ABSTRACT It is essential to recognize the relative importance of the various barriers to the utilization if effective health services are to be delivered. This study set out to find the factors leading to the observed underutilization in health facilities in the Assin District. It involved the administration of questionnaires to one-hundred household heads of selected communities of Assin District. Focus group discussions were also conducted with community members. In-depth interviews were c...
ABSTRACT This study assessed the quality of neonatal care in health facilities in the Ho Municipality by focusing on availability of adequate and skilled human resources for neonatal care; equipment and care processes; and the perceptions of mothers of newborns on neonatal care in health facilities. Adopting the qualitative method, the study used a purposive sampling to collect data from midwives of 4 health centres as well as staff in the paediatric and maternity wards at the regional and mu...
ABSTRACT Background: Every day, 720 children die of malaria which can be prevented or cured if presented early. The private health sector is a major institution in the response to treating malaria globally and nationally. In 2017, about 30% of health facilities were privately owned and contributed significantly to the management of malaria in Ghana. Given the importance of the private health sector to the malaria management, it is prudent to assess the cost of managing malaria in private heal...
ABSTRACT Background: Every year, malaria affects millions of people globally with the bulk majority occurring in Sub-Sahara Africa of which Ghana is part. To reduce the number of malaria cases and deaths, Ghana adopted and is currently implementing the use of ACTs as a national policy for the treatment of uncomplicated malaria within 24 hours of the onset of symptoms. As part of this policy, suspected malaria cases should be tested, treated and tracked to ensure compliance to the use o...
ABSTRACT Introduction: Malnutrition remains one of the major problems confronting children in Sub - Saharan Africa (SSA). The nutritional status of children influences their health status, which is a key determinant of child survival. Therefore improvement of children’s nutritional status increases the chances of child survival and is considered as a precondition for their contribution to community as well as human development. The study was carried out to examine community perception and m...
ABSTRACT Introduction: Optimal infant and young child feeding practices are important for the survival, growth, development and health of infants and young children. Objective: The aim of this study was to find out whether early feeding (EBF) practices influenced subsequent child feeding adequacy among children 9-23 months. Methods: Study participants included 300 mother-infant pairs who were recruited at the Child Welfare Clinic of the University of Ghana, Hospital. A structured questionnair...
ABSTRACT Background: Oral health is key to the overall health status and quality of life. Dental caries and periodontal conditions are the most common oral health issues globally. Individuals with special needs, especially children, require extra care in daily activities as compared to individuals in the general population. These children will have to learn good oral health habits in order to pass it on to their colleagues and to their children. The aim of this study was to determine the ora...
ABSTRACT Public policy, whether implemented under a civilian or military regime, plays a critical role in the development of a country especially if well-formulated, and efficiently and effectively implemented. Ghana has undergone about twenty-two (22) years of military rule and thirty-nine (39) years of civilian rule since independence. The First, Second and Third Republics were each terminated by three coup d‟états that actors justified on the grounds of corruption in those civilian gov...
ABSTRACT Background: Stillbirth remains a public health issue of global concern particularly in developing countries like Ghana. Stillbirth rates continue to remain high in West Gonja Hospital Damongo though preventable. However, the factors influencing stillbirths in the hospital remain unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the factors influencing stillbirths in the hospital. Specifically, the study determined the proportion of stillbirth, assessed the health facility and obs...
ABSTRACT As calls are made by health professional groups and clients for a more client-centred health care a system, it becomes essential to define and measure patient perceptions of health care quality and to understand more fully what drives those perceptions. The aim of this study is to describe client perceived quality of health care and satisfaction with care in selected public health facilities in Bawku West District. The study was a cross-sectional survey conducted in three health fac...
ABSTRACT Introduction: There are several conflicting reports on the effect of antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) on birth outcomes in HIV positive women. Studies also suggest that different geographic locations present with varying birth outcomes with respect to specific antiretroviral drugs. Objective: This sought to examine birth outcomes in HIV positive women who received antiretroviral therapy (ART) at the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) from 2010 to 2015. Methods: As a result of sparse data on t...
ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION: Cardiovascular Diseases (CVD) are the class of diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels. Globally, CVDs are the largest killers, claiming 17.1million lives a year. Populations of Sub-Saharan African descent are at an increased risk of developing CVDs. In Ghana, there has been a documented increase in prevalence rates of hypertension and diabetes over the last fifty years. A study done in the University of Ghana in 2006 to screen all the workers, showed a prevale...
ABSTRACT The study aimed at assessing the sexual behavior of adolescents in selected Senior High Schools in the East Mamprusi District of Ghana. Cross-sectional descriptive study design was used with multistage sampling technique to sample 405 respondents from two randomly selected Senior High Schools in the East Mamprusi District. The study adopted an integrated mixed-methods approach to data gathering, using questionnaires to gather data from students. Sexual practices were seen as diverse...
ABSTRACT The purpose of the study was to assess the perspectives of teachers and students in Senior High Schools in the Tamale Metropolis on school-based sex education. Provision of sexuality education in schools has been identified as a key strategy in promoting the sexual and reproductive health of adolescents as it equips them with the knowledge, skills and efficacy to make informed decisions about their sexuality and lifestyle in the mist of numerous and conflicting messages about their ...
ABSTRACT Objective: To determine the prevalence of oral diseases among school going children and how their oral health behaviors relate with their oral health status. Method: Descriptive cross-sectional study design was used. Purposive and cluster sampling were used to select 279 school children from upper Primary and Junior High School in nine (9) basic schools in Assin North Municipal Area. Data were collected from the 279 students using the WHO Oral Health Questionnaire for Children and cl...