ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION: High use of antibiotics is associated with the emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance. Global antibiotics consumption has increased in recent years with an even more significant increase coming from developing countries. The Ministry of Health in Ghana estimates that the median prevalence of antibiotic prescribing in health facilities is 44.3% against a standard of 30%. The quarterly prevalence of antibiotic prescribing at the Sunyani Municipal Hospital outpatie...
ABSTRACT Birth weight is used as a measure of maternal health and nutritional status as well as infant growth and survival. Low birth weight and early childhood malnutrition have both been associated with increased mortality and morbidity in children. Despite interventions like the ANC and growth monitoring and promotion by the Ghana Health Service to ensure adequate birth weight and early childhood growth, the prevalence of low birth weight and poor early childhood growth in the Northern Re...
ABSTRACT This thesis assesses the impact of CLTS programme as an innovation to ending open defecation in the Kumbungu District area of Ghana. The research sampled respondents using purposive sampling and convenience sampling technique was employed. Data were collected using questionnaire, observation and field notes. Major findings in the study revealed that; latrines are simply lacking and the few which are there are either poorly taken care of or over shared with several households with it...
ABSTRACT Women participation in Community-Led Total Sanitation is considered to be essential element in developing communities. (Managing the sanitation facilities effectively and sustaining it, is as a result of women active involvement throughout Community-Led Total Sanitation process) For some years now in Ghana, rural women participation in community led total sanitation seems encouraging, but yet a few are being involved in decision-making and planning. The study explored women’s role...
ABSTRACT Access to quality health service in recent times is an influencing factor in clients’ satisfaction with health service in contemporary Ghana. This study assessed the satisfaction of clients who seek medical health care at the Out Patient Department (OPD) in Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH). Through convenience and random sampling techniques, 120 respondents were involved with the help of questionnaires at the OPD in TTH. The study revealed that there were many children and teenagers...
ABSTRACT Trachoma is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide with approximately 150 million people having an active ocular infection and at least 5.5 million blind due to corneal scarring. In Ghana, the disease is a public health problem in the Upper and Northern Regions. In many trachoma endemic areas factors like lack of water, lack of facial cleanliness among children, overcrowding in a household (especially of children) and poor environmental sanitation contribute to the transmis...
ABSTRACT Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease of public health importance, affecting over 10 million people globally in a year. The TB disease is the single largest cause of mortality relative to communicable disease globally. TB treatment success rates have been below the WHO target of at least 85% while defaulter and failure rates have been higher than the national average since 2015 in Central Region. Ghana introduced a nationwide financial incentive known as the enablers’ packag...
ABSTRACT Increasing the proportion of births in health facilities is an important factor in reducing the health risks to both the mother and the baby. Proper medical attention and hygienic conditions during delivery can reduce the risks of complications and infection that can cause morbidity and mortality to both the mother and the baby. The aim of this study was to investigate the factors leading to low facility delivery in the Bilpeila sub district. The study was conducted among 450 three-...
ABSTRACT Background: Climate change with its associated weather variability affects health leading to mortality. It is estimated that climate change contributed 0.2% of the world’s annual mortality. Mortality in Ghana is mainly due to malaria, diarrhoea, acute respiratory infection, cardiovascular diseases, maternal, neonatal, and road traffic accident, most of which are weather-related. Also, a relatively high clustering of deaths in the population can hinder efforts to reduce mortality i...
ABSTRACT Snakebite poisoning is a public health concern to persons in agrarian environments and the northern region of Ghana is no exception. Youthful male agricultural and field workers have been reported to be at higher risk of snakebite, hence necessitating a study to determine the full extent of the snakebite problem in the Tamale Teaching Hospital. The objective of this study was to determine the epidemiological characteristics of the snakebite cases that were reported at the Tamale Tea...
ABSTRACT Introduction Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, has been a financial and health burden to households on a global scale. The disease has been on an exponential increase since the onset of modernization. This study sought to compare the cost of hypertension treatment using Complementary and Alternative Medicines against Conventional Medicines among hypertensive patients attending the Ledzokukukrowor (LEKMA) Hospital in Accra. Methods This was a cross sectional cost-of-ill...
ABSTRACT Studies have shown that human milk and breastfeeding of infant provides advantages with regard to general health, growth and development for infants. Mothers who breastfeed their babies may also gain health benefits. In addition to health benefits to mothers and infants, breastfeeding provides significant social and economic benefits to nations and individuals. Researchers have found out that both mother and infant can maximise the benefits if they practice exclusive breastfeeding du...
ABSTRACT Ebola Haemorrhagic Fever is a severe infection, characterized by person-to-person transmission through close contact with patients with or without haemorrhagic symptoms, dead bodies or by infected body fluids. An acute serious illness, caused by the Ebola virus is often deadly if untreated. The study assessed the level of public awareness and hospital preparedness in the prevention and management of the Ebola Virus Disease in the Tamale metropolis of the Northern region of Ghana. A ...
ABSTRACT Background: The association between chronic conditions such as Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), and common mental disorders (CMD) or psychological distress has been well established in studies all over the world. This is however expected to be moderated given the presence of social support both from literature and practice. General Objective: The study aimed at determining the prevalence of CMD, identifying factors associated with increased levels of psychological distress, and determin...
ABSTRACT Background: Home visiting has been the pivot of both the Primary Health Care (PHC) and currently the CHPS concepts in the Ghana Health Service; yet there is little information on how the home visit strategy improves maternal and newborn health. This the study aimed at assessing the implementation of the home visiting strategy and its effect on maternal and newborn health care in the Ga South Municipality in Ghana. Methods: A cross-sectional study employing a mixed-methods approach w...