Methods: This research employed both qualitative and quantitative r...
ABSTRACT Background: Postpartum family planning (PPFP) is the prevention of unintended or closely spaced pregnancies within first year following delivery. Family planning (FP) is essential during the course of an individual's and couple's reproductive life (WHO, 2013). Globally, two hundred and twenty-five (225) million women do not want to become pregnant but are not using any family planning method; leading to 54 million unintended pregnancies. Objective: To assess the determinants and us...
ABSTRACT Background Challenges associated with early diagnosis of Buruli ulcer disease (BUD), an infection caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans (M. ulcerans) is a major setback in public health and disease control. Lack of simple, convenient, rapid and sensitive diagnostic procedures, readily available to rural endemic communities has hampered control efforts. Improving the sensitivity of simple diagnostic methods such as microscopy for AFB detection constitutes a crucial effort in this directi...
ABSTRACT Introduction: Life expectancy and prosperity have risen over the past 5 decades globally, and are expected to continue to rise. The relevance of routine medical and dental examination cannot be overemphasized with an increase in advocacy as individuals are encouraged to undergo these examinations regularly especially among the young adult. This is to increase the prevention of disease rather than curative measures. Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted among ad...
ABSTRACT Introduction Contraceptive uptake can accelerate the achievement of not only the four Millennium Developments Goals( MDGs) that are directly related to reproductive health, but can also help in the elimination of poverty and hunger as well as environmental sustainability. Despite these benefits, modern contraceptive uptake among reproductive women, in Ghana is still below the national target of 51 %. The Northern Region has one of the lowest contraceptive uptake in the country over ...
ABSTRACT Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease that occurs when the pancreas is no longer able to produce insulin, or when the body cannot make good use of the insulin it produces. There are three main types of diabetes. The most common type is the Type 2 diabetes which represents 90% of cases worldwide .The other types of diabetes are Type 1 diabetes and gestational diabetes. Type 2 diabetics are faced with challenges and experiences such as financial difficulties, forgetfulness, and probl...
ABSTRACT Tuberculosis (TB) is a major occupational hazard in resource limited healthcare settings. Owing to this, the World Health Organization (WHO) has suggested the adoption and implementation of Tuberculosis Infection Prevention and Control (TBIPC) programs in all healthcare facilities. However, studies have reported improper implementation and practice of these TBIPC measures in healthcare facilities in developing countries. Thus, this study examined the knowledge and practice of TBIPC m...
ABSTRACT The complexity in measuring feeding practices makes it difficult to study the relation between infant feeding practices and other characteristics. This cross-sectional study carried out in Upper Manya Krobo District (UMKD) among 260 children aged 6-23 months (mo) was aimed at understanding the association between infant and young child feeding index (ICFI), the nutritional knowledge of the care-giver and the nutritional status of children in UMKD. A structured questionnaire was used...
ABSTRACT Introduction: Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Many factors contribute to the development of hypertension, which may include nutrition, obesity, lack of exercise, alcohol intake, and tobacco use. The prevalence of hypertension in adolescents far exceeds the number who have been diagnosed. Early diagnosis of hypertension in adolescents will help reduce the prevalence of hypertension and its complications in adulthood. The objective of this study was to ...
ABSTRACT Continuous and noninvasive method of monitoring and regulating the blood glucose level in diabetic patients is essential to avoid complications that may result from the condition. Over the last few years, efforts have been made to replace the existing invasive method of glycemic monitoring with the novel noninvasive approach by taking advantage of recent developments in biosensors and enhanced computing power of microprocessors. This work sought to explore the combined technologies ...
ABSTRACT Although access to highly active antiretroviral therapy has expanded rapidly and led to effective reduction in HIV/AIDS related morbidities and mortalities, inadequate dietary intake and food insecurity are barriers to the success of the therapy. Few studies have reported on the association between dietary intake coupled with food security and HIV in Ghana. This study describes dietary practices of HIV-infected adults on ART in Ghana. The study collected data on demographic characte...
ABSTRACT Introduction: Malaria, though a preventable and treatable disease, remains a major public health problem worldwide. It is mesoendemic in Africa, with increased rate of morbidity and mortality among children under five and pregnant women. Efficient case management includes accurate diagnosis, the use of Artemisinin based combination therapy (ACT) and appropriate dispensing practices. These form the basis for optimal therapeutic outcomes. Despite the strategies adopted in Ghana to rol...
ABSTRACT About 1.6 billion people in more than one hundred countries including Ghana suffer the consequences of micronutrient deficiencies, namely iron, iodine and Vitamin A. A thousand million people were estimated to be at risk of iodine deficiency alone in 1990. Two hundred million have goitres, 20 million are mentally retarded; six million of these being cretins. Iron deficiency anemia is the most widespread nutritional deficiency in the world today. Two billion people are affected by ane...
ABSTRACT Psychoactive and illicit drug use constitutes significant cause of morbidity and mortality but empirical laboratory data that complement epidemiological evidence are lacking. The study sought to examine the patterns of substance use among individuals who were investigated for evidence of psychoactive and illicit drug use at the Accra Psychiatric Hospital during the review period. All medical laboratory reports of investigations conducted on substance use at the facility over the fiv...
ABSTRACT Background: Needle stick and sharp injuries (NSSIs) or needle stick injuries (NSI) have been recognized as one of the most serious occupational health hazards among health care workers (HCWs) with a potentially high risk of transmitting blood borne pathogens. Such pathogens include hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The incidence of NSIs is highest in low income countries ostensibly due to lack of strict adherence to the use of pe...