Indigenous Health Practices for Infant and Child Health in Ghana

Under the aegis of ‘Sankofa’, this article argues that there is the need to contest indigenous health practices and its relevance in contemporary health care system in Ghana. Using qualitative data from selected communities in Central, Greater Accra and Ashanti Regions, this article seeks to unearth the current state of indigenous health practices for infant and child health in Ghana. Information were collected from In-Depth Interviews, Participant Observation and Focus Group, involving grand/mothers and the elders in the selected communities of the three Regions for the study. The article argues that each society hands down information and knowledge on infant and child health from generation to generation by teaching certain attitudes, practices, beliefs, legends, customs and habits. Studies conducted so far in Ghana, have played oblivion to bringing out the Ghanaian nuances on indigenous health practices and the specific developmental stages of children. Since majority of the respondents could speak Akan dialects, the article therefore employs the Akan terms for ‘infant and child’ as a tutelage for presenting the results and discussions. The article further argues for the need for complementary health practices based on both the indigenous and modern health practices for infant and child health in Ghana. Keywords: Child, Infant, Sankofa, Indigenous Health Practices, Ghana

Traditional Teachings and Practices for Child Health in Ghana

Majority of rural denizens have limited access to modern medical as well as other health facilities. In the absence of adequate, readily accessible modern medical facilities, traditional teachings and practices concerning child health have proved to be a useful substitute and/or complement. Using qualitative data from selected communities in Central, Greater Accra and Ashanti Regions of Ghana, the paper examined traditional teachings and practices for child health. The results indicated a high level of utilization of both modern and traditional medical services and practices for child illnesses which feign complementary. Information gathered through in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, narratives and conversations found that each society hands down mores from generation to generation by teaching certain attitudes, practices, beliefs, legends, customs, habits and prodigy. The study advanced that there are traditional beliefs and practices in all areas of life, including health in general and child health in parts. These practices include breastfeeding, massaging and postpartum sexual abstinence, for the health of the suckling infant and toddler, while socialization of good hygiene and nutrition practice is initiated and encouraged for the growing child. These reflect the values and beliefs held by members of the community for periods often spanning generations. Such practices recognize the critical importance of children’s right to health and survival, an issue at the heart of the UN charter on the right of the child. These results have implications for health policy and planning regarding the incorporation of traditional health teachings and practices into the child health aspect of Primary Health Care programmes and the UN convention on the rights of the child. Keywords: traditional teachings and practices, child health, breastfeeding, postpartum sexual abstinence, Ghana

Disposing off Solid Waste in Ghana: What are the Challenges and the Strategies? A Cross-sectional Survey

Developing country cities are still experiencing rapid population growth, so one element of an integrated solid waste disposal solution has to be how to tackle exponential growth in waste quantities. In this vein, the central objective of the study was to examine the challenges and strategies of solid waste disposal in Ghana. The main data collection instrument used included questionnaires and interview as well as field observation. The Systematic technique was used to sample 148 respondents whereas purposive sampling technique was used to select 2 key informants thus arriving at a sample size of 150. The findings from the study indicate that the challenges of solid waste disposal include insufficient solid waste collection containers, lack of cooperation from residents as well settlement pattern. Strategies such as education, provision of more waste containers and law enforcement were deemed appropriate to contain the challenges. Based on the findings, it is recommended that there should be integrated efforts among the various stakeholders responsible for waste disposal, health and the environment. This is to ensure an effective monitoring system and enforcement of by- laws regulating solid waste disposal in the Municipal. This process requires the full participation of residents and opinion leaders in the community to make it effective. Especially private men and women who use their plots within the neighbourhood as public dump sites. Keywords: Solid waste, strategies, challenges.

Beyond Rhetoric into Determinants of Municipal Solid Waste Disposals in Ghana

The objective of the study was to find out the determinants of poor solid waste disposal in Ghana using Sawaba as the study prefecture. The main data collection instrument used included questionnaires and interview as well as field observation. In all, a sample size of 148 was deemed appropriate for the study. Systematic sampling technique was used to select to recruit 148 respondents. Moreover, additional 2 key informants were selected purposively to take part in the study. The study revealed that though some residents are also contributing to the poor solid waste disposal situation in the area, the Assembly was identified to be responsible for the solid waste disposal situation. It was also revealed in this study that, inadequate solid waste disposal facilities and distance from collection points of some houses cause households solid waste to accumulate in gutters, drains, rear of houses and illegal dumps in the Sawaba community. It has been recommended that there should be procurement and supply of more refuse containers at well designated sanitary sites, provision of standard households’ waste bins at affordable cost for households’ solid waste generated and collected by the service providers on regular basis. It is further recommended that the Assembly should make effective use of the Polluter Pay Principle (PPP), to deter residents from indiscriminately disposing their solid waste at the banks of water channels, gutters, drains and rear of houses. Keywords: Solid waste, determinants, residents.

Socio-Economic and Health Experiences of the Aged in Rural Ghana: The Case of Charia in the Wa Municipal Area

The 21st century has witnessed a tremendous increase of the elderly population in developing countries. However, old age is polarized with numerous challenges that cannot be investigated in a single study. The principal objective of this was to investigate the socio-economic and health experiences of the aged in rural Ghana, using Charia as a case study. Data were from a total of old men and women from Charia as well as some key informant interviews. The tools that were used for data collection include structured interview schedules, questionnaires, face-to-face interviews checklists and Focus Group Discussions guides. Quantitative data was analyzed using Statistical Product for Service Solution (SPSS) and Microsoft Excel and have been presented in the form of charts and tables. The chi-square test of independence was used to test hypotheses that were made in the study at 5% level of significance.  Direct quotations from transcribed data have been used in analyzing qualitative data. Findings from this study revealed that old women were more vulnerable to the challenges of old age than old men. Subsequently, opinions of the aged were not respected and their financial conditions were found to be appalling. Furthermore, most of the elderly people in Charia seldom visit the hospital when they are sick, and finally but most importantly, there was no any form of support scheme for the aged in Charia. It is recommended that serious attention is given to the implementation of the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme to support the finances of the aged. Also, families are encouraged to support the aged to visit health care centres and finally, the youth are encourage to make Proper care and respect for the aged a culture so as to be respected and be supported at old age. Keywords: Socio-economic, Health experiences, aged, Charia and Ghan

Disparities in abortion experience and access to safe abortion services in Ghana: evidence from a retrospective survey

In Ghana, abortion mortality constitutes 11% of maternal mortality. Empirical studies on possible disparities in abortion experience and access to safe abortion services are however lacking. Based on a retrospective survey of 1,370 women aged 15-49 years in two districts in Ghana, this paper examines disparities in women’s experiences of abortion and access to safe abortion care. Disparities in rates of abortion experience and access to safe abortion care were assessed using absolute (the difference in rates between groups), relative (the ratio of rates between selected and reference groups), and mean measures. Results suggest that 24% of women had at least one abortion in the five years preceding the survey. However, large gradients of socio-spatial disparities in abortion experience exist. The majority of abortions were also potentially unsafe: 53% of abortions occurred outside of any healthcare facility. Women themselves and medical doctors, respectively, performed 57% and 4% of all abortions. The majority of women also felt they could not get safe abortion even if they wanted one. Together, these results highlight the need for concerted multi-sectorial strategies, including legislative reform and provision of family planning services, to help transition from unsafe to safe abortions. (Afr J Reprod Health 2016; 20[2]: 43-52).Keywords: Disparities, Unsafe abortion, Contraceptive use, Family planning, Abortion law, Ghan