The use of Traditional Medicine by Ghanaians in Canada

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Les nephroblastomes au Chu de Lome considerations diagnostiques et therapeutiques a propos de 10 cas

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Les infections urinairess en chirurgie pediatrique au CHU de Lome-Tokoin a propos de 17 cas

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Les occlusions neonatales a propos de 27 cas

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les boiteries non traumatiques d'origine coxofemorale chez l'enfant: A propos de 35 cas

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Les occlusions neonatales a propos de 27 cas

From 1987 to 1990, the authors have treated 27 newborns for neonatal obstruction. The mean age has been 3 days (the extreme ages were 2 and 7 days). The sexe ratio #1. The high obstructions (or obstruction with « plat belly ») have represented 25% of our cases, against 75% of base obstruction (or obstruction with « bloated belly »). The main etiologies have been represented in 60% by malformations of the duodenum and the small bowel, and in 40% by Hirschsprung’s disease and anorectal malformations. The all 27 newborns have been treated with unfortunately, an appreciable rate of mortality: 22.22%. De 1987 à 1990, les auteurs ont traité 27 nouveau-nés tous nés à terme pour occlusions néonatales. L’âge moyen à l’admission a été de 3 jours (les extrêmes étant de 2 à 7 jours). Le sexe ratio #1. Les occlusions hautes (ou à ventre plat) ont représenté 25% des cas, contre 75% d’occlusions basses (à ventre ballonné). Les principales étiologies ont été constituées dans 60% de cas par les malformations duodénales et du grêle et dans 40% par la maladie de Hirschsprung et les malformations anorectales. Les 27 nouveau-nés ont été traités avec un taux de mortalité appréciable de 22,22%

Sanitation investments in Ghana: An ethnographic investigation of the role of tenure security, land ownership and livelihoods

Abstract Background Ghana’s low investment in household sanitation is evident from the low rates of improved sanitation. This study analysed how land ownership, tenancy security and livelihood patterns are related to sanitation investments in three adjacent rural and peri-urban communities in a district close to Accra, Ghana’s capital. Methods Qualitative data was gathered for this comparative ethnographic study over seven months, (June, 2011-January, 2012) using an average of 43 (bi-weekly) participant observation per community and 56 in-depth interviews. Detailed observational data from study communities were triangulated with multiple interview material and contextual knowledge on social structures, history of settlement, land use, livelihoods, and access to and perceptions about sanitation. Results This study shows that the history of settlement and land ownership issues are highly correlated with people’s willingness and ability to invest in household sanitation across all communities. The status of being a stranger i.e. migrant in the area left some populations without rights over the land they occupied and with low incentives to invest in sanitation, while indigenous communities were challenged by the increasing appropriation of their land for commercial enterprises and for governmental development projects. Interview responses suggest that increasing migrant population and the high demand for housing in the face of limited available space has resulted in general unwillingness and inability to establish private sanitation facilities in the communities. The increasing population has also created high demand for cheap accommodation, pushing tenants to accept informal tenancy agreements that provided for poor sanitation facilities. In addition, poor knowledge of tenancy rights leaves tenants in no position to demand sanitation improvements and therefore landlords feel no obligation or motivation to provide and maintain domestic sanitation facilities. Conclusions The study states that poor land rights, the history of settlements, in-migration and insecure tenancy are key components that are associated with local livelihoods and investments in private sanitation in rapidly changing rural and peri-urban communities of Ghana. Sanitation policy makers and programme managers must acknowledge that these profound local, ethnic and economic forces are shaping people’s abilities and motivations for sanitation investments