Spinal muscular atrophy in Ghanaian children confirmed by molecular genetic testing: a case series.

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an autosomal recessive inherited motor neuron disease characterized by progressive muscle weakness due to degeneration and loss of the anterior horn cells in the spinal cord and the brain stem nuclei from foetal life through infancy and childhood. SMA is prevalent in Ghanaian children, though not widely reported. Cases are likely missed or misdiagnosed due to lack of expertise and investigations.

Caregiving experiences and expectations of parents with in-school children with intellectual disability in Ghana.

Background: The literature suggests that there are challenges faced by parents of children with intellectual disabilities (ID), which have resulted in calls for support services to be made available to parents and their children with ID. Although regular schools in Ghana are unable to admit students with ID, it is believed that special schools have the necessary facilities to support parents and their children with ID. However, little has been documented on the experiences and expectations of parents whose children with ID are enrolled in a special school.

Experiences of primary caregivers of children with cerebral palsy across the trajectory of diagnoses in Ghana.

Background: Cerebral palsy (CP) is a non-progressive disorder of posture or movement caused by a lesion to the developing brain that results in functional limitations. The diagnosis of CP can vary from one child to another, causing family stress because of vague and unknown outcomes of the disorder. Although there are negative attitudes in Ghanaian societies towards primary caregivers and children with disabilities, fewer attempts have been made to understand their experiences.

The use of assistive technologies among children with disabilities: the perception of parents of children with disabilities in Ghana.

Purpose: Assistive technologies (ATs) are fundamental to the successful educational and societal inclusion of all children with disabilities. In particular, the use of ATs has been found to increase levels of independence in daily living and promote greater access to learning opportunities for children with disabilities. However, the knowledge base and baseline information on the use of ATs is limited in developing countries such as Ghana.

'There is family tension, but they understand…': familial and sibling relationships following the diagnosis of cerebral palsy in children in Ghana.

Unlabelled: The challenges faced by parents raising children with cerebral palsy (CP) have been well explored in the literature. However, little attention has been paid to the experiences of parents raising children with CP in low-income countries, such as Ghana.

Objective: Therefore, the objective of this study was to explore parents' experiences of raising children with CP, specifically focusing on the relationships between spouses and between children with CP and their typically developing siblings.

Perspectives in musculoskeletal injury management by traditional bone setters in Ashanti, Ghana.

Background: The popularity of the services of traditional bone setters (TBS) in Ghana as an alternative health care requires exploration and documentation of the perspectives of providers and users.

Objective: To explore and document the perspectives of providers and users of the services of TBS in the management of musculoskeletal injuries in the Ashanti region, Ghana.

Methods: From the social constructivist and qualitative approach, in-depth interviews were used to explore the perspectives of eight TBS and 16 users of their services, selected purposively through snowballing.