HIV status and knowledge of cervical cancer among women in Ghana.

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer remains a disease of significant concern to women's health. The aim of this study was to identify predictors of knowledge of cervical cancer among women living with HIV and those with negative or unknown HIV status at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital (CCTH). METHODS: This study was based on a larger hospital-based analytical cross-sectional study conducted at the antiretroviral therapy (ART) and gynaecology clinics of the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital in Ghana. Participants were women living with HIV (WLHIV) and women without HIV or whose status was unknown, aged 25 to 65 years, seeking healthcare. Data were collected with a questionnaire and analysed using frequencies, percentages, Chi-square test, binary logistic regression and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: The mean age was 39.5 years (± 9.8) and 47.2 years (± 10.7) for women without or unknown HIV and WLHIV, respectively. HIV-negative/unknown women were mostly nulligravida (76%) and nullipara (69%), while WLHIV mostly had pregnancies (76%) and children (84%) in excess of seven. Knowledge of cervical cancer was statistically significantly associated with HIV status (X2 = 75.65; P-value = 0.001). The odds of having knowledge of cervical cancer for women considered to be negative/unknown for HIV were about three times (AOR = 3.07; 95% CI = 1.47, 6.41) higher than their compatriots with HIV. Women with post-secondary/tertiary (AOR = 4.45; 95% CI = 2.11, 9.35) education had significantly higher odds of having knowledge of cervical cancer than those with no education or those with just primary education. CONCLUSIONS: To improve knowledge of cervical cancer among women, an intentionally structured health education programme is needed, particularly for WLHIV, those with lower levels of education and the unemployed.

Prevalence and characterization of asymptomatic thyroid nodules in Assin North District, Ghana.

BACKGROUND: Ultrasound is now the initial imaging modality of choice for detection and characterization of lesions of the thyroid gland. Ultrasound imaging studies of the thyroid gland report varied prevalence of asymptomatic thyroid nodules (ATN), ranging from 20 to 67%. This study estimated the prevalence, characterized and determined factors associated with ATN in selected communities in the Assin North Municipality, Central Region, Ghana. METHODS: The study was a cross-sectional design, involving 320 participants from six (6) communities in the Assin North District of the Central Region of Ghana. Socio-demographic data and data from ultrasound examination of the thyroid gland were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical techniques. RESULTS: The prevalence of ATN was 11.3% among 320 participants with the mean age of 56.53(±16.5) years. ATNs were common in the left lobe (69%) and predominantly solitary (64%). ATNs increased with age and body mass index (BMI). Those aged 60 years and above had significantly higher odds (OR = 24.40, 95% CI = 2.59-229.86) of having ATNs, likewise overweigh (OR = 5.32, 95% CI = 1.12-25.20) and obese (OR = 12.51, 95% CI = 1.47-106.58) individuals. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of ATN in our study population was relatively low, and more predictable among those 60 years or older, those in unhealthy BMI categories. There is the need for the reinforcement and intensification of educational campaigns on the consumption of iodized dietary salt as well as the consumption of foods rich in iodine content, particularly among older individuals.