Prevalence of Cardiovascular Disease and Risk Factors in Ghana: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: The increasing cardiovascular disease (CVD) burden threatens the global population as the major cause of disability and premature death. Data are scarce on the magnitude of CVD among the population in West Africa, particularly in Ghana. This study examined the available scientific evidence to determine the pooled prevalence (PP) of CVD and risk factors in Ghana.

A qualitative analysis of factors influencing the implementation of antiretroviral treatment adherence policy in Ghana: stakeholders perspective.

Background: The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS launched the 90-90-90 initiative. Failure to meet the target reflects the difficulties in successfully implementing HIV treatment policy. There are research gaps in exploring personal and external factors influencing HIV treatment in Ghana.

A qualitative analysis of factors influencing health-seeking behavior of people living with HIV, hypertension and diabetes in an urban area of Ghana.

Non-communicable diseases are rising globally and lower-middle-income countries are now facing a double-burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases like hypertension and diabetes. Patients with HIV/AIDS are at increased risk of developing hypertension and diabetes. Understanding how this double-burden influences persons living with HIV health-seeking behavior (HSB) is critical to identifying successful interventions and policies.

Exploring the economic impact of inappropriate antibiotic use: the case of upper respiratory tract infections in Ghana.

Background: Antibiotic consumption is increasing worldwide, particularly in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Access to lifesaving antibiotics in LMICs is crucial while minimising inappropriate use. Studies assessing the economic impact of inappropriate antibiotic use in LMICs are lacking.

Interventions to improve dispensing of antibiotics at the community level in low and middle income countries: a systematic review.

Objectives: Inappropriate antibiotic dispensing is one of the key drivers of antibiotic resistance. This review documents the effectiveness of interventions aimed at improving antibiotic dispensing practices at the community level by drug dispensers in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC).

Methods: We conducted a systematic search in PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and Web of Science (11 November 2019).

Stakeholders' perspectives on training over the counter medicine sellers and Community-based Health Planning and Services facilities to dispense antibiotics in Ghana.

Background: Dispensing of antibiotics by over the counter medicine sellers (OTCMS) is a major driver of inappropriate use and resistance in low and middle income countries. Recent studies in Ghana revealed the need to consider training OTCMS and Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS)/health posts to dispense some antibiotics. Feasibility of training OTCMS and CHPS to dispense some antibiotics was explored in this study.

Community-based antibiotic access and use in six low-income and middle-income countries: a mixed-method approach.

Background: Antimicrobial misuse is common in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs), and this practice is a driver of antibiotic resistance. We compared community-based antibiotic access and use practices across communities in LMICs to identify contextually specific targets for interventions to improve antibiotic use practices.

Methods: We did quantitative and qualitative assessments of antibiotic access and use in six LMICs across Africa (Mozambique, Ghana, and South Africa) and Asia (Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Thailand) over a 2·5-year study period (July 1, 2016-Dec 31, 2018).

Every medicine is medicine; exploring inappropriate antibiotic use at the community level in rural Ghana.

Background: Inappropriate antibiotic use is an important driver of antibiotic resistance. This study sought to explore inappropriate antibiotic use and confusing antibiotics with other medicines in Ghana using ethnomethodology research approach.

Methods: This was an explorative study involving 15 in-depth interviews among health professionals and private dispensers and eight focus group discussions among 55 community members.

Determinants of Inappropriate Antibiotics Use in Rural Central Ghana Using a Mixed Methods Approach.

The consequences of antibiotic resistance are projected to be most severe in low and middle income countries with high infectious disease burden. This study examined determinants of inappropriate antibiotic use at the community level in rural Ghana. An observational study involving qualitative and quantitative methods was conducted between July, 2016 and September, 2018 in Ghana.

Determining the Enablers and Barriers for the Adoption of Clean Cookstoves in the Middle Belt of Ghana-A Qualitative Study.

Despite its benefits and espousal in developed counties, the adoption of clean cookstoves is reportedly low in less developed countries, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. This qualitative study aimed at exploring and documenting the enablers and barriers for adoption of clean cookstove in the middle belt of Ghana. The findings showed convenience of clean cookstove use, reduced firewood usage, less smoke emission and associated health problems resulting from indoor air pollution and time for firewood gathering and cooking, good smell and taste of food as enabling factors for clean cookstove adoption.

To sell or not to sell; the differences between regulatory and community demands regarding access to antibiotics in rural Ghana.

Background: In Ghana, there is extensive over-the-counter dispensing of antibiotics, resulting in high levels of inappropriate use, and an increase in antibiotic resistance. Regulations prevent Licenced Chemical Sellers (LCS, Over-the-Counter Medicine Sellers) from selling antibiotics other than Cotrimoxazole. In practice, however, these sellers sell a variety of antibiotics.

Volunteering for Health Services in the Middle Part of Ghana: In Whose Interest?

Background: In many developing countries like Ghana, community volunteers assist in the provision of certain health services to rural and hard-to-reach communities. This study examined factors that influence the motivation and retention of community-based volunteers supporting with work on health-related activities at the community level in Ghana.

Methods: Using a sequential mixed-method design, a cross-sectional survey was carried out among 205 selected community-based volunteers in Kintampo North Municipality (KNM) and Kintampo South District (KSD) of Ghana between December, 2014 and February, 2015.

Ghana's Rural Liquefied Petroleum Gas Program Scale Up: A case study.

Background: The Government of Ghana launched the Rural LPG (RLP) promotion program in 2013 as part of its efforts to reduce fuelwood consumption. The aim of the RLP is to contribute to Ghana's overarching goal to provide LPG access to 50% of Ghana's population by 2020. The RLP has not announced long-term program objectives.

Experiences with the Mass Distribution of LPG Stoves in Rural Communities of Ghana.

Household air pollution (HAP) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. To limit HAP exposure and environmental degradation from biomass fuel use, the Government of Ghana promotes liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) use in rural Ghana via the Rural LPG program (RLP). We assessed the experiences of the RLP in 2015, 2 years after its launch.

Knowledge of antibiotic resistance and antibiotic prescription practices among prescribers in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana; a cross-sectional study.

Background: Antibiotic resistance (ABR) has become a major public health challenge in most parts of the world including Ghana and is a major threat to gain in bacterial disease control. The role of prescribers in the control of antibiotics is identified as crucial in developing interventions to control ABR. To guide policy recommendations on ABR, a study was carried out among prescribers to identify gaps in their knowledge of ABR and to document their prescription practices.

The Risk of Sexually Transmitted Infection and Its Influence on Condom Use among Pregnant Women in the Kintampo North Municipality of Ghana.

Sexually transmitted infection (STI) affects the reproductive health of both men and women worldwide. Condoms are important part of the available preventive strategies for STI control. The lack of proper risk-perception continues to impede women's ability to negotiate condom use with their partners.

Low level of Hepatitis B knowledge and awareness among pregnant women in the Kintampo North Municipality: implications for effective disease control.

Background: Over 2 billion people are infected with Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and about 240 million are chronic carriers of the virus. Chronic HBV infection is an important cause of liver cancer. The infectivity of HBV is hundred times higher than the HIV virus yet it receives comparatively little attention in public health.