Contemporary issues in women’s health

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/135535/1/ijgo187.pd

Contemporary issues in women’s health

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/135468/1/ijgo3.pd

Factors influencing the use of anemia preventing measures among antenatal clinic attendees in the Kintampo North Municipality, Ghana

Anemia in pregnancy is a key public health problem worldwide. It results from a wide variety of causes. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended specific measures to help prevent anemia during pregnancy, which countries are required to integrate into their antenatal care. This study was designed to determine the factors influencing the use of anaemia preventing measures among antenatal clinic attendees in the Kintampo North Municipality, Ghana. A cross sectional study was conducted among pregnant women attending the clinics after 36 weeks of pregnancy. Demographic data and information on use of all interventions were obtained using a structured questionnaire. The factors associated with the use of the interventions were identified using multiple logistic regression. The use of all anemia preventing interventions among pregnant women was found to be 30%. The study identified that use of all anemia preventing measures among pregnant women is quite low. Provision of antihelmithics to pregnant women and their health education on the benefits of the use of anaemia preventing measures would help increase the usage of the interventions.Keywords: Anemia in pregnancy, anemia prevention in pregnancy, Kintampo North, Ghan

Women's Sexual Empowerment and Contraceptive Use in Ghana

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/93761/1/j.1728-4465.2012.00318.x.pd

Effects of sachet water consumption on exposure to microbe-contaminated drinking water: household survey evidence from Ghana

There remain few nationally representative studies of drinking water quality at the point of consumption in developing countries. This study aimed to examine factors associated with E. coli contamination in Ghana. It drew on a nationally representative household survey, the 2012?2013 Living Standards Survey 6, which incorporated a novel water quality module. E. coli contamination in 3096 point-of-consumption samples was examined using multinomial regression. Surface water use was the strongest risk factor for high E. coli contamination (relative risk ratio (RRR) = 32.3, p < 0.001), whilst packaged (sachet or bottled) water use had the greatest protective effect (RRR = 0.06, p < 0.001), compared to water piped to premises. E. coli contamination followed plausible patterns with digit preference (tendency to report values ending in zero) in bacteria counts. The analysis suggests packaged drinking water use provides some protection against point-of-consumption E. coli contamination and may therefore benefit public health. It also suggests viable water quality data can be collected alongside household surveys, but field protocols require further revision

Anemia and iron deficiency in pregnant Ghanaian women from urban areas

ObjectivesTo determine the prevalence and identify risk factors for iron deficiency and anemia in pregnant Ghanaian women from urban areas.MethodsA crossâ sectional study of 452 healthy pregnant women receiving prenatal care in Accra, Ghana, was conducted. A sociodemographic health questionnaire was performed and hematologic parameters were measured. Logistic regression methods were used to identify risk factors for anemia and iron status.ResultsComplete data were available for 428 women. Anemia (hemoglobin < 11 g/dL) was present in 144 (34%), iron deficiency (ferritin â ¤ 16 μg/L) in 69 (16%), and iron deficiency anemia in 32 (7.5%) women. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) for anemia was 3.4 and 9.8 if iron deficiency and malaria parasitemia were present, respectively; the OR was 0.6 if women were at â ¥ 36 weeks of pregnancy. The adjusted OR for iron deficiency was 2.7 if women were at â ¥ 36 weeks of pregnancy and 0.12 if they had sickle trait.ConclusionAlthough anemia and iron deficiency remain substantial problems in pregnant Ghanaian women from urban areas, their prevalence is less than previously reported.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/135515/1/ijgo62.pd

Examining Antenatal Health Literacy in Ghana

Purpose To explore Ghanaian pregnant women's understanding and recognition of danger signs in pregnancy, birth preparedness and complication readiness, and their understanding of newborn care. Design An exploratory, qualitative study design was used. Methods Data were gathered through six focus group discussions with 68 pregnant women attending antenatal care at a busy urban hospital in Ghana. Qualitative and descriptive data were analyzed using SPSS version 21. Health literacy was used as the guiding framework to analyze the qualitative data. Data were analyzed in the content domains of (a) understanding and recognition of danger signs in pregnancy, (b) preparedness for childbirth, (c) understanding and recognition of danger signs in the newborn, and (d) appropriate and timely referral. Findings Women in this study identified danger signs of pregnancy and in the newborn, but had difficulty interpreting and operationalizing information they received during antenatal care visits, indicating that health education did not translate to appropriate health behaviors. Cultural beliefs in alternative medicine, lack of understanding, and prior negative encounters with healthcare professionals may have led to underutilization of professional midwives for delivery and health services. Conclusions Women in this study exhibited low health literacy by incorrectly interpreting and operationalizing health education received during antenatal care. With limited health literacy, pregnant women cannot fully comprehend the scope of services that a health system can provide for them and their families. Clinical Relevance Achieving the greatest impact with limited time in antenatal care is a challenge. Since antenatal care is widely available to pregnant women in Ghana, it is vital to reexamine the way antenatal education is delivered. Pregnant women must receive health information that is accurate and easy to understand in order to make informed health choices that will improve maternal and child health.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/109308/1/jnu12094.pd

Comparison of maternal health services and indicators in three districts of the Volta Region, Ghana

Background: Ghana’s maternal mortality ratio continues to decline, but is not expected to meet the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 5 target. The Ghana Health Service and Ministry of Health have displayed a high commitment to the improvement of maternal health in the country. One of the most recent partnerships directed at this is with the Korea International Cooperation Agency.Methods: This study was conducted among women between ages 15 and 49 resident in Keta Municipal, Ketu North and Ketu South districts in the Volta Region of Ghana who were pregnant or who had children aged less than five. Ethical approval was obtained from the Ghana Health Service Ethical Review Committee. Data were collected using questionnaires, entered into Stata version 12 and analyzed using frequency distribution and assessment of means. Comparisons among districts were conducted using chi square test and one way analysis of variance (ANOVA).Results: The study covered 630 women whose mean age was 28.4 years. Almost all participants (99.1%) from Ketu North knew where to obtain family planning services. Use of modern contraception was highest in Ketu North with 31% of respondents using a modern method. Delivery in a health facility was highest in Keta Municipal (62.3%) with overall institutional delivery being 57.6%. Delivery by a skilled birth attendant (SBA) was also highest in Keta Municipal.Conclusion: Indicators used to assess maternal health services show a coverage of over 50% but we need to improve institutional delivery, use of modern contraception and education about danger signs in pregnancy. Funding: This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea Grant funded by the Korean Government (NRF-2013S1A5B8A01055336) and the Korea International Cooperation Agency(2013).Keywords: Maternal Health, Ghana, Volta Region, Family Planning, Skilled Birth Attendan

The relationship between facility‐based delivery and maternal and neonatal mortality in Sub‐Saharan Africa

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/135613/1/ijgo263.pd