ABSTRACT Background: Research involving human participants presents a number of key ethical challenges. In the context of health-related research, it is globally recognized that there is the need to protect human participants from the risks that may be posed by various research activities. These risks may be social, psychological, emotional, and physical. One of the key safeguards to protecting human participants from research-related risks is the role of Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) o...
ABSTRACT Background: Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in adolescents is increasing in the wake of the obesity epidemic among children and adolescents. There is paucity of data on the prevalence of metabolic syndrome among adolescents in Ghana. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of predictors of metabolic syndrome in adolescents using cost effective noninvasive methods, and its associations with sociodemographic factors and physical activity. Method: A cross sectional stud...
ABSTRACT Introduction: Low back pain (LBP) is a clinical condition which is becoming common among working population worldwide, including, Ghana. However, the lack of data on its prevalence and associated risk factors among EMTs in Ghana limits efforts to mitigate the effects on these group of workers. Objective: This study therefore sought to determine the prevalence and factors associated with low back pain among EMTs in Greater Accra Region. Methods: The study was cross sectional in desig...
ABSTRACT Background: Good nutrition in the early years of life is very crucial for the growth and development of children. Most of the eating and health behaviours developed in the early years of life are likely to persist into adulthood. Food choice is a complex behaviour that is influenced by multiple factors such as environmental, personal and biological factors. Parents, particularly mothers have powerful influence over children’s early food experiences. However, no systematic research...
ABSTRACT Background: People have been and always will be the source of blood, and although they know the necessity of blood donation, there is low participation of blood donation and thus, shortage of blood is always the situation. Potential donors in the age range of 18 to 25 years are very scarce, which means it is important to sensitize this group of population for regular blood donation. So far, no such study was found in Ghana, which aimed at young individual's knowledge of, attitude to...
ABSTRACT Background Mental Health, mostly overlooked as a non-communicable disease, is becoming an issue of national concern. Though the Mental Health Act 846 of 2012 was passed into law in 2012, mental health services seem to be virtually invisible in many communities. Persons with mental health disorders are mostly stigmatized and discriminated, suffering low quality of life in their diverse communities. This study sought to identify the factors influencing mental health utilization at the...
ABSTRACT Tuberculosis continues to be an important public health problem worldwide. The World Health Organization estimated that human TB incidence and death for the 1990 to 1999 period would be 88 million and 30 million respectively, with most cases in developing countries. Zoonotic TB caused by M. bovis is present in animals in most developing countries (including Ghana) where surveillance and control activities are often inadequate or unavailable. Consequently, many epidemiological and pub...
ABSTRACT Introduction Emergency contraceptive pills (ECP) are one amongst the thirteen essential commodities self-addressed by the United Nations Commission on Life-Saving Commodities for ladies and youngsters. Several studies have shown that inadequate provider knowledge is an important barrier to EC provision and use in a range of settings. This study therefore sought to examine the factors influencing emergency contraceptive prescription among health providers in the Accra Metropolis. Meth...
ABSTRACT Introduction Diabetes Mellitus is no more a condition of the affluence but a fast-rising non-contagious disease of global importance which still remains a leading cause of indisposition and death. Currently about half a billion people are suffering from this condition globally. Research has it that 8 out of 10 adults are living with Diabetes in sub-Saharan countries. Ghana over the years has a prevalence rate of diabetes patients to be 9% making it quite disturbing. Although there ha...
ABSTRACT Trachoma is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide with approximately 150 million people having active ocular infection and at least 5.5 million blind due to corneal scaring. 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 transmission ...
ABSTRACT The society in which we live in defines masculinity in terms of fertility and sexual capability, thus maintaining sexual potency has always been a major concern for both men and women especially young men. Alcoholic beverages mixed with aphrodisiacs are usually advertised in a seductive manner such that consumers believe they would have value for their money and therefore will indulge in excessive consumption which may consequently result in many untoward outcomes including chronic d...
ABSTRACT Background: The Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana has consistently recorded increase in HIV prevalence over the past 3 years with an average prevalence of 2.7%. Nonetheless, Sunyani the capital of the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana recorded an HIV prevalence of 4.2% far above the National average of 2.4%. In view of that, this study sought to assess factors associated with HIV prevalence in the Sunyani municipality of Ghana. Method: A facility based cross sectional study was conducted in thre...
ABSTRACT Context: Though Ghana has one of the most liberalized abortion laws, maternal mortality from abortion is twenty three percent. Most of these abortions are due to unsafe illegal abortions. Public and health providers‟ knowledge and perceptions about abortion law affect access to safe abortion services. The main objective of the study is to determine the level of knowledge and perception of the abortion law of Ghana among different population sub- groups in the Ayawaso West Sub-Metr...
ABSTRACT Background With improved survival after the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), non-AIDS-related morbidity and mortality have come to the forefront in the management ofHIV patients. HAART has been linked to the development of several risk factors for cardiovascular disease including insulin resistance and hyperlipidemia, but its mfluence on hypertensIon requires further study. The general objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of hypertensio...
ABSTRACT Introduction: Sub-optimal adherence is known to be one of the most common causes of poor treatment outcomes and /or lack of sustained treatment benefits. In the use of ARVs for the management of HIV infection in PMTCT, adherence is key for therapeutic success to be achieved and to ensure undetectable viral load at time of delivery. This reduces the risk of HIV transmission to the infant. In 2011, HIV/AIDS estimation for Ghana indicated that 2,933 babies were infected with HIV throug...