Pregnant Women's experiences of Birth Preparedness and Complication Readiness in Ghana

Background & aim: Most of the maternal mortalities are preventable when safe maternal healthcare practices adhere to antenatal care. Lack of birth and emergency preparedness is one of several factors contributing to maternal mortalities. Adequate birth preparedness (BP), as well as emergency, and complication readiness (CR) planning can determine the survival rate of a pregnant woman and her unborn neonate. The present study aimed to describe the experiences of pregnant women at Jachie Health Center regarding BP and CR. Methods: In this qualitative study, a phenomenological approach was used for data collection. In-depth interviewing was conducted with a total of 15 pregnant women from Jachie Health Center. The interviews were digitally recorded, transcribed verbatim, reviewed several times, and thematic analysis was performed. NVivo software (version 11) was utilized to manage the data and help with thematic analysis. Results: The pregnant women practiced preparations towards the place of delivery, support person, layette, and warning signs of pregnancy. The majority of the cases were not aware of obligatory preparations in terms of transportation and the need for emergency compatible blood donor prior to delivery. Most of the respondents were not sufficiently prepared for delivery due to poverty and low educational status. Conclusion: The role of community members could include the instruction of pregnant women to attend antenatal clinic to receive education regarding birth preparedness and complications readiness. The district health directorate and public health nurses should train community leaders for the benefits of birth preparedness and complications readiness

Factors associated with awareness of breast cancer among women of reproductive age in Lesotho:a national population-based cross-sectional survey

Background: Breast cancer is a leading cause of cancer mortality and a major public health problem. The growing number of breast cancer-related deaths has been largely attributed to a lack of awareness of the disease among women. Whilst there have been frequent campaigns promoting breast cancer awareness, evidence suggests that women still lack awareness. Therefore, this study assessed the prevalence and factors associated with the awareness of breast cancer among women of reproductive age in Lesotho.Methods: We used population-based cross-sectional data from the 2014 Lesotho Demographic and Health survey. A total of 6,620 women of reproductive age were included in the analysis. The outcome variable was awareness of breast cancer. Women who heard about breast cancer were considered to be aware of the disease. Multilevel binary logistic regression models were fitted to determine the factors associated with breast cancer awareness among women.Results: The level of awareness of breast cancer was 86.8% (95% CI: 85.5, 87.9). Women aged 45–49 years [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.87, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.83, 4.48], married women [AOR = 1.51 (95% CI: 1.19, 1.93)], and women with higher educational level [AOR = 12.56, (95% CI: 4.35, 36.28)] were more likely to be aware of breast cancer. Additionally, women who listened to the radio at least once a week [AOR = 1.96, (95% CI: 1.63, 2.37)], those who read newspapers or magazines [AOR = 1.91 (95% CI: 1.48, 2.46)] and women in the wealthiest group [AOR = 2.55, (95% CI: 1.67, 3.89)] had higher odds of breast cancer awareness. However, women who were in rural areas were less likely [AOR = 0.63, (95% CI: 0.47, 0.84)] to be aware of breast cancer than those in urban areas.Conclusion: The level of awareness of breast cancer among women of reproductive age in Lesotho was extremely low. We recommend that policymakers, clinicians, and public health practitioners should consider the factors identified in this study when designing and developing intervention programs to improve the awareness of breast cancer among women in Lesotho.</p

Determinants of Self-Care and Home-Based Management of Hypertension: An Integrative Review

Introduction: Patients with hypertension should perform diverse self-care activities that incorporate medication adherence and lifestyle modification, such as no smoking or alcohol, weight reduction, a low-salt diet, increased physical activity, increased self-monitoring, and stress reduction, for effective management at home. Aim: This systematic review assessed and synthesized the factors that are associated with self-care and home-based management of hypertension. Methods: The search of the articles incorporated the population, intervention, comparison, and outcome (PICO) framework. The literature was searched in four databases (PubMed, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature [CINAHL], Embase, and Web of Science) until 2022. The articles retrieved and searched from the reference list (531) were transported to EndNote version 20, and duplicates (19) were identified and removed to produce 512 titles. Following the eventual title, abstracts, and full-text screening, 13 articles were appropriate for this study. The narrative and thematic data analysis were used to analyze and integrate the data. Results: The analysis showed five themes were associated with home-based self-care and blood pressure (BP) control among patients diagnosed with hypertension. These themes that emerged were (1) the prevalence of control of BP, (2) sociodemographic factors, (3) treatment-related factors, (4) knowledge of management, and (5) knowledge of the prevention of risk factors of hypertension. The demographic factors influencing home-based self-care for hypertension were gender, age, and socioeconomic status. In contrast, the treatment factors were duration of hypertension treatment, medication burden, and medication adherence. Other factors that influenced self-care were inadequate knowledge of BP management, follow-up care, and risk factors of hypertension. Conclusion: Hypertension self-care interventions must incorporate individual, societal, and cultural perspectives in increasing knowledge and improving home-based hypertension management. Therefore, well-designed clinical and community-dwelling interventions should integrate personal, social, and cultural perspectives to improve behavior in the home management of hypertension by increasing knowledge and self-efficacy

Students’ experiences of sexual harassment; a descriptive cross-sectional study in a college of education, Ghana

Introduction: Sexual harassment is a component of gender-based discrimination that indicates unequal power relations and affects students' psychological and physical well-being and academic achievement. This study assessed students’ experiences of sexual harassment at the Offinso College of Education. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study incorporated a whole population sampling of second and third-year female students to respond to a pre-tested questionnaire uploaded on Google Forms. The data were vetted for appropriateness, cleaned in Microsoft Excel, and transferred to IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences for analysis into descriptive statistics and chi-square tests of associations. Results: The study indicated that women (66%) had previously had sex before admission into college and perceived that they were at risk of sexual harassment (43.0%). It was statistically significant that the student's level of education was associated with the experience of being sexually harassed (χ2 = 10.950, p-value <0.00) and the perception that sexual harassment was a problem among students (χ2 = 13.376, p-value <0.01). The nature of the female students' marital relationships was statistically significant (χ2 = 11.209, p-value<0.02) to the perception of sexual harassment as a problem in the college. Conclusion: Female students must have adequate education on the sexual harassment policy of the institution and measures put in place to identify and provide appropriate sanctions to issues of sexual harassment at the college education level

Utilization of Insecticide Treated Bed Nets (ITNs) among Caregivers of Children under Five Years in the Ho Municipality

Background. In Ghana, attempts to control malaria through antimalarial medications are currently threatened by the emergence and spread of drug resistant malaria parasites. This, together with the increasing incidence of malaria, has heightened the need for a more effective method of controlling the spread. The use of Insecticide Treated Bed Net (ITN) has been recognised as an effective measure in the prevention of malaria. Objective/Purpose. In this study, we examined the utilisation of ITN among caregivers of children under five years in Ho municipality of Ghana. Methods. This descriptive cross-sectional study recruited 283 household representatives through a multistage sampling method. A questionnaire was used to collect the data and was analyzed using STATA version 14. Descriptive and inferential statistics were adopted in presenting the data. Results. Ownership of ITN was higher (80.7%) than its utilisation (41.7%). The age of caregiver was strongly associated with the utilisation of ITN (AOR=2.00, 95% CI=0.00, 0.02, p<0.001) among children less than five years. Caregivers aged 26-35 were 49% times less likely to use an ITN as compared to those aged between 17 and 25 and the difference was statistically significant. Conclusion. In order to ensure a high ITN coverage and utilisation, there is the need for continuous distribution of ITNs to households. Households should be sensitized to use the nets to prevent the continuous spread of malaria

The factors that are associated with nurse immigration in lower‐ and middle‐income countries: An integrative review

Abstract Aim This study aims to synthesize the factors associated with nurse emigration from lower and middle‐income countries. Design Integrative review. Methods An in‐depth search of registries and five databases yielded 9466 records. Using the PRISMA guidelines, 11 were chosen after screening by two authors independently. The mixed methods appraisal tool (MMAT) was used to assess the risk of bias. Results The destination countries were Europe and North America, with an inclination for nurse migration of 14.3%–85%. Emigration factors were poor salary, working conditions, poor quality  healthcare infrastructure; outdated healthcare technologies, lack of employment opportunities, younger age, relationship status (single), living environment, social pressure, urban residence, work experience, insecurity, high crime rates, political corruption and foreign language skills. Public Contribution Healthcare authorities and nursing leaders must implement practical measures to minimize nurse emigration

Challenges and coping strategies of nurses and midwives after maternity leave: A cross‐sectional study in a human resource‐constrained setting in Ghana

Abstract Aim This study examined the challenges and coping strategies adopted by nurses and midwives after child birth when they return to work. Design A cross‐sectional design was used. Method Two hundred nurses and midwives with history of maternity leave were recruited from the Korle‐Bu Teaching Hospital to take part in this study. Data were collected using a pre‐tested self‐administered questionnaire. The data were analysed with the aid of Stata 13.0. Results Most of the respondents claimed that they received support from relatives, day care centres and paid house helps while they resumed work. Seventy percent of the respondents indicated that they were given off day when they needed to send their child for postnatal care. Nurses and midwives depend on family members, paid house helps and day care centres to help them cater for their babies. It is recommended that hospitals set‐up day care centres and breastfeeding bays attached to the institutions

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