An outcome and process evaluation of the PAMSCAD supplementary food program at Ayeredee in the Brong Ahafo region of Ghana, West Africa

This research was an evaluation of the impact of a nutrition program on women at Ayeredee in the Nkoranza district of the Brong—Ahafo region of Ghana, west Africa. As a part of Ghana\u27s emphasis on primary health care, the program is aimed at improving children\u27s nutritional status and preventing malnutrition, disease and death. Specifically, the Program of Action to Mitigate the Social Cost or Adjustment (PAMSCAD) supplementary food program was examined to determine whether the goals of the program are being met. An empowerment agenda which focused on both process and outcome was used as the conceptual framework for the evaluation. The objectives were to collect descriptive data on both empowerment outcomes and processes, to determine the relationship between the former and the latter, and to understand in more depth the context, process, and outcomes of the program through qualitative interviews and observations. A total of 66 mothers and nine service providers were involved. The results indicated that the respondents evaluated outcomes more positively than the processes. In terms of process, the majority of the women were satisfied with the location and services of the centre; but they women had mixed feelings about the technical quality and conduct of the service providers; and they did not have much control over the planning and the implementation of the program. In terms of outcome, the women were confident about the health and nutrition skills that they had acquired; they had improved access to food; they showed a strong sense of confidence; and they were satisfied with the program. In terms of the relationship between process and outcome, the processes of Provider Conduct and Self-determination were most strongly related to the outcomes. In order to improve the efficiency of the services at the centre, 1 identified appropriate roles for community psychologists which entail engaging in genuine community involvement

COVID-19 in sub-Saharan Africa: impacts on vulnerable populations and sustaining home-grown solutions

© 2020, The Canadian Public Health Association. This commentary draws on sub-Saharan African health researchers’ accounts of their countries’ responses to control the spread of COVID-19, including social and health impacts, home-grown solutions, and gaps in knowledge. Limited human and material resources for infection control and lack of understanding or appreciation by the government of the realities of vulnerable populations have contributed to failed interventions to curb transmission, and further deepened inequalities. Some governments have adapted or limited lockdowns due to the negative impacts on livelihoods and taken specific measures to minimize the impact on the most vulnerable citizens. However, these measures may not reach the majority of the poor. Yet, African countries’ responses to COVID-19 have also included a range of innovations, including diversification of local businesses to produce personal protective equipment, disinfectants, test kits, etc., which may expand domestic manufacturing capabilities and deepen self-reliance. African and high-income governments, donors, non-governmental organizations, and businesses should work to strengthen existing health system capacity and back African-led business. Social scientific understandings of public perceptions, their interactions with COVID-19 control measures, and studies on promising clinical interventions are needed. However, a decolonizing response to COVID-19 must include explicit and meaningful commitments to sharing the power—the authority and resources—to study and endorse solutions

Acculturation in Canada : the use of traditional medicine among Ghanaians in the Greater Toronto Area

This thesis examines Ghanaian immigrants in the Greater Toronto Area (Canada), considering how acculturation was related to attitudes and usage of Traditional Medicine (TM).  A total of 512 questionnaire interviews were conducted in addition to three focus groups of nine participants each.  Both quantitative and qualitative methods were and frequencies, percentages and simple chi-square were used to analyse the quantitative data while “content analysis” was used to analyse the qualitative data. Five mains hypotheses were tested, that: 1) Ghanaians have a general positive attitude toward TM; 2) there is not significant relationship between Ghanaians who were born in Ghana and those who were born in Canada; 3) there will be a significant difference between Ghanaians who have lived longer in Canada and those who have lived shorter; 4) there will be no significant change in the attitudes and opinions of Ghanaians as a result of their staying in Canada; 5) there will be significant differences in attitude change toward TM between Ghanaians in terms of educational and income levels, age, gender and marital status. Ghanaians have positive attitudes toward TM, and they operate within a ‘Personalistic Medical System’.  There was no relationship between variation in attitude toward TM and sex, age, marital status and place of birth.  However, there was a relationship between change in attitude toward TM and level of income, educational, ethnic group, religion, and number of years in Canada. In terms of acculturation (more in line with ‘inculturation’), Ghanaians have been pursuing “integration” and “assimilation” . There is no evidence to suggest that traditional beliefs have been undermined to such an extent that there is a change in attitude toward TM.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Medicinal plants used for management of diabetes and hypertension in Ghana

Diabetes and hypertension have been declared as a global health menace of the 21st Century. Thus, the search for potential therapeutic agents from medicinal plants for the management of diabetes and hypertension is important. This study was undertaken to investigate medicinal plants being used in the management of diabetes and hypertension by herbalists in Ghana. Data were obtained from 36 herbalists through questionnaire interviews and conversations. Botanical specimens were collected, processed and identified following standard ethnobotanical methods. Data were analyzed using Fidelity Level (FL) and Informant Consensus Factor (ICF). A total of 39 species of plants belonging to 31 families were reported being used for management of diabetes and hypertension. Eighteen of these plants are used for the treatment of hypertension, 12 species for diabetes, and 9 species for management of both diseases. Informant consensus factor was highest for plants used to treat both diseases (IFC = 0.82) followed by hypertension (ICF = 0.31) and then diabetes (IFC = 0.24). FL values were high for Carica papaya L. Moringa oleifera Lam. and Khaya senegalensis A. Juss. for the management of both diabetes and hypertension. Of the 14 species used for hypertension, Tetrapleura tetraptera (Schum. ex. Thonn.) recorded the highest FL value whiles Momordica charantia L. recorded the highest FL value for antidiabetic plants. Baphia nitida G. Lodd, Luffa aegyptiaca Mill. and Tapinanthus banguwensis (Engl. & k. Krause) Dancing are being mentioned for the first time in the management of hypertension. Herbal medicines for treatments of both diabetes and hypertension were usually prepared from multiple plant prescriptions by boiling the plant parts, and the decoctions drunk for treatments. The results show that there is substantial preclinical evidence to support the usefulness of some of these herbs as an important choice for patients with diabetes and hypertension. However, clinical studies are important to confirm the efficacy and safety of the herbal medicines prescribed by herbalists