Awareness of and participation in mass drug administration programs used for onchocerciasis control in the Atwima Nwabiagya North District, Ghana.

Background: Studies on Mass drug administration (MDA) in Ghana targeting various diseases, have mostly focused on factors that affect coverage and compliance to MDA with limited focus on evidence regarding awareness and community perception of the program. Therefore, this study sought to provide empirical evidence on the knowledge of onchocerciasis, and awareness of and participation in the MDA among community members.

Methods: A community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted from August to October 2019 in communities within the Atwima Nwabiagya North District, Ghana.

Training Traditional Bonesetters in Basic Principles of Fracture Treatment: A Proof of Concept in Ghana.

Background: Our study assessed the effectiveness of a traditional bonesetter (TBS) educational program that was designed to increase knowledge, reduce complications, and promote the referral of patients to local hospitals by TBSs when necessary.

Methods: From April to December 2021, TBSs from the Northern Sector (the Northern, Savannah, and North East regions) and the Ashanti region of Ghana underwent a 4-day training course that had been designed to teach basic principles of fracture care with the use of local tools. We assessed the levels of knowledge of the TBSs both before and after training.

Geographic availability of and physical accessibility to tuberculosis diagnostic tests in Ghana: a cross-sectional survey.

Background: In Ghana, tuberculosis (TB) case detection is low (< 34%). Existing scientific evidence suggest access to TB diagnostic tests play an essential role in TB case detection, yet little has been scientifically documented on it in Ghana. This study, therefore, sought to map TB diagnosis sites, and describe the geographic availability and physical accessibility to TB diagnosis in six regions of Ghana to inform scale-up and future placement of TB diagnostic tests.

Health-Seeking Behavior and Quality of Life of People Living With HIV: Novel Evidence From Ghana.

The health and economic burdens of HIV/AIDS in low-and-middle-income countries are enormous despite global and local efforts to prevent and mitigate its effect. This study seeks to assess cadres' (or people living with HIV [PLHIV]) health-seeking behavior and its effects on their quality of life (QoL). We collected cross-sectional data from 218 HIV community cadres and 255 noncadres in 11 out of the 16 political regions in Ghana based on a modified WHOQOL-HIV-Brief and EQ-5D questionnaires.

Review of the establishment of trauma network of Ghana (TRANET): one-year review and implementation experience in a lower middle-income country.

Introduction: Globally, injuries account for about 5 million deaths every year out of which 90% occur in low- and middle-income countries. Injuries, particularly trauma, place a lifelong burden on affected individuals, families and society. In Ghana and most African countries particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, there is no effective surveillance system or registry of trauma.

Iron stores in steady-state sickle cell disease children accessing care at a sickle cell disease clinic in Kumasi, Ghana: A cross-sectional study.

Background And Aims: Children with sickle cell disease (SCD) have an increased risk of multiple hemotransfusions and this can predispose them to elevated iron stores. The objectives of the study were to determine the extent of elevated iron stores and the associated risk factors in a population of steady-state SCD children in Ghana.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the pediatric sickle cell clinic at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.

Penicillin V prophylaxis uptake among children living with sickle cell disease in a specialist sickle cell clinic in Ghana: A cross-sectional study.

Background And Aims: Penicillin V prophylaxis protects children living with sickle cell disease (SCD) from bacteria infections especially . However, the uptake of penicillin V prophylaxis is difficult to assess and often poor among SCD patients. Therefore, this study sought to investigate oral penicillin V prophylaxis adherence among SCD children using urine assay and self-reported methods and the associated factors.

Effect of fear appeal mobile phone messaging on health behaviors of caregivers with children under-five in Ghana.

Social and Behavior Change Communication is a vital strategy in the control of malaria. However, the effectiveness of fear appeal tactic as a preventive strategy remains uncertain. This study examined the influence of a fear appeal mobile phone-based intervention, guided by Witte's Extended Parallel Process model, on malaria prevention among caregivers with children under-five.

Mass drug administration targeting in Owabi catchment area in Ashanti Region, Ghana: Determinants of drug coverage and drug uptake.

Introduction: Achieving high Mass Drug Administration (MDA) coverage and drug uptake are pivotal in the efforts to eradicate onchocerciasis. The present study investigated the extent and predictors of ivermectin MDA coverage and uptake from the individual and healthcare providers' perspectives. The extent of ivermectin distribution and uptake, and the predictors of distribution and uptake were investigated in endemic communities in the Ashanti Region of Ghana.

Treatment Outcomes and Associated Factors in Tuberculosis Patients at Atwima Nwabiagya District, Ashanti Region, Ghana: A Ten-Year Retrospective Study.

Introduction: Tuberculosis poses a great threat to public health around the globe and affects persons mostly in their productive age, notwithstanding; everyone is susceptible to tuberculosis (TB) infection. To assess the effectiveness and performance of the tuberculosis control program activities, the percentage of cases with treatment success outcome is key. To control tuberculosis, interrupting transmission through effective treatment cannot be overemphasized.

Predictors of placental malaria in Upper West Regional Hospital-Ghana.

Background: Placental malaria (PM) poses life-threatening complications to pregnant women as they are at increased risk of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality associated with malaria. This study examined the factors associated with placental malaria in the Upper West Regional Hospital (UWR).

Methods: A cross-sectional hospital-based study was carried out among pregnant women delivering at Upper West Regional Hospital.

Self-Esteem Assessment among Adolescents Living with HIV and Seeking Healthcare at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital-Kumasi, Ghana.

Background: This study assessed the predictors of self-esteem among Adolescents Living with HIV (ALHIV) in Ghana seeking healthcare at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was employed in sampling 139 adolescents using a purposive sampling technique. Rosenberg's rating scale was used in assessing the self-esteem of the participants.

Healthcare services utilisation among patients with hypertension and diabetes in rural Ghana.

Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) remain a global burden and is projected to increase due to aging, rapid urbanization and unhealthy lifestyles. The study was conducted to determine the prevalence of hypertension and diabetes in rural districts in the Ashanti region of Ghana and to determine factors that influence utilization of health care services.

Setting: Offinso North, Amansie West, Ahafo Ano South, and Asante Akim South.

Factors associated with cutaneous ulcers among children in two yaws-endemic districts in Ghana.

Background: Yaws is a chronic relapsing disease caused by Treponema pallidum subspecies pertunue, which can result in severe disability and deformities. Children below the age of 15 years in resource-poor communities are the most affected. Several non-specific factors facilitate the continuous transmission and resurgence of the disease.

Mobile phone short message service (SMS) as a malaria control tool: a quasi-experimental study.

Background: Despite the extensive implementation of control measures and achievements in morbidity reductions, malaria continues to contribute to substantial morbidity and mortality in children under-five. Innovative approaches involving the use of mobile phones have been suggested to improve health outcomes. However, evidence of its effect on reducing the prevalence of malaria is limited.

Source of medicines and medicine information by self-reported persons living with hypertension and diabetes in rural and urban Ghana.

Objectives: This study was conducted to determine the source of medicines and medicine information of persons living with hypertension and diabetes in rural and urban Ghana and assessing if they are influenced by predisposing and enabling factors as defined by Andersen's behavioural model.

Methods: A population based cross sectional study was conducted in four (4) rural and four (4) urban districts in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. A multistage and proportional sampling method was used in enrolling participants aged 18 years and above.

Review of Organism Density and Bacteriologic Conversion of Sputum among Tuberculosis Patients.

Objective: This study sought to describe the trend of sputum organism density and the rate of bacteriological conversion among smear positive TB patients assessing care at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Kumasi, Ghana.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective patient folder review from January 2013 to March 2016 at the KATH, a tertiary hospital in Ghana. The data was entered into Microsoft Access database and exported into STATA for analysis.