An assessment of Individual, community and state-level factors associated with inadequate iodised salt consumption among pregnant and lactating women in Nigeria.

Background: Iodine deficiency is the most common cause of thyroid disease, and in its severe form can result in cretinism; the impairment of the brain development of a child. Pregnant and breastfeeding women's daily iodine requirement is elevated due to physiological changes in iodine metabolism, requiring up to double the iodine intake of other women. Although Nigeria was the first African country to be declared iodine sufficient in 2007, recent evidence has shown that only about seven in ten households consume salt with adequate iodine content (≥ 15 ppm), with variation across states.

The relationship between trust, belief and adherence among patients who complain of hypertension in Ghana.

Aim: We determined the relationship between trust, belief and adherence among patients who complain of hypertension in Ghana.

Design: A cross-sectional design was used.

Method: We sampled 447 Ghanaians with hypertension receiving care at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.

Health decision-making capacity and modern contraceptive utilization among sexually active women: Evidence from the 2014-2015 Chad Demographic and Health Survey.

Background: Globally, there has been an increase in the percentage of women in their reproductive ages who need modern contraceptives for family planning. However, in Chad, use of modern contraceptive is still low (with prevalence of 7.7%) and this may be attributable to the annual increase in growth rate by 3.

Factors associated with pregnancy uptake decisions among seropositive HIV people receiving antiretroviral therapy in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review.

Aim: This study determined the factors associated with pregnancy uptake decision among seropositive HIV people receiving antiretroviral therapy in sub-Saharan Africa.

Design: Systematic review.

Methods: The population, intervention, comparison and outcomes framework was adopted to search for literature after a scoping review using the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses guidelines adopted in searching, and screening articles from four databases (PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Embase, and Google scholar) to find 12 articles suitable for this study.

Audit of documentation accompanying referred maternity cases to a referral hospital in northern Ghana: a mixed-methods study.

Background: Effective referral of maternity cases, which cannot be managed at the primary healthcare level, with detailed referral forms is important for reducing possible delays in the provision of higher-level healthcare. This is the first study to audit documentation or referral forms that accompany referred maternity cases to a referral hospital in the northern region of Ghana.

Materials And Methods: This study employed an explanatory sequential mixed-method design, starting with a quantitative review of referral forms that accompanied all patients referred to four units (antenatal, antenatal emergency, labour and neonatal intensive care) of a referral hospital in northern Ghana.

Is improvement in indicators of women's empowerment associated with uptake of WHO recommended IPTp-SP levels in sub-Saharan Africa? A multilevel approach.

Objectives: The global burden of malaria has reduced considerably; however, malaria in pregnancy remains a major public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where about 32 million pregnant women are at risk of acquiring malaria. The WHO has recommended that pregnant women in high malaria transmission locations, including SSA, have intermittent preventive treatment of malaria during pregnancy with at least three doses of sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP). Therefore, we investigated the prevalence of IPTp-SP uptake and associated individual-level, community-level and country-level predictors in SSA.

Women's experiences and satisfaction with maternal referral service in Northern Ghana: A qualitative inquiry.

Objective: To gain insights and improve existing referral structures with maternity care in Northern region of Ghana, this study explored the referral experiences and satisfaction of women.

Research Design: Twenty women referred to the Tamale Teaching Hospital for maternal health conditions were interviewed along with three husdands of these women between January and April 2020. An interview guide was used in individual face-to-face semi-structured interviews.

Factors Influencing Sustained Utilization of Child Welfare Services among Children Aged 18 to 59 Months in a Low-Income Rural Community, Ghana.

Background: Despite substantial progress in reducing child mortality, concerted efforts remain necessary to avoid preventable deaths in children under-5 years and to accelerate progress in improving child survival. The patronage of child welfare services is paramount to the attainment of these goals. This study identified the factors that influence the patronage of child welfare services in a rural community in the Ho West District of the Volta region.

Influence of nurse-patient relationship on hospital attendance. A qualitative study of patients in the Kwahu Government Hospital, Ghana.

Background: The relationship of nurses and patients in healthcare settings has been central in ensuring good and efficient healthcare delivery. The total hospital attendance in the Kwahu Government Hospital have reduced in recent years. The study explored patients' perceptions of the nurse-patient relationship and its influence on hospital attendance at the Kwahu Government Hospital.

An assessment of hospital maternal health services in northern Ghana: a cross-sectional survey.

Background: Access to and delivery of comprehensive emergency obstetric and neonatal care (CEmONC) services are often weak in low and middle-income countries affecting maternal and infant health outcomes. There are no studies on resources for maternal healthcare in the Northern region of Ghana. This knowledge is vital for health service planning and mobilising funding to address identified gaps.

Factors influencing the utilization of Focused antenatal care services during pregnancy, a study among postnatal women in a tertiary healthcare facility, Ghana.

Aim: To assess the factors that influence the utilization of FANC services among pregnant women.

Methodology: A cross-sectional quantitative study conducted among 210 postnatal women in Ho Teaching Hospital. Data were entered into Microsoft excel, cleaned and transported to SPSS and analysed.

Prevalence and Pattern of Road Traffic Accidents among Commercial Motorcyclists in the Central Tongu District, Ghana.

Background: The World Health Organisation estimates that 1.35 million people die as a result of road traffic crashes. Motorcycles as a means of transport are increasingly becoming the preferred and easiest means of transportation for most people in developing countries despite the associated risk.

Practices of Adults in a Periurban Community of the Ho Municipality on Prevention of Hypertension.

Background: Hypertension remains a rising health threat among developing countries and it is due to poor knowledge and lifestyles. Integrated knowledge and practices are central towards the control of hypertension, especially in the developing world.

Objectives: This study assessed the practices of adults in a periurban community in the Ho Municipality of the Volta region on the prevention of hypertension.

Practices of pica among pregnant women in a tertiary healthcare facility in Ghana.

Aim: This study assessed the practice of pica among pregnant women in the Ho Teaching Hospital.

Design: Descriptive cross-sectional.

Methods: Systematic sampling technique was used to recruit 286 pregnant women.

Reasons for Women's Choice of Elective Caesarian Section in Duayaw Nkwanta Hospital.

Background: Caesarean section is one of the most commonly performed major surgeries in obstetric practice intended to save the mother and child and in turn reduce maternal and perinatal mortality. The steadily increasing global rate of caesarean section has become one of the most debated topics in maternity care. This study identified the factors that influence women's choice of elective cesarean sections in the Duayaw Nkwanta Hospital.