Determinants of cervical cancer screening uptake among women with access to free screening: A community-based study in peri-urban Ghana.

OBJECTIVE: Cervical cancer can be prevented by regular screening; however, screening rates are low in developing countries. We evaluated the proportion of women screened, modalities of screening utilized, and factors influencing uptake among Ghanaian women with access to free screening services. METHODS: Participants were women aged 25-65 in Asokore-Mampong, Ghana. A structured questionnaire collected socio-demographic characteristics, risk factors, knowledge of, and utilization of cervical cancer screening. Adjusted logistic regression evaluated predictors of screening. RESULTS: Of 710 participants, the majority had heard of cervical cancer (64.6%) and screening (57.7%). Screening utilization was 24.6%. Visual inspection with acetic acid was the most common screening method (97.1%). For those who had never been screened, common reasons were believing they were healthy (21.7%), fearing pain (12.9%), lacking awareness of screening (11.8%), and being too busy (11.6%). Participants who were aged 35-44 (aOR 1.82; 95% CI 1.09-3.03; p = 0.023), married (aOR 3.98; 95% CI 1.68-9.40; p = 0.002), formally employed (aOR 9.31; 95% CI 2.86-30.35; p <0.001), and had higher cervical cancer knowledge (aOR 3.98; 95% CI 2.64-6.02; p <0.001) were more likely to have been screened. CONCLUSION: Despite geographic proximity to a health center that provides free cervical cancer screening, screening uptake among Ghanaian women remains low.

Training switching focus with a mobile-application by a patient suffering from AVH, a case report.

Auditory verbal hallucinations complicate many psychiatric disorders. Antipsychotic medication is effective in the majority, but a significant minority experiences high burden from resistant hallucinations. Here, we aim to improve executive control, in an attempt to decrease burden from hallucinations. We describe the use of a cognitive trainings app by a young woman with highly resistant hallucinations. With modest training, a significant decrease in the duration of hallucinations was reached. Possibilities of this training technique are discussed.

Comparing vaginal and sublingual administration of misoprostol for labour induction in women with intra-uterine fetal death.

The objective of this study was to compare complications and effectiveness of induction after vaginal and sublingual administration of misoprostol for labor induction in women with intra-uterine fetal death (IUFD). In a district hospital in Ghana, 23 women with IUFD who underwent labor induction with sublingual misoprostol were compared with a control group of 21 women who received vaginal misoprostol. In the vaginal group 28.6% had one or more complications compared to 21.7% in the sublingual group. In the sublingual group three inductions did not lead to delivery within 48 hours (13%), compared to four in the other group (19%). The mean induction-to-delivery time in the sublingual group was 13 hours and 17 hours in the vaginal group. In this study, both sublingual and vaginal misoprostol were safe and efficient for labor induction in women with IUFD. However, more research on larger numbers of patients is needed, in order to compare complications.

Severe anemia in pregnancy in rural Ghana: a case-control study of causes and management.

BACKGROUND: Various factors contribute to severe anemia in pregnancy in low-income countries. This study assesses which of these are of importance in rural Ghana, and evaluates management. METHODS: Prospective case-control study in two (sub)district hospitals in rural Ghana among 175 severely anemic pregnant women (Hb < 8.0 g/dl), receiving a comprehensive treatment package; and 152 non-anemic pregnant women (Hb > or = 10.9 g/dl), giving birth at the study hospitals, matched for age and parity. Evaluated characteristics were need for treatment for urinary tract infection and schistosomiasis; sickle cell and HIV status; antenatal care characteristics; and Hb increase after treatment. Statistical analysis included Chi square test and general linear modeling. RESULTS: Associated with severe anemia were multiple pregnancy (OR 8.9; 95%CI 1.1-71.0), urinary tract infection (OR 6.2; 95%CI 3.5-11.0), residence outside study (sub)district (OR 2.7; 95%CI 1.7-4.3), body mass index < 20.0 (OR 2.0; 95%CI 1.2-3.4), and less than 4 antenatal clinic visits (OR 1.9; 95%CI 1.2-3.0). No association was found with sickle cell or HIV status, schistosomiasis treatment, blood loss in pregnancy, or gestational age at antenatal care registration. After treatment, mean Hb in the severe anemia group increased by 3.2 g/dl, significantly more than in the control group (0.2 g/dl; p<0.001). Modeling showed that the number of antenatal visits and the lowest Hb together explained approximately 25% of the variability in Hb prior to childbirth among women with severe anemia. CONCLUSIONS: Treatable causes contribute considerably to severe anemia in pregnancy in low-income countries. Even with limited resources, a substantial increase of Hb can be achieved.

Maternal and fetal outcome after severe anemia in pregnancy in rural Ghana.

BACKGROUND: Anemia in pregnancy contributes to poor outcome for mother and child in low-income countries. This study analyzes adverse maternal and fetal outcome after severe anemia in pregnancy in rural Ghana. METHODS: A cohort study in two (sub)district hospitals, including 157 pregnant women exposed to severe anemia (Hb < 8.0 g/dl) and 152 nonexposed pregnant women (Hb > or = 10.9 g/dl), matched for age and parity strata. Adverse outcomes analyzed were postpartum hemorrhage, need for blood transfusion, maternal mortality, low birth-weight, and perinatal mortality. RESULTS: Compared to nonexposed women, exposed women had an increased risk of maternal death (5/157 versus 0/152). Fetal outcome did not significantly differ between the study groups, although perinatal mortality was increased with exposure to Hb < 7.0 g/dl (OR 3.1; 95% CI 1.0-9.4), and low birth-weight was increased with exposure to Hb < 6.0 g/dl (OR 2.5; 95% CI 1.2-5.4). Overall fetal outcome was significantly better when hemoglobin prior to childbirth was at least 8.0 g/dl (OR 3.9; 95% CI 1.6-9.6), body mass index at least 20 kg/m2 (OR 2.8; 95% CI 1.5-5.3), and number of antenatal visits at least 4 (OR 2.0; 95%CI 1.1-3.7). CONCLUSIONS: Severe anemia in pregnancy results in relatively poor maternal and fetal outcome. Apparently maternal risks increase prior to fetal risks. In order to improve maternal and fetal outcome, it is recommended that district hospitals in low-income countries make prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment of severe anemia in pregnancy a priority.

Trends in maternal mortality: a 13-year hospital-based study in rural Ghana.

OBJECTIVE: To measure the impact of the Safe Motherhood Initiative (SMI) on hospital-based maternal mortality since its start in 1987. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of all 229 maternal deaths in a district hospital in rural Ghana, between 1 January 1987 and 1 January 2000. Main outcome measures were maternal mortality ratio and relative contribution of causes of maternal deaths to overall maternal mortality. Chi-square test was used to assess differences in proportions, and relative risks with confidence intervals were calculated. RESULTS: The overall maternal mortality ratio of 1077/100,000 live births did not change significantly during the study period. However, the relative contributions of sepsis, hemorrhage, obstructed labor, anemia/sickle cell disease and (pre-) eclampsia diminished, while abortion complications increased significantly. CONCLUSIONS: The Safe Motherhood Initiative in the study area has contributed to the reduction of maternal mortality due to causes against which interventions were directed. Abortion complications as cause of maternal mortality need to be included in interventions and research.