RTS,S/AS01 vaccine defaults in Ghana: a qualitative exploration of the perspectives of defaulters and frontline health service providers.

Background: While Ghana has a good track record in the Expanded Programme on Immunization, there are substantial challenges with regards to subsequent vaccinations, particularly after the first year of life of the child. Given that the last dose of the RTS, S/AS01 vaccine against malaria is administered at 24 months, there is a high likelihood of default. Hence, it is imperative to understand the dynamics and reasons for the defaults to enable the development of effective implementation strategies.

Acceptability of breast milk donor banking: A qualitative study among health workers in Greater Accra Regional Hospital, Ghana.

Despite the compelling evidence demonstrating the immediate and long-term health advantages of prompt breastfeeding from birth, not all newborns are breastfed exclusively for a variety of reasons. As a result, the World Health Organization has made new recommendations for the adoption of breastmilk donor banks to make sure that children receive breastmilk when mothers are unable to produce it. In order to better understand how health professionals at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, who would be leading the charge in putting this policy into practice, perceive and accept the practice of storing breastmilk, this study was conducted.

Women's lived experiences of preterm birth and neonatal care for premature infants at a tertiary hospital in Ghana: A qualitative study.

Preterm birth is a leading cause of death in children under five and a major public concern in Ghana. Women's lived experiences of care following preterm birth in clinical setting represents a viable adjunctive measure to improve the quality of care for premature infants. This qualitative study explored the knowledge and experiences of women who have had preterm birth and the associated challenges in caring for premature infants at a tertiary hospital.

Health professionals' perspectives on clinical challenges in managing hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and recommendations for improving care: A multi-center qualitative study.

Background: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are a leading cause of maternal mortality and morbidity globally despite the intensive international effort to improving maternal care. Substandard clinical care has emerged as a major contributing factor to the high maternal deaths associated with maternal hypertension globally and the impact is severer in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Context specific challenges impact negatively on the quality of maternity care and health providers play a crucial role in achieving positive pregnancy experiences for women.

Implementing Community-based Health Planning and Services in impoverished urban communities: health workers' perspective.

Background: Three-quarters of sub-Saharan Africa's urban population currently live under slum conditions making them susceptible to ill health and diseases. Ghana characterizes the situation in many developing countries where the urban poor have become a group much afflicted by complex health problems associated with their living conditions, and the intra-city inequity between them and the more privileged urban dwellers with respect to health care accessibility. Adopting Ghana's rural Community-Based Health Planning and Service (CHPS) programme in urban areas is challenging due to the differences in social networks and health challenges thus making modifications necessary.

Compliance with emergency obstetric care referrals among pregnant women in an urban informal settlement of Accra, Ghana.

This study examines the situation that women face when they require emergency obstetric care in urban Accra. The analysis clarifies the referral options available to women needing emergency obstetric care, assesses the constraints they face in accessing the obstetric referral system and identifies the drawbacks associated with the obstetric referral system for women living in informal settlements of a rapidly growing district in Ghana. This research was a descriptive cross-sectional study using structured questionnaires administered to antenatal care clinic attendees and in-depth interviews of principal healthcare personnel.