Living with stigma: Voices from the Cured Lepers' village in Ghana.

Stigmatization of persons cured of leprosy (PCLs) is a long standing social problem especially in the developing world, which often leads to their isolation from mainstream society. This study presents the voices of PCLs in the Cured Lepers' Village in Ho, a community located in Southern Ghana. The study collected data through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with 20 participants. Findings indicate that PCLs continue to live a significant number of years in the Cured Lepers' Village after they are cured of leprosy. This situation is due to several factors such as stigma (including self-stigma), isolation, and neglect. Fear of the disease and compliance with religious and sociocultural beliefs, and regulations regarding leprosy were identified as reasons for the isolation of people affected by the disease. The study recommends a comprehensive public education program on leprosy targeting community leaders to help re-integrate PCLs into their communities and calls for social workers to be part of this process.

Evidence-based training and mentorship combined with enhanced outcomes surveillance to address the leading causes of neonatal mortality at the district hospital level in Ghana.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of a district hospital intervention focused on enhancing healthcare provider capacity to address leading causes of neonatal death: birth asphyxia, infection and prematurity. METHODS: The neonatal quality improvement initiative was launched at two intervention referral district hospitals in Ghana. Local Health and Demographic Surveillance Systems were enlisted to enhance recording of neonatal and infant deaths in the community and at the facility. After baseline site assessments, a team of local paediatric experts conducted three clinical trainings on-site at each intervention hospital. Assessments were conducted to evaluate participant knowledge before and after participation in training modules. Monthly mentorship visits provided additional training to support the adoption of essential early neonatal care practices. RESULTS: In the first year of implementation, the initiative provided focused clinical training to 278 participants. A comparison of pre- and post-training test results demonstrates significant improvement in provider knowledge (73% vs. 89% correct, P < 0.001), with even greater improvement among trainees receiving recurrent refresher training (86% vs. 94% correct, P < 0.001). Participant feedback following training revealed enthusiasm about the programme and improved confidence. CONCLUSIONS: Locally led initiatives that invest directly in healthcare provider education and health systems strengthening represent a promising avenue for reducing neonatal morbidity and mortality. The NQI initiative demonstrates the positive impact of a district hospital intervention that combines on-site training, mentorship and enhanced demographic surveillance.

Beliefs on epilepsy in Northern Ghana.

Stigma associated with any chronic disease is one of the greatest challenges to the treatment of the disease. Stigma in health is a complex concept, and it causes people with a stigmatizing disease to conceal their disorder. Epilepsy is one such condition with numerous outdated, sometimes inhumane, and sometimes absurd perceptions that tend to fuel its stigma. Health-care workers who participated in an epilepsy training program as part of a World Health Organization/Ghana Health Service collaboration were asked to compile the perceptions associated with epilepsy in their communities. The comments they gathered are presented here.

Stories from Lake Volta: the lived experiences of trafficked children in Ghana.

Child trafficking is one of the worst forms of child maltreatment and is often difficult to recognize when it happens intra-country. This paper presents the narratives of children on their experiences as victims of trafficking in fishing communities along the Volta Lake in the Volta region of Ghana. The narratives were co-constructed with the children through child-friendly participatory approaches which involved drawings, writing, and in-depth interviews. The stories reflect the magnitude of maltreatment trafficked children suffer, which ranges from physical to psychological and emotional. The authors recommend commitment by the government to the implementation of the Human Trafficking Act to deter child traffickers. Further studies on the living conditions of rescued children and the need to implement strategies to prevent re-trafficking are suggested.