Objectives: This study sought to determine the presentation, treatment and outcomes of breast cancer among women in Cape Coast, Ghana.
Design: Retrospective medical record review.
Setting: Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, Cape Coast, Ghana.
Background: Body-mass index (BMI) and blood pressure (BP) levels are rising in sub-Saharan African cities, particularly among women. However, there is very limited information on how much they vary within cities, which could inform targeted and equitable health policies. Our study aimed to analyse spatial variations in BMI and BP for adult women at the small area level in the city of Accra, Ghana.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: This study examined the association between perception of risk for hypertension and overweight/obesity.
Design: Cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey.
Setting: Out-patient department of the Central Regional Hospital in Cape Coast, Ghana.
Background: To characterize the health status of selected garment and textile factory workers in Bangladesh using a workplace mobile health clinic.
Methods: A retrospective review of de-identified worker health information was performed using 1906 medical records.
Results: The mean age of the workers was 27.
The health of women residing in the developing countries is not limited to reproductive health conditions or infectious diseases. While these illnesses remain serious threats to a healthy life, as the population ages, the prevalence of illnesses considered to be of significance only in industrialized nations also increasingly afflicts the residents of the developing worlds. The health and well-being of the older women was evaluated in the 2003 Women's Health Study of Accra.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBreast cancer has emerged as an important health condition worldwide, including developing countries. Screening is limited or non-existent in resource-poor areas. The purpose of this study was to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices of self (SBE) and clinical (CBE) breast examinations among 198 rural Nicaraguan women.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe study was to measure the prevalence of sexually transmitted infection (STI) symptoms among women in Accra, Ghana, to identify characteristics that predispose to STI symptoms and to identify factors that influence health-seeking behaviour of women with STI symptoms. Data were collected by trained interviewers through questionnaire interviews of 3183 women. Data analysis was restricted to 1329 women with complete data.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe study was to determine the predictors of use of modern contraception among women in Accra, Ghana. Data were collected by trained interviewers using questionnaires. Complete data for 2199 women were analysed using Stata 8.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe hypothesis tested in this study was that the 'traditional build' is the culturally valued body shape by Ghanaian women. Culturally sensitive figural stimuli were designed to assess the current body image (CBI) and the ideal body image (IBI) of Ghanaian women. The most frequently selected model for the CBI was one that represented a slightly overweight woman; the IBI selected was consistent with a representation of normal body mass index; and the least healthy image was that figure that represented morbidly obesity.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study examined women's recall of physician recommendations as well as patient satisfaction following participation in a breast/ovarian cancer risk and prevention program. Participants were 41 high risk women who attended a cancer risk program 4-6 months earlier. Two-thirds of women who received recommendations for tamoxifen treatment and genetic testing did not recall these recommendations upon follow-up.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The Women's Health Study of Accra was conducted to determine the burden of illness in a representative sampling of adult urban women.
Methods: This community-based survey selected study participants by a 2-stage cluster probability sample stratified by socioeconomic status based on the 2000 Ghanaian census data. It included a comprehensive household survey and medical and laboratory examination for 1328 women.
Background: Cultural norms indicate that obesity reflects increased wealth and prosperity. Yet obesity is linked to serious medical illnesses. The purpose of this study was to determine if Ghanaian women would change their body image if it meant a healthier life.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe Women's Health Study of Accra is a cross-sectional study designed to measure the burden of communicable and noncommunicable diseases in adult women residing in Accra, Ghana. This study assessed the prevalence rate of HIV and risk factors associated with HIV infection in 1,328 women age 18 years and older. The weighted overall HIV prevalence rate for women residing in Accra is 3.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: To explore the health-related and psychological factors that influence decision making about tamoxifen (Nolvadex; AstraZeneca, Waltham, MA) chemoprevention in women at increased risk for developing breast cancer.
Methods: This study involves the assessment of 129 women eligible to take tamoxifen following cancer-risk counseling. Treatment decision and decision satisfaction were measured at 2 and 4 months following counseling.
The tumor suppressor protein BRCA1 has been shown to enhance p53 transcription, whereas activated p53 represses BRCA1 transcription. To further understand the functional interaction of these proteins, we investigated the role of BRCA1 in p53-induced phenotypes. We found that BRCA1 when subjected to forced expression acts synergistically with wild-type p53, resulting in irreversible growth arrest, as shown by VhD mouse fibroblast cells expressing a temperature-sensitive mutant of p53.
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