A qualitative study of the government's engagement of the private health sector in the delivery of Ghana's COVID-19 emergency response.

Introduction: There is a growing literature on the significance of private sector engagement and collaboration for optimal response to health emergencies. The current study examines how the private sector was engaged by the Ghanaian government to implement effectively the national COVID-19 emergency response.

Methods: The study drew on a qualitative research design, interviewing 20 respondents in 15 unique organisations.

Technical efficiency of ghanaian health facilities before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Purpose: Understanding the technical efficiency of health facilities is essential for an optimal allocation of scarce resources to primary health sectors. The COVID-19 pandemic may have further undermined levels of efficiency in low-resource settings. This study takes advantage of 2019 and 2020 data on characteristics of health facilities, health services inputs and output to examine the levels and changes in efficiency of Ghanaian health facilities.

Adolescent sexual and reproductive health literacy needs: a sub-national level assessment in Ghana.

This study assessed young adolescents' access and literacy challenges to sexual and reproductive health information and knowledge gaps in the Effutu Municipality in the Central Region of Ghana. We used a narrative design and a focus group discussion method to glean data from 52 in-school adolescents, aged 11-15. Focus group discussions were conducted using a discussion guide and data were processed using QDA Miner (version 6.

Determinants of vaccination decisions and lived experiences of Ghanaians with the COVID-19 pandemic; a qualitative study.

Background: Two years after the WHO declared a state of emergency as a result of the rapid spread of the COVID-19 virus from Wuhan, China, the rate of new infections experienced intermittent flare-ups globally, with vaccinations still ongoing in countries such as Ghana. One year after the implementation of Ghana's COVID-19 vaccine deployment program, Ghanaians have had the opportunity to reflect on their vaccination decisions, albeit the initial vaccine hesitancy.

Objectives: The current paper examined the knowledge and lived experiences of Ghanaians during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the factors influencing their vaccination decisions, one year after COVID-19 vaccinations commenced in Ghana, with special focus on the social and geographical histories which influenced their vaccination decisions.

Literacy-related factors and knowledge of patient rights charter: evidence from nurses in selected hospitals in Ghana.

Background: Systems of across the world have developed and implemented patient rights policies to protect and improve the provider-patient relationship. The Patient Charter of Ghana was developed in 2002 to improve service quality and protect patients' rights. However, it is not yet known whether those at the frontline of healthcare delivery can read and understand the contents of the charter.

Readiness of Ghanaian health facilities to deploy a health insurance claims management software (CLAIM-it).

Introduction: Inadequate, inefficient and slow processing of claims are major contributors to the cost of health insurance schemes, and therefore undermining their sustainability. This study uses the Technology, Organisation and Environment (TOE) framework to examine the preparedness of health facilities of the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) to implement a digital mobile health insurance claims processing software (CLAIM-it), which aims to increase efficiency.

Methods: The study used a cross-sectional mixed method design to collect data (technology and human capital capacity and baseline operational performance of claims management) from a sample of 20 CHAG health facilities across Ghana.

Awareness, knowledge, and attitude toward adverse drug reaction (ADR) reporting among healthcare professionals in Ghana.

Background: Spontaneous reporting systems are the commonest means of reporting adverse drug reactions (ADRs) worldwide. Under-reporting remains a challenge particularly in developing countries among healthcare professionals (HCPs) who are considered the primary stakeholders in the reporting of ADRs. The challenge with studies in countries such as Ghana is that the focus has been on a single professional group or health facility.

The level and determinants of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance in Ghana.

Objective: As part of the efforts to curb the COVID-19 pandemic, the government of Ghana has received several shipments of approved vaccines, and administration has begun in the country. Studies examining the determinants of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance in Ghana were mostly conducted before the vaccination exercise. Vaccine acceptance decisions however vary with time and hence, peoples' decisions may have changed once vaccines became accessible.

Determinants of evidence use by frontline maternal, newborn and child health staff in selected health facilities in Ghana.

Background: The current paper examines the level of use of evidence and factors affecting the use of evidence by frontline maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) and reproductive and child health (RCH) staff in practice decisions in selected health facilities in Ghana.

Methods: Data on use of evidence and its correlates was collected from 509 frontline healthcare staff drawn from 44 health facilities in three regions in Ghana. Means were used to examine the level of use of evidence, whiles cross-tabulations and Partial Least Squares-based regression were used to examine factors associated with the use of evidence in practice decisions by frontline MNCH/RCH staff.

Perceived work environment and patient-centered behavior: A study of selected district hospitals in the central region of Ghana.

Introduction: Quality work environment has been established as a marker of employee value creation. A plethora of qualitative evidence suggested that sustained focus on employee satisfaction through changes in the work environment, communication of patient-centered care strategic vision, management of staff workload, and workplace social support are factors that stimulate Patient-centered care. Yet, it seems that the effect of work environment on the patient-centered behavior of hospital employees has not been statistically estimated, and it is unclear which of the elements of the work environment best predict patient-centered behavior.

Examining working mothers' experience of exclusive breastfeeding in Ghana.

Background: Although substantial evidence exists on factors that influence exclusive breastfeeding, there is a general lack of qualitative studies that examine how specific workplace factors constrain or promote exclusive breastfeeding among working mothers. The current study therefore examines working mothers' experience of exclusive breastfeeding, laying emphasis on the influence of workplace factors on working mothers' decision to exclusively breastfeed their babies.

Methods: The study uses a qualitative research approach and a three-stage purposive sampling procedure to select 20 mothers from 10 organizations in five industries for in-depth interviews on their exclusive breastfeeding experience.

Facilitators and barriers of patient-centered care at the organizational-level: a study of three district hospitals in the central region of Ghana.

Background: Improving patient experience of care has gained enormous attention from policy makers and providers of healthcare services in Ghana. In spite of the supposed support for patient-centered care as the means for improving patient experience of care, scientific evidence point to poor patient experience of care in Ghana. Moreover, there seem to be little evidence on organizational-level factors that facilitate or hamper patient-centered care.

Trends in utilisation and inequality in the use of reproductive health services in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Background: The paper argues that unlike the income literature, the public health literature has not paid much attention to the distribution of substantial improvements in health outcomes over the last decade or more, especially, in the Sub-Saharan African (SSA) context. Thus, the paper examines current levels of utilisation, changes in utilisation as well as inequality in utilisation of reproductive health services over the last 10 years in SSA.

Methods: The paper uses two rounds of Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data from 30 SSA countries (latest round) and 21 countries (earlier round) to compute simple frequencies, cross-tabulated frequencies and concentration indices for health facility deliveries, skilled delivery assistance, 4+ antenatal visits and use of modern contraceptives.

Perceptions and trends in the use of community pharmacies in Ghana.

Objective: To examine the patterns in utilization of community pharmacies and perceptions of the general public towards community pharmacists' role in health services delivery.

Method: A cross-sectional household survey was conducted in Ga West district. A total of 497 adults (18 years and above) were chosen using a three-stage cluster random sampling technique.

A review of the process of knowledge transfer and use of evidence in reproductive and child health in Ghana.

Background: The paper carries out a situational analysis to examine the production, dissemination and utilisation of reproductive and child health-related evidence to inform policy formulation in Ghana's health sector.

Methods: The study used Wald's model of knowledge production, transfer and utilisation as a conceptual model to collect relevant data via interviews and administration of questionnaire to a network of persons who either previously or currently hold policy-relevant positions in Ghana's health sector. Additional data was also gathered through a scoping review of the knowledge transfer and research utilisation literature, existing reproductive and child health policies, protocols and guidelines and information available on the websites of relevant institutions in Ghana's health sector.

Spatial variation in the use of reproductive health services over time: a decomposition analysis.

Background: The paper argues that several Sub-Saharan African countries have recorded marked improvements in the use of reproductive health services. However, the literature has hardly highlighted such progress and the factors responsible for them. The current study uses Ghana as a case to examine progress in the consumption of reproductive health services over the last two decades and the factors responsible for such progress.

Socioeconomic determinants of use of reproductive health services in Ghana.

Background: The study examines trends in the consumption of reproductive health services (use of modern contraceptives, health facility deliveries, assisted deliveries, first trimester antenatal visit and 4+ antenatal visits) and their determinants using four rounds of Ghana Demographic and Health Surveys (1993, 1998, 2003 and 2008) data.

Methods: The study uses cross-sectional and pooled probit and negative bionomial regressions models to estimate the determinants of use of the above listed reproductive health services for the period from 1993 to 2008.

Results: Summary statistics suggest that the above-listed reproductive health services have consistently improved from 1993 to 2008.

Improving maternal healthcare utilisation in sub-Saharan Africa through micro-finance.

Purpose: This paper aims to examine links between women's access to micro-finance and how they use maternal healthcare services in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

Design/methodology/approach: The authors use theoretical and empirical literature to propose a framework to sustain and improve women's access to maternal healthcare services through micro-financing.

Findings: It is found that improved access to micro-finance by women, combined with education may enhance maternal health service uptake.

Managing healthcare quality in Ghana: a necessity of patient satisfaction.

Purpose: The study aims to examine how communication, provider courtesy, support/care, environment of the facility and waiting time significantly predict patients' satisfaction with quality of healthcare in two hospitals located in northern Ghana.

Design/methodology/approach: An exploratory study of which 324 respondents were selected using stratified and convenient sampling techniques. Results are presented using a multiple regression model.

Predictors of satisfaction with child birth services in public hospitals in Ghana.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine the association between experiences during childbirth and satisfaction with childbirth services.

Design/methodology/approach: A cross-sectional analytical approach using a structured questionnaire and exit interviews was employed to gather data from 885 women who delivered vaginally in two public hospitals. Data were analysed by generating frequencies and chi-square which was used in running a binary logistic regression using a stepwise backward elimination approach.

Towards a sustainable framework for computer based health information systems (CHIS) for least developed countries (LDCs).

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to argue for a theoretical framework by which development of computer based health information systems (CHIS) can be made sustainable. Health Management and promotion thrive on well-articulated CHIS. There are high levels of risk associated with the development of CHIS in the context of least developed countries (LDC), thereby making them unsustainable.