Theses

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Association between exposure to organochlorine and pyrethroid pesticides and neurobehavioral outcomes among children under five years old in Offinso north district of Ashanti region, Ghana.
(SEPTEMBER, 2019) Bonney, Felix;
Pesticide use for agricultural purposes in Ghana has increased over the years with its related health threats to farmers, people living around farming communities as well as the environment due to unsafe handling practices and application. This cross-sectional study conducted at three farming communities in Offinso North District of Ashanti Region, Ghana was aimed at assessing the association between exposure to organochlorine and pyrethroid pesticides and neurobehavioral outcomes defined as attention, rule-breaking, social behavior and aggressiveness. The target population was children under five years old. Questionnaire data on exposure practices and child behaviors as well as urine samples were taken for analyses, from 170 children whose parents were vegetable farmers. Majority of the children, 61.18% had contact with pesticide contaminated surfaces at home, 69.41% places thumbs/ fingers in the mouth and 84.29% places contaminated objects in the mouth. In the farm, 55.29% of the children had contact with pesticide contaminated surfaces, 61.76% places thumbs/ fingers in the mouth and 54.12% places contaminated objects in their mouths. There were also significant levels of pesticide residues of five organochlorines and one pyrethroid in their urines. The mean residual concentration of gamma-HCH found was 3.09μg/l (SD = 0.77μg/l); beta-HCH = 2.89μg/l (SD = 0.64μg/l); delta-HCH = 2.42μg/l (SD = 0.43μg/l); heptachlor = 3.55μg/l (SD = 0.90μg/l); lambda cyhalothrin = 3.11μg/l (SD = 0.69μg/l). There was no significant association found between urinary pesticide residues and neurobehavioral outcomes. However, there were significant inverse associations between exposure indicators at home, in the farm or both and Attention, Rule-Breaking, Social behavior and Aggressiveness with the association being strongest among children aged between 3 to 4 years.
Factors affecting low academic performance of visual art students in selected senior high schools in the Ejisu municipality, Ashanti region, Ghana
(2021-06-22) Nti, Seth Kwaku;
Low academic performance in both internal and external examinations in relation to elective visual arts subjects has plagued students for decades. In view of this and the seeming lack of empirical investigations into the subject, the study sought to ascertain the factors that result in low academic performance of visual art students in selected Senior High Schools within the Ejisu Municipality of the Ashanti Region. The study adopted a mixed method and case study approach. The study population included students and staff of four selected schools. Questionnaires and interview guides were used to collect Secondary data for analysis. Purposive sampling was adopted to select 221 visual arts students. The study found that poverty, poor health, poor teaching methods, indiscipline, lack of proper teaching materials, poor evaluation methods / instruments, inadequately trained teachers, broken homes, changing of teachers incessantly, hyperactivity in students, truancy and poor approach to learning were the main causes of low academic performance amongst visual arts students of the Ejisu municipality in the Ashanti region. Also, the study showed that the unstandardized coefficient, b3, for low level of thinking on the part of the student is equal to 600. This means that for every 1-unit improvement in level of thinking on the part of the student, there is an increase in level of academic performance of 600. Hence, the higher the quality of thought visual arts students’ exhibit, the higher they perform academically. Based on the findings, the study recommends that the Ghana Education Service, Headmasters and other relevant stakeholders see to it that the Visual Arts Programme in each school are provided with all necessary teaching and learning materials and adequate infrastructure to aid practical lessons. The study also recommends that the Ghana Education Service, through the district and regional directors of education, organize lectures and seminars for teachers to re-orient their perceptions on the Visual Arts Programme and also re-train teachers on new ways of teaching technically gifted students in the Visual Arts field.
Integration of traditional and alternative medicine into routine health care delivery system in the Kumasi Metropolis of Ashanti Region, Ghana
(SEPTEMBER, 2019) Nyedua, Stephen Osei –Agyepong;
Introduction Traditional and alternative medicine development in Ghana has undergone a lot of transformation despite its challenges. Currently, the significance and integration of traditional and alternative medicine into routine healthcare delivery cannot be underestimated within the healthcare industry in Ghana. Therefore, the need to explore lessons learnt from the integration of TAM into routine health care delivery system in Kumasi Metropolis, Ashanti Region, Ghana. Methods The study was qualitative using exploratory cross-sectional study design to measure views and experience of TAM integration, challenges of TAM and suggestion to overcome challenges. The data were collected from 20 Providers and 30 Clients using a semi-structured interview guide. The data were analyzed thematically facilitated by manual analysis. Results The providers and clients were of the view that, the gap between allopathic and Herbal medicine practice should be bridged to enhance easy access to healthcare. They were of the view that herbal medicines should be listed onto the NHIS Scheme for healthcare delivery. Majority of providers and clients indicated that resource constraints, inadequate manpower development and sensitization were major challenges with the integration of TAM into routine healthcare delivery system. Most of the providers and clients suggested that adequate resources for the herbal units of the hospitals, sensitization of the public as well as healthy collaboration between herbal practitioners and orthodox medical practitioners as practical ways of addressing challenges confronting TAM integration.ix Conclusion The study unraveled several benefits with integration of TAM into routine healthcare delivery. However, resource constraints and inadequate collaboration between herbal and orthodox practitioners were identified as critical impediments to TAM integration into routine healthcare delivery system. The study therefore recommended that government and all other relevant stakeholders should provide adequate resources (human and material) for the herbal units, effective sensitization and education on the use of herbal medicine and efforts to bridge the gap between orthodox and herbal medicine.
Occupational injuries among healthcare workers in Suntreso district hospital in Ashanti region, Ghana
(JUNE, 2019) Appiagyei, Helena Serwaa;
Occupational health is defined as the highest degree of physical, mental and social wellbeing of workers in all occupations. Healthcare workers are exposed to various blood pathogens such as Hepatitis B and C virus, HIV and other occupational injuries such as violence from patients and patients relatives, biological and chemical hazards, others experience psychological trauma like fear, anxiety of infection and post exposure of body fluids. The lack of credible data hampers efforts to improve workplace safety especially in developing countries including Ghana, for these reasons occupational injuries are not recognised as public health priority. The main objective was to assess the prevalence rate of the most common occupational injuries and the group of healthcare workers at risk. To examine the awareness and knowledge of occupational health and safety measures. The study was a hospital-based with a cross-sectional design study which used a simple random sampling technique. Quantitative method through a well-structured questionnaire with both opened and closed questions was administered. Participation of respondents was voluntary. The study was conducted within 3month duration. It consisted of 246 respondents which represented about 75% of the HCWS at the facility. Data was entered and analysed by Stata. Binary logistic regression and chi square for categorical variables was done and alpha was set at 0.05. The prevalence rate of occupational injury was 29.7% among the respondents of 12months prior to the study with the commonest injury been cuts from sharps, followed by needle prick injuries and musculoskeletal disorders. , married workers were 62 percent less [AOR = 0.62; 95% CI. = 0.30-3.62] likely to suffer from injury compared to workers who are single. The risk to injury was 3.8 times higher for nurses [AOR = 3.80; 95% CI = 0.87-1.98] compared to laboratory assistants [AOR = 1.98 95% CI. = 0.41-9.40], physicians [AOR = 1.82; 95% CI. = v 0.50-5.62] and nonclinical staff. Also working on shift termed as stressful exposes a worker to injury at 2.23 times [AOR = 2.23; 95% CI. = 1.22-5.23] compared to those who do not. Sociodemographic variables such as age, gender, ethnicity and work experience were statistically insignificant to the occurrence of injury. Occupational injuries especially cuts by sharps, needle pricks and musculoskeletal disorders were the most reported injuries among the HCWs. Adequate training on occupational health and safety is recommended. Stress related factors such as excessive workload, shortage of staff must be improved at the hospital. Medical surveillance policy for all health care workers must be enforced by the Ministry of Health and Ghana Health Service to ensure the wellbeing of workers.
Quality care management of febrile illnesses among children under 5 years in Atwima Kwanwoma district in the Ashanti Region of Ghana
(NOVEMBER, 2019) Asante, Samuel Koranteng;
Introduction Febrile illnesses in children and its management (especially infectious diseases) continue to result in an enormous increase in morbidity and mortality in developing countries causing a global public health concern. However, most low-middle-income countries have failed to institute systematic outcome assessment measures to ensure quality in the management of these conditions at one breadth. This study therefore aimed at assessing the quality care management of febrile illness in under five (5) in health facilities in the Atwima Kwanwoma district of Ashanti Region, Ghana. Methods The study was quantitative using a cross-sectional study design. Data were collected from 58 healthcare providers and 390 folders of children treated for febrile illnesses. Data were analyzed using STATA version 14. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify socio-demographic, patient and prescribers’ factors influencing the management of febrile illness among children under 5 years. Statistical significance for all testing was set as 0.05. Results More than fifty percent (68.4%) of the overall management of the febrile illnesses were classified as appropriate in accordance with the WHO/UNICEF IMCI guidelines. Issues of Scarcity or shortage of qualified employees; leadership interference; dissatisfaction from health care professionals; location-based challenges, absence of WHO/UNICEF guidelines for fevers management, Artemether Lumefantrine Dosing wall chart, stockout of Artemether Lumefantrine and Amoxicillin in some facilities were identified as some of the challenges inhibiting quality care management. Prescribers’ factors such as belief in superstition (pvalue=0.02) and patients’ socio-demographic factors such as the age of child below 1 year (pvalue= 0.04) and gender (p-value=0.02) were established to influence quality care management of febrile illnesses. Conclusion The study concludes that the quality of management of febrile illnesses was not impressive and required urgent attention. Stakeholders within the healthcare industry should come together and introduce policies that focus on improving the diagnostic and treatment capacity of healthcare facilities.

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