Abstract: Condoms continue to be an essential and effective tool in the prevention packages for HIV, other STIs and unplanned pregnancy Sexually transmitted diseases are the most serious and widespread public health problem. The most vulnerable demographic groups, particularly female sex workers, engage in risky sexual activities, and have more HIV/AIDS than the general population as a result of having several partners and inconsistent condom use. Moreover, available data concerning consiste...
The testing capacity for SARS-CoV-2 in Africa is rather limited. Antigen detection rapid diagnostic tests (Ag-RDTs) are a cheap and rapid alternative to reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests, but there is little data about their performance under real life conditions in tropical countries. The objective of this study is to evaluate the performance of a standard Ag-RDT in a population of a major hospital in northern Ghana. Prospective, cross-sectional, blinded verifica...
Menstruation plays a crucial role in the reproductive lives of all women. This presents as one of the marked changes that appears with puberty. The advent of menses in most settings is accompanied by physical and psychological health, religious, social and cultural implications. The aim of the study was to assess determinants of menstrual hygiene practices among adolescent girls in Basic Schools in the West Gonja Municipality of the Savannah Region of Ghana. The study employed analytical cros...
Background: The UNAIDS target for the 3rd 90% stipulated that; 90% of HIV patients on ART attained VS by end of 2020 (Ansah, et al., 2021; Marsh et al., 2019). The WHO recommended intensified adherence counseling to increase VS rate (WHO, 2015). This research determined VLF in HIV patients and recommended strategic interventions to achieve the new third 95% VS rate by 2025 (UNAIDS, 2016). The GHS identified the UER as a hotspot with increased HIV prevalence and VLF. In 2019, the UER recorded ...
Background: Even though cervical cancer may be avoided; it is the leading cause of death among women globally. It is the primary cause of cancer-related deaths among female patients in Africa. This study aimed to identify factors associated with cervical cancer screening uptake among women in the Tamale metropolis. Health Blief Model (HBM) framework was used. Methodology: A facility-based descriptive cross-sectional study with a quantitative method was carried out in major healthcare faciliti...
This study demonstrated that majority of the enrolled students at the UDS Nyankpala campus had inadequate HIV knowledge regarding its various modes of transmission with an average knowledge score of 10.36 3.0 (mean SD). Christians (11.09 3.31), students 25 years and over (10.77 3.31) and level 300 students (11.53 3.46) had significantly higher knowledge of HIV in their respective sub groups. However, none of the socio-demographic factors had any effect on the HIV knowledge...
Poor uptake of SRH services among adolescents affect the progress of reaching universal access to SRH services in Ghana. This study sought to assess adolescents’ knowledge, access and use of SRH services in the Sunyani West Municipality. An analytical cross-sectional design was adopted with a mixed-method approach. Questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data through simple random sampling techniques by balloting. Both Focus Group Discussion and Key Informant Interview guides were us...
Families, caregivers, and those with epilepsy all struggle with their lives. Taking care of children with epilepsy is a more difficult task for caregivers due to the nature of the condition and the ages of the children (Gerling's et al., 2016). The study evaluated the experience of caretakers of little children with epilepsy in Tamale. This research used the Phenomenological qualitative methodology to create a well-structured format or outline for the entire study. Caregivers who visited the ...
The campaign for improved sustainable development goal six (6) is increasingly threatened as people’s existing knowledge and attitudes seem not to promote clean water and proper sanitation practices. Environmental sanitation has become a problem to the extent that it has engaged the attention of authorities as well as concerned citizens. As a result, over the years Ghana failed to achieve her set sanitation target. One area that has suffered from this problem is the Muslims (Zongo) communit...
Postpartum contraception is an essential determinant for population control and mitigation of maternal, infant morbidity and mortality. Birth spacing lowers the risk of preterm birth, a major cause of infant mortality. Northern region has the lowest contraception uptake of 11% in Ghana. Again, limited study has been conducted on this topic over the years hence necessitating the conduct of this study. Mixed study design was employed for the study. Simple random and purposive sampling technique...
Introduction; Maternal and child health remain an important component of the health delivery system globally. Contraception plays a pivotal role in enhancing the health of a mother and her child. The patronage of this services in the postpartum period has been very low in the Bongo District of the Upper East Region despite numerous strategies implemented by health authorities. This study was aimed at exploring the contraceptives use and preferences, knowledge on contraceptives and factors tha...
Abstract/Overview Intimate partner violence (IPV) at any stage in pregnancy is an issue that threatens the health of both the mother and the unborn child. Understanding its prevalence and determinants is crucial for developing interventions. Despite being located in an area with higher rates of IPV during pregnancy than the national average, there is a paucity of data on the prevalence of this form of abuse and its determinants in pregnant women in Bondo Sub-County. This study investigate...
Abstract/Overview Disclosure of HIV status to adolescents is controversial and a sensitive issue among guardians, health workers, and parents of adolescents. However, HIV/AIDS is a chronic illness, and it’s a lifelong treatment. Adolescents who are HIV positive need to know their HIV status and treatment. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that children should know their HIV status at the ages of 6 to 12 years. Many children living with HIV are reaching adolescence and young...
Abstract/Overview With the widespread use of highly active antiretroviral therapy, the epidemic of HIV has evolved into a chronic disease. HIV is extremely stigmatizing, resulting in highly emotionally charged responses to disclosure. World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that children should be informed of their HIV status at ages of 6 to 12 years and full disclosure at about 8 to 10 years. Disclosure process is much more difficult when the person being disclosed to is an adolescent...
Abstract/Overview Breast self-examination (BSE) is a simple, low-cost, and non-invasive method that women use to detect breast cancer at early stages. BSE is recommended for teenage and adult women as it helps to detect unusual swelling and lumps. The early intervention reduces the spread of cancer cells and improves health outcomes. This study assessed the knowledge and practices of BSE for early detection of breast cancer among women attending maternal health clinic at Jaramogi Oginga T...