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. Data were collected using a pre-tested self-administered questionnaire. Data analyses were conducted with the aid of Stata 15.0. RESULTS: There is low belief and trust in the biomedical treatment for hypertension. Only 36.9% of the respondents said they adhered to treatment with females expressing higher level of adherence. Trust and belief in allopathic care were associated with adherence to treatment. It is recommended that health workers identify effective ways of improving patients' trust in the allopathic care for hypertension through teaching and re-enforcement models to enhance treatment adherence and reduce the complications of hypertension. Patient or Public Contribution.

Risk factors associated with the incidence and prevalence of hypertension in Ghana: an integrated review (2016-2021).

This study synthesized the risk factors associated with hypertension among adolescents and adults in Ghana. A systematic search in four databases between 2016 and 2021 retrieved 119 Ghanaian studies, and through screening, 16 were selected. Thematic analysis was used to synthesize extracted data. Prevalence of hypertension ranged from 13.0% to 28.4% and prehypertension 22.0% to 51.4%. The non-modifiable hypertension risk factors were age, marital status, gender, and residence. The modifiable risk factors were consuming additional table salt, salted meat, alcohol, canned meats, smoking, and psychological factors, including stress and anxiety. Also, higher education and socio-economic status, employment, access to medical insurance, overweight, and higher BMI were risk factors. Targeted, sustained, systematic, and effective intervention programs should target high-risk people.

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. RESULTS: Motivators of pregnancy uptake among HIV-positive women include desire to have children, knowledge about PMTCT, cultural duty for married women to have children, and household income. Demotivating factors included the modern method of contraception and burden associated with pregnancy. CONCLUSION: There is a need to improve on services that reduce conception-related risks especially for women who choose to conceive and to incorporate fertility-related counselling into HIV treatment services.

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. Methodology. This quantitative descriptive cross-sectional design employed a systematic sampling method to select 310 caregivers of children aged 18 to 59 months in the Abutia Kloe subdistrict using a pretested questionnaire. The data were entered into a Microsoft excel spreadsheet and cleaned and exported to Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS 22) for analysis. RESULTS: The results showed that children (44.2%) had defaulted at a point during the continued growth monitoring process. The reasons for the default included completed major immunization (72.3%), started school (57.4%), and poor staff attitude (3.2%). Mothers have an idea about the purpose of the growth chart (68.0%) as the mothers (86.5%) are able to access a child welfare clinic in less than thirty minutes' walk from their homes. The cross tabulation on level of education and regular CWC attendance showed a strong association (r 2 = 8.071, p ≤ 0.03). Cross tabulation on marital status and CWC attendance showed a positive significant association (r 2 = 17.307, df = 2, p ≤ 0.001). Married caregivers (85.2%) as compared with unmarried ones (60.5%) are more likely to seek child welfare services for their child. CONCLUSION: Healthcare providers should intensify education on the need to continue growth monitoring up to 59 months even after the completion of major immunization. This goal can be attained if growth monitoring is incorporated into school health activities while policy implementers ensure the full execution.

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. METHODS: A phenomenological qualitative study design, with a purposive sampling technique, was used to interview ten participants from the various wards in the hospital on their perceptions of the nurse patient relationship and its influence on hospital attendance. The data were transcribed and analysed using a thematic content analysis approach that embraces three interrelated stages, namely data reduction, data display, and data conclusion drawing. RESULTS: Many of the participants had positive perceptions regarding the attitude of nurses, and that influenced hospital attendance while others opined that nurses' attitudes towards them made them attend a private facility. Almost all the participants suggested that patients should exhibit an equally good attitude and behaviour towards nurses, and better communication between patients and nurses as vital ways of improving the nurse-patient relationship. Nurses in the Kwahu Government Hospital are described as friendly, respectful and attend promptly to patient health care needs adequately. The range of perceived respect differed from patient to patient and include the nurse called patient by name, respond promptly to patient needs, helped "helpless patients" to feed and also assisted them change diapers, listen to patient concerns, linked patient to other professionals, work within the cultural context of hierarchy and that the nurse is sociable and interacted with patient positively. CONCLUSION: Hospital management should conduct regular evaluations of patients' experiences as well as nurses' experiences to address deficiencies in communication and nurse-patient interactions.

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. Cross tabulations were used to explore associations between variables. Results: The respondents indicated that FANC would enable them to receive comprehensive ANC (74.8%). Higher parity was significantly associated with low utilization of FANC (p = .028). Long distance to the health facility, seeking permission to use FANC was significantly associated with low utilization of FANC (p < .001). Fear associated with witchcraft was associated with low FANC utilization (p < .001).

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. This study determined the prevalence and pattern of motorcycle crashes in Adidome among commercial motorcyclists. METHODS: A descriptive, cross-sectional study design was used as 114 commercial motorcyclists were recruited to respond to a pretested research questionnaire in the Adidome district of the Volta Region. Data were analyzed using SPSS, version 22.0. Data were presented as simple descriptive statistics. A chi-square relationship was determined using the demographic variables, and the history of accident at a 95% confidence interval with 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. RESULTS: The prevalence of road traffic crashes at Adidome was 64.0%. Motorcyclists (74.0%) were reported to have been involved in crashes in the past one year prior to the study. Motorcyclists attributed the last accident to excessive speeding (31.5%) and bad roads (23.3%), this accident as a result of colliding with another motorcycle (50.7%), and slippery surfaces (24.7%). The majority (63.0%) of the respondents had an accident once. The consumption of alcohol was associated with the occurrence of an accident as 34.2% occurred among cyclists who drank alcohol, compared with 29.8% who did not (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: There should be strict implementation of current road traffic regulations of Ghana by the MTTD of the Ghana Police Service, and penalties should be awarded against anybody caught riding a motorcycle under the influence of alcohol. Helmet and other protective devices must be made compulsory for motorcycle riders to prevent injuries, especially head injuries, if an accident occurs.

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. Questionnaire was used to collect data. Data entered into Statistical Package for Social Sciences for analysis. Result: Of the 286 pregnant women, 21.2% and 17.8% considered white clay and ice respectively as nutritious. Prevalence of pica was 47.5%, while 44.9% of pregnant women who practised pica reported they feel uncomfortable when they do not eat pica as 63.3% considered intake of pica as harmful. Among women who received education against pica practice, 49.4% have ever taken pica as 50.9% of them with education on effects of pica were currently engaged in the activity (χ2 = 1.93 p = .17). Conclusion: Health professionals, especially midwives must intensify education on effects of pica among pregnant women.