Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

A Socioecological Description Of The Influencing Factors To Midwives’ Management Of Preeclampsia In A Ghanaian Tertiary Hospital, Isabella Garti, Michelle Gray, Angela Bromley, Benjamin Tan

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: In low-resource settings, midwives are the first contact for women with preeclampsia and lead the coordination of care. Unfavourable preeclampsia outcomes create a burden for women, families, and the health system. It is therefore important to understand the unique context of midwives’ practice and the complex factors that influence the delivery of maternal healthcare. Aim: This qualitative study explored the perspectives of key stakeholders in a tertiary hospital in Ghana regarding the facilitators and barriers influencing midwives’ provision of preeclampsia care using a socioecological model. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 42 participants comprising senior managers (n = 7) …

Prevalence Of Preeclampsia And Algorithm Of Adverse Foeto-Maternal Risk Factors Among Pregnant Women In The Central Region Of Ghana: A Multicentre Prospective Cross-Sectional Study, Enoch O. Anto, Wina I. O. Boadu, Ezekiel Ansah, Augustine Tawiah, Joseph Frimpong, Valentine C. K. T. Tamakloe, Emmanuel E. Korsah, Emmanuel Acheampong, Evans A. Asamoah, Stephen Opoku, Eric Adua, Ebenezer Afrifa-Yamoah, Max E. Annani-Akollor, Agartha O. Anto, Christian Obirikorang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Preeclampsia is a leading cause of foeto-maternal deaths especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, the prevalence and risk factors of preeclampsia are scarce in the Central region of Ghana with previous study assessing individual independent risk factors. This study determined the prevalence and algorithm of adverse foeto-maternal risk factors of preeclampsia. Methods: This multi-centre prospective cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2021 to October 2022 at the Mercy Women’s Catholic Hospital and Fynba Health Centre in Central region, Ghana. A total of 1,259 pregnant women were randomly sampled and their sociodemographic, clinical history, obstetrics and labour outcomes were recorded. Logistic …

Patient-Level And System-Level Determinants Of Stroke Fatality Across 16 Large Hospitals In Ghana And Nigeria: A Prospective Cohort Study, Fred S. Sarfo, Onoja M. Akpa, Bruce Ovbiagele, Albert Akpalu, Kolawole Wahab, Reginald Obiako, Morenikeji Komolafe, Lukman Owolabi, Godwin Ogbole, Philip Adebayo

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Background: Every minute, six indigenous Africans develop new strokes. Patient-level and system-level contributors to early stroke fatality in this region are yet to be delineated. We aimed to identify and quantify the contributions of patient-level and system-level determinants of inpatient stroke fatality across 16 hospitals in Ghana and Nigeria.

Methods: The Stroke Investigative Research and Educational Network (SIREN) is a multicentre study involving 16 sites in Ghana and Nigeria. Cases include adults (aged ≥18 years) with clinical and radiological evidence of an acute stroke. Data on stroke services and resources available at each study site were collected and analysed as …

Apolipoprotein E Genetic Variation, Atherogenic Index And Cardiovascular Disease Risk Assessment In An African Population: An Analysis Of Hiv And Malaria Patients In Ghana, Nicholas Ekow Thomford, Akwasi Anyanful, Richmond Owusu Ateko, Dee Blackhurst, Robert Peter Biney, Dennis Boadi, Samuel Badu Nyarko, Martins Ekor, George Boateng Kyei

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Apolipoprotein E is involved in lipid transport and clearance of lipoprotein through low-density lipoprotein receptors (LDLR). ApoE variation has been linked to cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. There are 3 isoforms of ApoE which originate from two non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms denoted as ε2, ε3 and ε4. The ε2 isoform is implicated in higher levels of atherogenic lipoprotein with the ε4 isoform causing LDLR downregulation. This leads to variable effects and differential CVD risk. Malaria and HIV are life-threatening diseases affecting several countries globally especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Parasite and viral activities have been implicated in lipid dysregulation leading to …

Conceptualised Psycho-Medical Footprint For Health Status Outcomes And The Potential Impacts For Early Detection And Prevention Of Chronic Diseases In The Context Of 3p Medicine, Ebenezer Afrifa-Yamoah, Eric Adua, Enoch O. Anto, Emmanuel Peprah-Yamoah, Victor Opoku-Yamoah, Emmanuel Aboagye, Rashid Hashmi

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: The Suboptimal Health Status Questionnaire-25 (SHSQ-25) is a distinctive medical psychometric diagnostic tool designed for the early detection of chronic diseases. However, the synaptic connections between the 25 symptomatic items and their relevance in supporting the monitoring of suboptimal health outcomes, which are precursors for chronic diseases, have not been thoroughly evaluated within the framework of predictive, preventive, and personalised medicine (PPPM/3PM). This baseline study explores the internal structure of the SHSQ-25 and demonstrates its discriminatory power to predict optimal and suboptimal health status (SHS) and develop photogenic representations of their distinct relationship patterns. Methods: The cross-sectional study involved …

The Relevance Of Knowledge, Perception, And Factors That Influence Contraceptive Use Among Married Women Living In Uaddara Barracks, Ghana, Daisy Afra Lumor, Christian Obirikorang, Emmanuel Acheampong, Yaa Obirikorang, Hubert Owusu, Sam Newton

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Contraceptive use has many advantages for personal growth and societal advancement, but there is still the problem of unmet needs for women, which highlights the gap between women's reproductive intentions and contraceptive use. This study investigated knowledge, perceptions, and factors that influence contraceptive use among married women living in a military base in Ghana. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 350 married women between the ages of 20 and 58 years at the Uaddara Barracks, Kumasi. A structured questionnaire was used to collect information on the background, knowledge, perceptions on contraceptive use, and contraceptive methods used by participants. Data was …

Urinary Tract Infection And Associated Factors Among Pregnant Women Receiving Antenatal Care At A Primary Health Care Facility In The Northern Region Of Ghana, Ezekiel K. Vicar, Samuel E. K. Acquah, Williams Wallana, Eugene D. Kuugbee, Emmanuel K. Osbutey, Abigail Aidoo, Emmanuel Acheampong, Gloria I. Mensah

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is frequently encountered during pregnancy and is associated with adverse maternal, fetal, and neonatal effects. However, very little information is available on the prevalence of UTI among pregnant women in the northern part of Ghana, a region with a high birth rate. This study employed a cross-sectional analysis of the prevalence, antimicrobial profile, and risk factors associated with UTI in 560 pregnant women attending primary care for antenatal check-ups. Sociodemographic obstetrical history and personal hygiene information were obtained using a well-structured questionnaire. Afterward, clean catch mid-stream urine samples were collected from all participants and subjected to …

College Of Public Heath News, Georgia Southern University

Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health News (2011-2023)

• ‘Rising star’ graduate: Sylvia Ofori’s Journey from Ghana to Georgia Southern to Harvard

Nurses’ Attitudes Towards Hospitalized Older Adults In A Tertiary Care Setting In Ghana, Yakubu H. Yakubu, Abdul-Ganiyu Fuseini, Eleanor Holroyd

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Introduction: The increasing population of older adults and rapid increases in co- morbidities globally has necessitated the need for a healthcare delivery system that meets the multifaceted needs of the growing population of older adults. Concurrent with these rising complex health needs is the importance of positive, non-judgmental attitudes of health services providers towards older adults. Moreover, this is particu-larly important in the nursing profession, given nurses' significant and crucial roles in healthcare settings.

Aim: The study aimed to evaluate nurses’ attitudes towards older adults in a tertiary hospital in Ghana.

Design: It employed a descriptive cross-sectional …

Preceptorship Practice In Healthcare Institutions In Ghana: A Situational Analysis, Ivy E. Sackey

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Preceptors play a vital role in supporting nursing/midwifery students and new employees’ transition and assimilation into their new role. Furthermore, with the increasing focus on educating more qualified nurses and midwives to meet health-related United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, there is a need for a more standardized and coordinated approach to preceptorship training. As former Head of the Nursing/Midwifery Training Institution in Ghana, I observed first-hand that the system of preceptorship needs improvements. Published literature on preceptorship has shown that the practice plays a vital role in healthcare delivery. However, most of the existing literature preceptorship is from developed countries, …

Construct Validity And Invariance Assessment Of The Social Impacts Of Occupational Heat Stress Scale (Siohss) Among Ghanaian Mining Workers, Victor F. Nunfam, Ebenezer Afrifa-Yamoah, Kwadwo Adusei-Asante, Eddie J. Van Etten, Kwasi Frimpong, Isaac Adjei-Mensah, Jacques Oosthuizen

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Heat exposure studies over the last decade have shown little attention in assessing and reporting the psychometric properties of the various scales used to measure impacts of occupational heat stress on workers. A descriptive cross-sectional survey including 320 small- and large-scale mining workers was employed to assess the construct validity of the social impacts of occupational heat stress scale (SIOHSS) in the Western Region of Ghana in 2017. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and invariance analysis were carried out using AMOS version 25 and statistical product and service solutions (SPSS) version 26 to examine the model fit and establish consistency …

Sars-Cov-2 Detection Among International Air Travellers To Ghana During Mandatory Quarantine, Bright Adu, Joseph K H Bonney, John K Odoom, Evelyn Y A Bonney, Evangeline Obodai, Ivy A Asante, James Aboagye, Mildred A Adusei-Poku, Lawrence Lartey, Ernest K Asiedu, William K Ampofo, George B Kyei

2020-Current year OA Pubs

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 detection among international travellers to Ghana during mandatory quarantine.

DESIGN: A retrospective cross-sectional study.

SETTING: Air travellers to Ghana on 21

PARTICIPANTS: On 21

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Positivity for SARS-CoV-2 by polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS: The initial testing at the beginning of quarantine found 79 (7.7%) individuals to be positive for SARS-CoV-2. In the exit screening after 12 to 13 days of quarantine, it was discovered that 26 of those who tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 in the initial screening subsequently tested positive.

CONCLUSIONS: Ghana likely averted an early community spread of COVID-19 through …

Issues For Consideration In The Scale-Up Of The Inclusion Of Family Planning In The National Health Insurance Benefits Package In Ghana, Kamil Fuseini, Augustine Ankomah

Reproductive Health

Ghana is working toward achieving universal health coverage (UHC). This is driven, in part, by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG 3—Good Health and Well-Being, which seeks to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. Achieving this feat will improve equity of access as people, especially the poor can access quality health services without financial hardships. Ensuring equitable access to family planning (FP) is essential to securing the well-being of women and supporting the health and development of communities. One pathway to ensuring equity is the inclusion of FP in affordable insurance. While the inclusion …

Inclusion Of Family Planning Within The National Health Insurance Benefits Package In Ghana: A Health Facility Assessment, Population Council, Ministry Of Health, Ghana Health Service, National Health Insurance Authority, Marie Stopes International Ghana

Reproductive Health

In Ghana, National Health Insurance Act 852 of 2012 ensures that health-care benefits include family planning (FP) services, however people continue to pay for FP services because the policy is yet to be implemented in practice. Under the leadership of the Ministry of Health, the National Health Insurance Authority in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service, Marie Stopes International-Ghana and the Population Council implemented a pilot project to remove FP service out-of-pocket costs. All modern clinical FP methods were added to national health insurance and expensed by health facilities through the national health insurance claims process. The intervention significantly increased …

A Qualitative Study On Pediatric Health Concerns In Ghana, Jordan Coldwell, Meghan Edalgo, Shannon Hester, Megan Johnston, Audrey Simon, Karley Wills, Patricia Catts, Phd, Rn

Nursing Undergraduate Work

Children in Ghana face health challenges that are magnified by the high cost of health care and limited access to resources. Ghanaian children suffer consequences from illnesses such as malaria, respiratory infections, gastrointestinal disturbances, sickle cell disease, injuries and accidents, and seizures. It is important to recognize the prominent diseases of this population so that funding can be allocated to relieve the burdens caused by the disease progression. This study aims to explore the health care needs of Ghanaian children and answer the question, “What are the significant health care concerns of the pediatric population in Ghana, Africa as perceived …

Sociocultural Practices Affecting The Care Of Preterm Infants In The Ghanaian Community, Esther Abena Adama, Deborah Sundin, Sara Bayes

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Introduction

Although culture is an integral part of health, there is scarcity of evidence on the influence of culture on caregiving experiences of parents of preterm infants. The aim of this study was to explore the influence of sociocultural practices on caring for preterm infants in the Ghanaian community.

Method

Narrative inquiry was utilized to explore the influence of sociocultural practices on the care of preterm infants from 21 mothers, 9 fathers, and 12 household members. Data were collected through face-to-face semistructured interviews and observations at participants’ homes.

Results

Analysis of data resulted in three threads/themes—respect for the elderly, use …

Understanding The Barriers To Ghanaian Midwives’ Ability To Provide Quality Care: Using Classic Grounded Theory Methodology In A New Context, Yakubu Ismaila, Sara Bayes, Sadie Geraghty

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background:

Interpretive-naturalist methodologies, including Grounded Theory are increasingly being used in health research in Ghana however, none of the studies that have used Grounded Theory in the setting has used the methodology in full.

Aim:

The main aim of this article is to describe the experiences, the strengths and limitations of using Glaserian Grounded Theory methodology to understand the barriers to Ghanaian midwives’ ability to provide quality maternal and neonatal care.

Design:

Glaserian Grounded Theory methodological principles were adhered to in this study in relation to the use of literature, participant recruitment, data collection and analysis, and theory development. Data …

Prevalence And Associated Risk Factors Of Symptomatic Dry Eye In Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Population-Based Study, Emmnuel Kobia Acquah, Stephen Ankamah-Lomotey, Ebenezer Owusu, Sedinam Forfoe, Joseph Bannor, Joana Abokoma Koomson, Martin Opoku, Daniel Mensah Dzikpo, Derrick Nii Okaikwei Mensah, Jedidiah N. Amonoo, Prince Kwaku Akowuah

Articles

Purpose This study sought to estimate the prevalence and associated risk factors of symptomatic dry eye in the general non-clinical Ghanaian population.

Methods This was a cross-sectional population-based study conducted from November 2019 to February 2020. A stratified, multistage, random sampling technique was used to select participants aged 18 years and above from the capital cities of eight administrative regions in Ghana. Symptomatic dry eye was assessed using the Ocular Surface Disease Index questionnaire (OSDI). A study specific structured questionnaire was administered to collect information on participants’ demographics and self-reported risk factors of dry eye disease such as smoking, diabetes, …

Job Satisfaction And Its Associated Factors Among Optometrists In Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Study, Kwadwo Owusu Akufo, Eldad Agyei-Manu, David Ben Kumah, Anthony Danso-Appiah, Abubakar Sadik Mohammed, Akosua Kesewah Asare, Emmanuel Kofi Addo

Articles

Job satisfaction describes an employee’s motivation and/or feeling of satisfaction towards his/her work. Globally, healthcare professionals’ turnover and retention play a critical role in the delivery of essential health services. In Ghana, however, little has been done to ascertain job satisfaction levels among human resources for eyehealth. The objective of this study therefore was to assess job satisfaction and its associated factors among optom‑ etrists in Ghana.

Midwives’ Strategies For Coping With Barriers To Providing Quality Maternal And Neonatal Care: A Glaserian Grounded Theory Study, Yakubu Ismaila, Sara Bayes, Sadie Geraghty

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background: Midwives face direct and indirect barriers in their workplaces that have negative consequences on their ability to provide quality care to women and neonates, however, they still carry on with their duties. This study aimed at investigating the coping strategies that Ghanaian midwives adopt to be able to complete their work. Methods: Glaserian Grounded theory was used in this study. Data were collected through non-participant observations and semi-structured interviews. The study participants included 29 midwives who worked in labour/birthing environments and a pharmacist, a social worker, a national Health Insurance Scheme manager and a health services manager. Findings: The …

Estimating The Magnitude And Risk Associated With Heat Exposure Among Ghanaian Mining Workers, Victor Fannam Nunfam, Kwadwo Adusei-Asante, Eddie Van Etten, Kwasi Frimpong, Jacques Oosthuizen

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Many occupational settings located outdoors in direct sun, such as open cut mining, pose a health, safety, and productivity risk to workers because of their increased exposure to heat. This issue is exacerbated by climate change effects, the physical nature of the work, the requirement to work extended shifts and the need to wear protective clothing which restricts evaporative cooling. Though Ghana has a rapidly expanding mining sector with a large workforce, there appears to be no study that has assessed the magnitude and risk of heat exposure on mining workers and its potential impact on this workforce. Questionnaires and …

Evaluating The Inclusion Of Family Planning Within The National Health Insurance Benefits Package In Ghana, Kamil Fuseini, Augustine Ankomah

Reproductive Health

Contraceptive use in Ghana has remained low despite annual increases since 2012. Having a high unmet need for family planning (FP) suggests that there may be barriers to access and uptake. Over time, several policies, including Ghana’s Costed Implementation Plan from 2015–20, have suggested FP initiatives to improve contraceptive use yet they have not been entirely implemented. Further, although FP was included in the health insurance act passed in 2003, amended in 2008, and revised in 2012, which indicated that health-care benefits include FP, people continue to pay out of pocket for services at National Health Insurance Authority facilities because …

Modeling The Impact Of Inclusion Of Family Planning Services In Ghana's National Health Insurance Scheme, Justin Archer, Gillian Eva, Augustine Ankomah, Saumya Ramarao, Kamil Fuseini, Anne Coolen, Stephen Duku, Benjamin Bellows

Reproductive Health

While access to and uptake of modern family planning (FP) in Ghana has steadily risen over the last decade, the modern Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (mCPR) among all women reached only 22% in 2019 with 30% of women still reporting unmet need. To increase FP uptake via mitigation of cost barriers among women with unmet need, the Government of Ghana is seeking to integrate claims-based FP services into the National Health Insurance Scheme benefits package. The impact of these activities has the potential to be significant with the proportion of women accessing modern FP shifting dramatically to public facilities over the …

Comparison Of Repeated Doses Of Ivermectin Versus Ivermectin Plus Albendazole For The Treatment Of Onchocerciasis: A Randomized, Open-Label, Clinical Trial, Linda Batsa Debrah, Kerstin Fischer, Gary Weil, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Improved treatment for onchocerciasis is needed to accelerate onchocerciasis elimination in Africa. Aiming to better exploit registered drugs, this study was undertaken to determine whether annual or semiannual treatment with ivermectin (IVM; 200 µg/kg) plus albendazole (ALB; 800 mg single dose) is superior to IVM alone.

METHODS: This trial was performed in Ghana and included 272 participants with microfilariae (MF), who were randomly assigned to 4 treatment arms: (1) IVM annually at 0, 12, and 24 months; (2) IVM semiannually at 0, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months; (3) IVM+ALB annually; or (4) IVM+ALB semiannually. Microfiladermia was determined pretreatment …

Barriers To Maternal Retention In Hiv Care In Ghana: Key Differences During Pregnancy And The Postpartum Period., Kwame S. Sakyi, Margaret Y. Lartey, Caitlin E. Kennedy, Julie A. Dension, Luke C. Mullany, Prince G. Owusu, Emma Sacks, Emily A. Hurley, Pamela J. Surkan

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Maternal retention in HIV care is lower for women in the postpartum period than during pregnancy, but the reasons are poorly understood. We examined key differences in barriers to retention in HIV care during and after pregnancy.

METHODS: We conducted semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 30 postpartum women living with HIV. Participants were recruited from two tertiary facilities implementing Option B+ for prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission in Accra, Ghana. We collected data from mothers who had disengaged from HIV care and those who were still engaged in care. The interviews were analyzed using principles adapted from grounded theory.

RESULTS: …

A Health Care Comparison Of Areas In Ghana And In The United States, Lindsey Matsumoto

Honors Projects

The health care system is an important factor for the well-being of the human population all around the world, and yet, health care can differ greatly depending on a variety of factors including location and culture. When referring to health care, it is appropriate to include skilled physicians, hospitals, care clinics, and medical equipment. This article conducts a literature review that compares the health care systems of two countries, the Republic of Ghana and the United States of America. This information is relevant for not only expanding one’s knowledge, but also for travel purposes, as both countries have highly populated …

Costos De La Licencia De Maternidad Para Apoyar La Lactancia Materna En Brasil, Ghana Y México, Mireya Vilar-Compte, Graciela M. Teruel, Diana Flores-Peregrina, Grace J. Carroll, Gabriela S. Buccini, Rafael Perez-Escamilla

Department of Public Health Scholarship and Creative Works

Objective To develop a method to assess the cost of extending the duration of maternity leave for formally-employed women at the national level and apply it in Brazil, Ghana and Mexico. Methods We adapted a World Bank costing method into a five-step method to estimate the costs of extending the length of maternity leave mandates. Our method used the unit cost of maternity leave based on working women’s weekly wages; the number of additional weeks of maternity leave to be analysed for a given year; and the weighted population of women of reproductive and legal working age in a given …

The Abodamfo: Ghana’S Marginalization Of Their ‘Other’, Rockling Afariwaa

Student Writing

Traditional practices and thinking of most Ghanaians, has kept them from accepting and adapting to the social needs of their mentally ill population. The mentally ill are no longer accused of being witches, hung, or killed, and although the way people perceive and react to the mentally ill, in general, has evolved since the periods of Sigmund Freud, other forms of persecution against them exist in today’s societies. These persecutions are in the form of stigmatization, discrimination, and marginalization. Through Individual stigmatization and structural stigmatizations of mentally ill people in Ghana, by the societies and communities in which they are …

Barriers To Occupational Heat Stress Risk Adaptation Of Mining Workers In Ghana, Victor Fannam Nunfam, Kwadwo Adusei-Asante, Kwasi Frimpong, Eddie John Van Etten, Jacques Oosthuizen

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Increasing temperature and climate warming impacts are aggravating the vulnerability of workers to occupational heat stress. Adaptation and social protection strategies have become crucial to enhance workers’ health, safety, productive capacity and social lives. However, the effective implementation of work-related heat stress adaptation mechanisms appears to be receiving little attention. This study assessed the barriers to occupational heat stress adaptation and social protection strategies of mining workers in Ghana. Based on a mixed methods approach, focus group discussions and questionnaires were used to elicit data from 320 mining workers. Workers’ adaptation strategies (water intake, wearing loose and light-coloured clothing, participating …

Introduction Of Dmpa-Sc Self-Injection In Ghana: A Feasibility And Acceptability Study Using Sayana® Press, Dela Nai, Patrick Aboagye, Kamil Fuseini, Elizabeth Tobey, Aparna Jain, Nora Maresh, Rebecca Fertziger

Reproductive Health

This research report describes results from an implementation science study that explored the feasibility and acceptability of administering depot medroxyprogesterone acetate-subcutaneous (DMPA-SC) among health-care providers and family planning (FP) clients in Ghana. DMPA-SC is an injectable contraceptive method that can be self-administered. The study, conducted by the Population Council through the USAID-funded Evidence Project in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service, was implemented in rural, peri-urban, and urban areas of the Ashanti and Volta regions. A total of 150 health-care providers were trained to administer DMPA-SC and to train clients on self-injection. Clients assessed as being competent self-injected under the …