Predictors of Late Antenatal Care Initiation: A Multicentre Cross-Sectional Study in Ghana.

Background: Despite free maternal healthcare, about 50% of pregnant women in Ghana initiate their antenatal clinic (ANC) late.

Aim: This study aimed to identify the factors that contribute to the late initiation of ANC among pregnant women in the Jasikan District, Ghana.

Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted between December 2021 and May 2022 in multiple health facilities.

Transfusion-Transmissible Infections Among Blood Donors in a Regional Hospital in Ghana: A 6-Year Trend Analysis (2017-2022).

Background: This study determined the trends of transfusion-transmissible infections (TTIs) among blood donors in a regional hospital in Ghana from 2017 to 2022.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 6339 blood donor records. Data were analyzed using STATA version 17.

Predictive ability of the health belief model in HIV testing and counselling uptake among youth aged 15-24 in La-Nkwantanang-Madina Municipality, Ghana.

Background: Majority of new Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-positive persons in Ghana are aged 15-24. HIV prevalence among persons aged 15-24 years, a proxy for new infections, remained stable at 1.5% for 2017 and 2018, making it a significant public health concern.

Sociodemographic and health systems determinants of antiretroviral therapy adherence among human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients in the Volta Region of Ghana: A multi-centre study.

Objectives: Optimal adherence to antiretroviral therapy is required for viral load suppression. This study investigated the sociodemographic (age, sex, marital status, level of education, monthly income, settlement type, distance to the antiretroviral therapy-providing site, ethnicity) and health system (antiretroviral therapy-providing site) determinants of antiretroviral therapy adherence among human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients in the Volta Region, Ghana.

Methods: A cross-section design was adopted, collecting data from 1729 human immunodeficiency virus patients and analysing them using STATA version 17 at level 0.

Coping with hypertensive treatment at Bono Regional Hospital in Sunyani, Ghana: a prospective observational cohort study.

Introduction: the stress associated with hypertension treatment makes using coping strategies inevitable. However, most patients with hypertension apply inefficient coping strategies, leading to uncontrolled blood pressure (BP). The study analyzed coping strategies associated with hypertension treatment and determined how these coping strategies predicted the current BP of patients with hypertension.

Predictors of COVID-19 vaccine uptake among persons aged 18 years and above in Ga North Municipality, Ghana using the Health Belief Model: A community-based cross-sectional study.

Background: Although the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination rollout has been accepted by the population of the Ga North Municipality, a substantial proportion has developed hesitancy to COVID-19 vaccination uptake. This study determined the predictors of COVID-19 vaccine uptake among persons aged 18 years and above in the Ga North Municipality using the Health Belief Model.

Methods: The study used a cross-sectional study design.

Protective Behavioural Mechanisms Against Cannabis Use Among Adolescents in Cannabis-Growing Settings of South Africa: Insights Into Adolescent Cannabis Use Prevention.

We aimed to explore the behavioural protective mechanisms against cannabis use among adolescents living in South African illicit cannabis-growing communities, based on the Self Determination Theory (SDT). Exploratory qualitative design techniques were followed in conducting the study. The snowball sampling technique was used to recruit thirty (30) non-cannabis smoking adolescents from 2 purposively selected communities and grouped into 4 focus groups and interviewed.

Determinants of female condom use among female tertiary students in the Hohoe Municipality of Ghana using the Health Belief Model.

Unlabelled: Besides abstinence, the condom has proven to be the only effective method of preventing sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV/AIDS. This study investigated the determinants of female condom (FC) use among female tertiary students in the Hohoe Municipality, Ghana using the Health Belief Model (HBM).

Methods: A cross-sectional design was adopted.

Factors influencing adherence to antiretroviral therapy among HIV/AIDS patients in the Ga West Municipality, Ghana.

Objectives: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is used to suppress the HIV viral load but requires optimal adherence to be effective. This study examined the factors influencing ART adherence among HIV-positive clients in the Ga West Municipality, Ghana using the Health Belief Model (HBM).

Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional design was adopted among 397 HIV clients aged 18 years and above.

COVID-19 and Health Systems Functioning in Sub-Saharan Africa Using the "WHO Building Blocks": The Challenges and Responses.

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has made major progress in improving access to health care over the past three decades. Despite efforts made toward achieving universal health coverage, the health systems of countries in the sub-region are inundated by a myriad of challenges that have become more virulent amid the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper discusses the health systems challenges and responses in SSA amidst the COVID-19 using the World Health Organization's (WHO) building blocks of health systems functioning.

Towards achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 3: multilevel analyses of demographic and health survey data on health insurance coverage and maternal healthcare utilisation in sub-Saharan Africa.

Background: Improving maternal health and achieving universal health coverage (UHC) are important expectations in the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agenda. While health insurance has been shown as effective in the utilisation of maternal healthcare, there is a paucity of literature on this relationship in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). We examined the relationship between health insurance coverage and maternal healthcare utilisation using demographic and health survey data.

Psychosocial factors influencing contraceptive use among adolescent mothers in the Volta Region of Ghana: application of the Health Belief Model.

Background: Globally, complications arising from pregnancy and childbirth are the leading cause of death among pregnant women aged 15 to 19 years. This study investigated the psychosocial factors influencing contraceptive use among adolescent mothers in the Volta Region using the Health Belief Model (HBM).

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among 422 adolescent mothers.

Predictors of intention to use modern contraceptives among female senior secondary school students in the Kpando Municipality, Ghana.

Background: Improving the reproductive health of young women in developing countries requires access to safe and effective methods of fertility control. Volta Region records one of the highest prevalence of teenage pregnancy and adolescents aged 15-19 years are the least acceptors of contraceptives in the Region. Guided by the Theory of Planned Behaviour, this study determined predictors of intention to use modern contraceptives among female Senior Secondary School students in the Kpando Municipality, Ghana.

Academic-Related Stress Among Ghanaian Nursing Students.

Aim: The life of a student may be affected by different stressors in both the internal and external environment. Although people from all walks of life experience stress on daily basis, students are more likely to experience stressful situations because of their academic requirements. To identify stressors among nursing students in Ghana.

Breastfeeding and weaning practices among mothers in Ghana: A population-based cross-sectional study.

Background: Children need good nutrition to develop proper immune mechanisms and psychosocial maturity, but malnutrition can affect their ability to realize this. Apart from the national demographic and health survey, which is carried out every 5 years, there have not been enough documented studies on child breastfeeding and weaning practices of caregivers in the Volta Region. We, therefore, examined child breastfeeding and weaning practices of mothers in the Volta Region of Ghana.

Experiences of women undergoing assisted reproductive technology in Ghana: A qualitative analysis of their experiences.

Objective: The study aimed to explore the experiences of women undergoing Assisted Reproductive Technologies namely; Invitro Fertilization and Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection at the Finney Hospital and Fertility Centre, New Bortianor, Ghana.

Method: A qualitative research design was employed to analyse and describe the experiences of the women seeking Assisted Reproductive Technologies. A total of 32 women were invited to take part in the interview, 15 of them accepted the invitation.

Perspectives of illicit marijuana growers and traders on commercial legalisation of marijuana in South Africa: considerations for policy formulation.

Background: Over the years, there has been a clarion call for legalising marijuana cultivation and trading for commercial purposes in South Africa. Proponents of the call argue that the criminalisation of commercial marijuana cultivation and trading has failed to halt illicit marijuana cultivation and trading. However, the views of those who economically benefit from the illicit marijuana trade on its legalisation remain empirically unsolicited.