Poliovirus antibody levels and lameness among individuals in three regions of Ghana.

: Ghana recorded the last case of poliomyelitis caused by wild poliovirus in 2008 and the country was declared polio-free in 2015. Polio-neutralizing-antibody levels in the population of three geographically representative regions of Ghana was determined, to identify possible immunity gaps. : Cross-sectional, hospital (1-70 years old) and school (primary, 1-15 years old)-based studies were undertaken in three regions in 2016.

Treating fever in children under 5 years of age: caregiver perceptions of community health worker services in Dangme West district, Ghana.

Background: Integrated community case management of childhood illnesses is a key strategy to help reduce mortality in children under 5 years; particularly those with difficult access to treatment. However, the success of such strategies depends on community utilization of services. This study assessed community utilization, perceptions and related factors of community health worker services.

Factors related to retention of community health workers in a trial on community-based management of fever in children under 5 years in the Dangme West District of Ghana.

Background: In resource-constrained settings of developing countries, promotion of community-based health interventions through community health workers (CHWs) is an important strategy to improve child health. However, there are concerns about the sustainability of such programmes owing to the high rate of CHW attrition. This study examined factors influencing retention of volunteer CHWs in a cluster randomised trial on community management of under-5 fever in a rural Ghanaian district.

Illness meanings and experiences for pre-ulcer and ulcer conditions of Buruli ulcer in the Ga-West and Ga-South Municipalities of Ghana.

Background: Ghana is a Buruli ulcer (BU) endemic country yet there is paucity of socio-cultural research on BU. Examining distinctive experiences and meanings for pre-ulcers and ulcers of BU may clarify the disease burden, illness experience and local perceptions of causes and spread, and environmental features of BU, which are useful to guide public health programmes and future research. This study aimed to explain local meanings and experiences of BU for persons with pre-ulcers and ulcers in the Ga-West and Ga-South municipalities in Accra.

Socio-cultural determinants of timely and delayed treatment of Buruli ulcer: Implications for disease control.

Introduction: Public health programmes recommend timely medical treatment for Buruli ulcer (BU) infection to prevent pre-ulcer conditions from progressing to ulcers, to minimise surgery, disabilities and the socio-economic impact of BU. Clarifying the role of socio-cultural determinants of timely medical treatment may assist in guiding public health programmes to improve treatment outcomes. This study clarified the role of socio-cultural determinants and health system factors affecting timely medical treatment for BU in an endemic area in Ghana.

Help-seeking for pre-ulcer and ulcer conditions of Mycobacterium ulcerans disease (Buruli ulcer) in Ghana.

This study examined sociocultural features of help-seeking for Buruli ulcer-affected persons with pre-ulcers and ulcers in a disease-endemic area in Ghana. A sample of 181 respondents were purposively selected. Fisher's exact test was used to compare help-seeking variables for pre-ulcers and ulcers.

Community Health Education in Rural Ghana: the Danfa project-an assessment of accomplishments. 1981-82.

The Danfa Comprehensive Rural Health and Family Planning Project was a joint effort of the Ghana Medical School, the Ministry of Health, UCLA, and USAID. A health education component was developed as an integral part of program inputs during the initial conceptual phase of the project. As a result non-equivalent experimental and control areas were designated permitting an assessment of program impact during a five-year period (1972-1977) for which baseline and follow-up study data were available.