ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
The Health of the &quot;Older Women&quot; in Accra, Ghana: Results of the Women's Health Study of Accra

The health of women residing in the developing countries is not limited to reproductive health conditions or infectious diseases. While these illnesses remain serious threats to a healthy life, as the population ages, the prevalence of illnesses considered to be of significance only in industrialized nations also increasingly afflicts the residents of the developing worlds. The health and well-being of the older women was evaluated in the 2003 Women's Health Study of Accra. This community based survey and clinical and laboratory examination of 1,328 women identified a significantly high prevalence of malaria and chronic, non-communicable diseases in all age groups without regard to education level or income. Hypertension, diabetes and obesity are significantly prevalent in women age 50 years and older. The prevalence of conditions which adversely affect health and quality of life, including impaired visual acuity, poor dentition, pain and limitations with mobility is significant in the women age 50 years and older. While these data are specific to Ghana, they have the potential to be generalizable to women in other urban areas in transition. As the life expectancy is increasing in developing countries, an increased awareness and treatment of chronic health conditions in the older women is critical to ensure a healthy life as they enter their golden years. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.

Source: UG
Health of the corporate worker: health risk assessment among staff of a corporate organization in Ghana

Introduction Health promotion at the workplace and for workers is important to promote workers’ health, improve working environments and work practices. The goal of this analysis was to provide an example of health risk assessment conducted in a large media organization in Ghana for its workers and to identify correlates of health risks identified among different categories of workers. Methods This was a cross sectional study of the health risk of staff in a large corporate media organization in Accra, Ghana, conducted in 2012. In all 161 members of staff were screened and records included in the analysis. An abstraction form was used to collect data on age and sex of staff, staff category, self-reported health risk, history of chronic disease and self-rated health status. Measurements included weight, height, Body Mass Index, fasting blood sugar, total cholesterol/ HDL cholesterol and blood pressure. Data were entered into SPSS version 21, and analyzed by simple frequencies, proportions and ratios. Measured health indices were analyzed by mean ± standard deviation. Significant association between categorical outcome measures were determined with chi-square test at the 95 % confidence level. Results The sex characteristics of the workers indicated more males than females, male: female sex ratio of 2.3: 1. Close to half of the workers 66 (41.0 %) self-reported history of chronic disease and 40 (24.8 %) self-rated their overall state of health as poor. In all, 31.7 % of workers self-reported hypertension, while measured blood pressure indicated 60.2 % prevalence of diastolic blood pressure. Prevalence of obesity was 63.8 %; 49.1 % of staff had above normal total cholesterol levels and 12.4 % had blood glucose indicative of diabetes. Senior and management staff had relatively higher prevalence of obesity, high blood pressure, above normal cholesterol and fasting blood sugar levels. Conclusion More staff were unaware of their individual health risks and the health risks were higher among senior staff and management members. Adoption of regular health educational and health promotion activities as well as health surveillance procedures is essential to improve health of workers and promote positive social climate at the work place.

Source: UG
Health of urban Ghanaian women as identified by the women's health study of Accra.

Objective: The purpose of the Women's Health Study of Accra was to provide an assessment of the prevalence of communicable and non-communicable illnesses. Method: This was a prospective, community-based study that included an interview for medical illnesses, a comprehensive physical examination, and laboratory testing. A total of 1328 women were examined at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, University of Ghana. Results: Prevalent conditions included poor vision (66.8%), malaria (48.7%), pain (42.8%), poor dentition (41.6%), hypertension (40.2%), obesity (34.7%), arthritis (27.1%), chronic back pain (19.4%), abnormal rectal (16.0%) and pelvic examinations (12.7%), HIV in women age 24-29 (8.3%), and hypercholesterolemia (22.7%). Increasing age, lack of formal education, and low-income adversely affected health conditions. Conclusion: The high prevalence of preventable illnesses in this expanding urban population indicates that the health care services are obligated to develop and provide screening, preventive strategies and treatment for both general health and gynecologic health conditions. © 2007 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics.

Source: UG
Health outcomes following retirement: a comparative study of health and non-health pensioners in Ghana

Occupation is a major determinant of health outcomes. Healthcare workers are assumed to know how to prevent diseases and live a healthy life. The aim of this study is to determine the association between working in healthcare as a pre-retirement occupation and health outcomes after retirement. Method This cross-sectional study was conducted among 4813 members of the National Pensioners Association in Ghana. Thirteen study centres were used in the study. Results A total of 403 study participants (8.4%) were healthcare workers. After retirement, healthcare workers died earlier compared to non-healthcare workers. Life-table analysis of data demonstrated that 51.9% (95% CI = 47.1–56.9) of health workers died within 5 years after retirement, compared to 35.9% (95% CI = 34.5–37.4) of non-healthcare workers within same time period. Healthcare workers had a significantly higher prevalence of obesity (34.0, 95% CI = 29.5–38.8), self-reported hypertension (54.8%, 95% CI = 49.9–59.7) and high serum total cholesterol (46.4%, 95% CI = 48.7–58.5) compared to non-health workers. Logistic regression of factors on health outcomes after retirement among healthcare workers revealed that healthcare workers were nearly twice as likely to have arthritis (AOR = 1.6, 95% CI = 1.2–2.1), hearing loss (AOR = 2.0, 95% CI = 1.2–3.1), ischaemic heart disease (AOR = 2.0, 95% CI = 1.2–3.3), and cerebrovascular accident (AOR = 2.1, 95% CI = 1.1–4.0) compared to non-healthcare workers.

Source: UG
Health policy and systems research in access to medicines: A prioritized agenda for low- and middle-income countries

The Epidemiology Department contributes to the mission of the institute through basic and applied epidemiological research on, but not limited to, malaria and other diseases of public health importance. It is also home to the Social Science Unit of the Institute, including the Health Support Centre for HIV/AIDS and other communicable and noncommunicable health problems.

Source: UG
Health policy, health systems research and analysis capacity assessment of the school of public health, University of Ghana

Introduction: Health Policy and Systems Research and Analysis (HPSR&A) is an applied science that deals with complexity as it tries to provide lessons, tools and methods to understand and improve health systems and health policy. It is defined by the kinds of questions asked rather than a particular methodology. Objective: Our objective was to assess capacity and capacity strengthening needs for HPSR&A conduct and teaching in the University of Ghana School of Public Health (UG-SPH). We conceptualized dynamically inter-related levels of capacity as contextual, institutional and individual. Methods: The study had a cross sectional, mixed methods design. Data collection involved desk review, ,an in-depth interview, focus group discussions (FGD) and an interviewer administered questionnaire with closed and open ended items. Netmap was used as a tool in the FGD. Findings: At all levels, HPSR&A capacity exists in Ghana but is somewhat fragile. The fragility reflects in part contextual challenges related to national income and priorities as well as the fact that globally HPSR&A remains an emerging field. At the contextual level, Institutions involved in some way or other in HPSR&A were part of larger organizations with broader mandates. Only a handful of SPH staff indicated that they specifically do teaching and /or research related to HPSR&A. Conclusion & Recommendations: There is a need to raise awareness of the field of HPSR&A and its potential contributions to health sector development; build upon already existing contextual, institutional and individual capacity; and also attract and develop the next generation of researchers and teachers.

Source: UG
Health Professionals' Perceptions and Practice of Family Centred Care for Children Injured in Road Traffic Accidents: A Qualitative Study in Ghana

The Family Centered Care (FCC) model iswidely recognized as the standard for pediatric care practice in the context of families and hospitalized children. Healthcare professionals' knowledge of the FCCmodel is therefore central to its successful implementation. Nonetheless, there is paucity of scholarship in the Ghanaian context, regarding professionals' knowledge and practice of FCC. Objectives: This study, being the first in the Ghanaian context aimed to explore the perceptions of family centered care among healthcare professionals who provide the healthcare needs of children hospitalized through road traffic accidents. Method: Twenty-four (24) healthcare professionals were interviewed as part of a larger study which adopted a Grounded Theory approach. Data collection and analysis occurred concurrently. Here, we employed constant comparative methods to structure emerging categories and sub-categories. Findings: Most health professionals in the study perceived family centered care to mean family involvement, although obvious inconsistencies characterized existing practices. Based on contextual perspectives, three categories emerged, namely; parental involvement, communication and setting boundaries. Conclusion: The concept of FCC is a familiar terminology among health professionals. However, its principles, components and dimensions in the western context are alien to healthcare professionals in Ghana. A contextspecific FCC model which reflects social values and cultural norms is therefore required for healthcare services to children and families in Ghana

Source: UG
Health Professionals’ Self-Efficacy In Managing Depression In People Living With HIV: An Interpretive Descriptive At Study Techiman Municipality

The management of depression among People Living with HIV (PLWHIV) is a significant concern in the trajectory of HIV care. Healthcare professionals’ competence in managing depression in PLWHIV will influence the integration of this aspect of care in routine HIV care activities. The self-efficacy of health professionals in managing depression among people living with HIV in Techiman, Brong-Ahafo was explored using Bandura’s self-efficacy model. A qualitative interpretive descriptive approach was employed for the study. Purposive sampling technique was used to recruit sixteen (16) participants relative to data saturation. Face-to-face interviews were conducted using a semi-structured interview guide. All interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed inductively and deductively using thematic content analysis approach. The rights of participants were upheld through ensuring voluntary participation and signing of informed consent. Methodological rigour included peer scrutiny and prolonged engagement. Findings revealed that participants lacked competence in managing depression in PLWHIV. They also had inadequate knowledge of mental health assessment and tools used for assessing depression. Mentoring and preceptorship developed the communication skills and relationships with the clients but did not build the competence of the mentees in managing depression in PLWHIV. Religious affiliation and dedication of experienced care providers were the primary sources of motivation. It was also found that the emotional states of the HIV care providers influenced the quality of care rendered to the clients. Limited knowledge of depression assessment tools hampered the detection and management of depression. Health professionals need massive training on the management of depression to render holistic care to PLWHIV

Source: UG
Health Professionals’ Self-Efficacy in Managing Depression in People Living With HIV: An Interpretive Descriptive Study at Techiman Municipality

The management of depression among People Living with HIV (PLWHIV) is a significant concern in the trajectory of HIV care. Healthcare professionals’ competence in managing depression in PLWHIV will influence the integration of this aspect of care in routine HIV care activities. The self-efficacy of health professionals in managing depression among people living with HIV in Techiman, Brong-Ahafo was explored using Bandura’s self-efficacy model. A qualitative interpretive descriptive approach was employed for the study. Purposive sampling technique was used to recruit sixteen (16) participants relative to data saturation. Face-to-face interviews were conducted using a semi-structured interview guide. All interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed inductively and deductively using thematic content analysis approach. The rights of participants were upheld through ensuring voluntary participation and signing of informed consent. Methodological rigour included peer scrutiny and prolonged engagement. Findings revealed that participants lacked competence in managing depression in PLWHIV. They also had inadequate knowledge of mental health assessment and tools used for assessing depression. Mentoring and preceptorship developed the communication skills and relationships with the clients but did not build the competence of the mentees in managing depression in PLWHIV. Religious affiliation and dedication of experienced care providers were the primary sources of motivation. It was also found that the emotional states of the HIV care providers influenced the quality of care rendered to the clients. Limited knowledge of depression assessment tools hampered the detection and management of depression. Health professionals need massive training on the management of depression to render holistic care to PLWHIV. Key Words: Self-Efficacy, Health Professionals, Depression, PLWHIV

Source: UG
Health professionals' views on the barriers and enablers to evidence-based practice for acute stroke care: A systematic review

Background: Adoption of contemporary evidence-based guidelines for acute stroke management is often delayed due to a range of key enablers and barriers. Recent reviews on such barriers focus mainly on specific acute stroke therapies or generalised stroke care guidelines. This review examined the overall barriers and enablers, as perceived by health professionals which affect how evidence-based practice guidelines (stroke unit care, thrombolysis administration, aspirin usage and decompressive surgery) for acute stroke care are adopted in hospital settings. Methodology: A systematic search of databases was conducted using MEDLINE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Embase, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library and AMED (Allied and Complementary Medicine Database from 1990 to 2016. The population of interest included health professionals working clinically or in roles responsible for acute stroke care. There were no restrictions to the study designs. A quality appraisal tool for qualitative studies by the Joanna Briggs Institute and another for quantitative studies by the Centre for Evidence-Based Management were used in the present study. A recent checklist to classify barriers and enablers to health professionals' adherence to evidence-based practice was also used. Results: Ten studies met the inclusion criteria out of a total of 9832 search results. The main barriers or enablers identified included poor organisational or institutional level support, health professionals' limited skills or competence to use a particular therapy, low level of awareness, familiarity or confidence in the effectiveness of a particular evidence-based therapy, limited medical facilities to support evidence uptake, inadequate peer support among health professionals', complex nature of some stroke care therapies or guidelines and patient level barriers. Conclusions: Despite considerable evidence supporting various specific therapies for stroke care, uptake of these therapies is compromised by barriers across organisational, patients, guideline interventions and health professionals' domains. As a result, we recommend that future interventions and health policy directions should be informed by these findings in order to optimise uptake of best practice acute stroke care. Further studies from low- to middle-income countries are needed to understand the barriers and enablers in such settings. Trial registration: The review protocol was registered in the international prospective register of systematic reviews, PROSPERO 2015 (Registration Number: CRD42015023481). © 2017 The Author(s).

Source: UG
Health professionals' views on the barriers and enablers to evidence-based practice for acute stroke care: a systematic review

Background: Adoption of contemporary evidence-based guidelines for acute stroke management is often delayed due to a range of key enablers and barriers. Recent reviews on such barriers focus mainly on specific acute stroke therapies or generalised stroke care guidelines. This review examined the overall barriers and enablers, as perceived by health professionals which affect how evidence-based practice guidelines (stroke unit care, thrombolysis administration, aspirin usage and decompressive surgery) for acute stroke care are adopted in hospital settings. Methodology: A systematic search of databases was conducted using MEDLINE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Embase, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library and AMED (Allied and Complementary Medicine Database from 1990 to 2016. The population of interest included health professionals working clinically or in roles responsible for acute stroke care. There were no restrictions to the study designs. A quality appraisal tool for qualitative studies by the Joanna Briggs Institute and another for quantitative studies by the Centre for Evidence-Based Management were used in the present study. A recent checklist to classify barriers and enablers to health professionals’ adherence to evidence-based practice was also used. Results: Ten studies met the inclusion criteria out of a total of 9832 search results. The main barriers or enablers identified included poor organisational or institutional level support, health professionals’ limited skills or competence to use a particular therapy, low level of awareness, familiarity or confidence in the effectiveness of a particular evidence-based therapy, limited medical facilities to support evidence uptake, inadequate peer support among health professionals’, complex nature of some stroke care therapies or guidelines and patient level barriers. Conclusions: Despite considerable evidence supporting various specific therapies for stroke care, uptake of these therapies is compromised by barriers across organisational, patients, guideline interventions and health professionals’ domains. As a result, we recommend that future interventions and health policy directions should be informed by these findings in order to optimise uptake of best practice acute stroke care. Further studies from low- to middle-income countries are needed to understand the barriers and enablers in such settings. Trial registration: The review protocol was registered in the international prospective register of systematic reviews, PROSPERO 2015 (Registration Number: CRD42015023481)

Source: UG
Health providers’ perception of quality of care for neonates in health facilities in a municipality in Southern Ghana

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to assess available human resources for neonatal care and their skills, in order to explore health providers’ perceptions of quality of neonatal care in health facilities in Ghana. Design/methodology/approach: Data were gathered using qualitative interviews with health providers working in the maternity and paediatric wards and midwives; direct observation; and documentary review at a regional hospital, a municipal hospital and four health centres in a municipality in a region in Southern Ghana. Data were analysed using thematic framework through the process of coding in six phases to create and establish meaningful patterns. Findings: The study revealed that health providers were concerned about the number of staff available, their competence and also equipment available for them to work more efficiently. Some essential equipment for neonatal care was either not available or was non-functional where it was available, while aseptic procedures were not adhered to. Moreover, personal protective equipment such as facemask, caps, aprons were not used except in the labour wards where staff had to change their footwear before entering. Research limitations/implications: Limited number of health providers and facilities used, lack of exploration of parents of neonates’ perspective of quality of neonatal care in this study and other settings, including the teaching hospitals. The authors did not examine issues related to the ineffective use of IV cannulation for neonates by nurses as well as referral of neonates. Additionally, the authors did not explore the perspectives of management of the municipal and regional health directorates or policy makers of the Ministry of Health and Ghana Health Service regarding the shortage of staff, inadequate provision of medical equipment and infrastructure. Practical implications: This paper suggests the need for policy makers to redirect their attention to the issues that would improve the quality of neonatal health care in health facilities in Ghana and in countries with similar challenges. Social implications: The study found that the majority of nursing staff catering for sick newborns were not trained in neonatal nursing. Babies were found sleeping in separate cots but were mixed with older children. The study suggests that babies should be provided with a separate room and not mixed with older babies. Originality/value: There seemed to be no defined policy framework for management of neonatal care in the country’s health care facilities. The study recommends the adoption of paediatric and neonatal care nursing as a specialty in the curricula of health training institutions. In-service trainings should encompass issues related to management of sick babies, care of preterm babies, neonatal resuscitation and intravenouscannulation, among others. © 2016, © Emerald Group Publishing Limited.

Source: UG
Health psychology in Ghana: A review of the multidisciplinary origins of a young sub-field and its future prospects

This article presents a historical overview of psychology applied to health and health psychology in Ghana. A brief history of health, illness and healthcare in Ghana is introduced. Then, the history of psychology in Ghana is presented, with signposts of the major turns in the field in relation to psychology and other disciplines applied to health and the emergence of health psychology as a sub-field. Selected health psychology studies are reviewed to highlight ideological trends in the field. Finally, future prospects are considered in terms of how the sub-field can transition into an established critical field with unique contributions to make to global health psychology.

Source: UG