Water Consumption and its Determinants Among Women in Ghana: 2008 Demographic and Health Survey

Water is one of the most critical nutrients for humans in ensuring good health and well-being. Interestingly, majority of the vulnerable subpopulations of women in Ghana do not meet the daily recommended water intake set by the Ghana’s Ministry of Health yet the socio-economic/ demographic factors and dietary patterns influencing water intake are lacking. This study investigated the socio-economic/ demographic factors and dietary patterns influencing water intake. A total of 1,548 women with water and food intake data from the 2008 Ghana Demographic Health Survey (GDHS), which is a representative nationwide cross-sectional study, was used. 83% of the women did not meet the recommended daily water intake. Of four dietary patterns (‘Beverage & sugary based’, ‘Meat based’, ‘Indigenous- tuber based’ and ‘Indigenous- grain based’) emerging, meat based dietary pattern, seasonality, body mass index (BMI), and alcohol consumption emerged as key determinants of water intake. In summary, seasonality, dietary patterns and some key socio-economic/ demographic factors were identified as determinants of water intake. The identified determinants can serve as a basis for nutrition intervention and policies for women in Ghana

Incidence and Indications for Orthopaedic Implant Removal: A Retrospective Analysis

Background: Even though the need for routine removal of orthopaedic implants is an issue of controversy, it’s one of the commonest operations in bone and joint surgery. The purpose of this study was to examine the incidence and indications for orthopaedic implant removal at a hospital in Ghana. Methods: This retrospective study examined the health record files of all patients that had their orthopaedic implants removed at the Tania specialist hospital from January, 2011 to December, 2013. Using a standardised form information such as demographic characteristics, type of bone with implant, indication for implant removal, duration of implant before removal and type of implant removed were retrieved from the health record files of the patients.Results: Out of the 263 patients that had prior open reduction and internal fixation operation ( ORIF) and reported, requesting implant removal during the three year period under review, 36 patients (13.7%) had a second operative procedure for implant removal. The incidence of implant removal occurred twice in males compared to females. In both males (28.6%, n=7) and females (45.5%, n=5), most of the implants were removed from the femur bone (33.3%, n=12) followed by the tibia bone (27.8%, n=10). Those aged 31-40 years (36.1%, n=13) had the highest incidence of implant removal followed by those aged 21-30 years (25.0%, n=9). Generally, in both males (56.0%, n=14) and females (54.5%, n=6) patients’ request (55.6%, n=20) was the commonest indication for implant removal. In all patients aged < 10 years, surgeon’s request was the only indication for implant removal. Conclusion: The incidence of orthopaedic implant removal was found to be 13.9%. The commonest indication for implant removal in adults was patient request. Surgeon’s request was the commonest indication for orthopaedic implant removals in children

The home and school environments, physical activity levels, and adiposity indices of school-age children

The home and school environments as well as physical activity may be linked to the development of childhood obesity. We evaluated the home and school environments (HSEs), physical activity levels (PAL), television viewing (TVV) and their associations with adiposity indices of school-age children. This cross-sectional study included children aged 6-12 years and their parents from Tamale, Ghana. HSEs and TVV were assessed using questionnaires. The physical activity questionnaire for children (PAQ-C) was used to assess children’s PALs. Weight, height and waist circumferences were measured using standard tools. About 45% of children lived within a walking distance to parks or outdoor recreation centres. Majority of the parents considered their neighbourhoods to be safe for children to engage in physical activity. Only 27% of the schools had a food and nutrition policy, and more than 70% had a field for outdoor activities. Children watched TV for an average of 1.7 hours/day. Mean physical activity scores was 2.51. The school-age children had mean (SD) BMI-for-age z-scores was -0.23(1.47). Time spent watching TV or playing video games was associated with children’s BMI-for-age z-scores (β=0.48, p=0.043), BMI (β=2.28 p=0.005), and % body fat (β=3.80, p=0.005). Child’s level of activity was negatively associated with waist circumference (β =-0.65, p<0.001). Lack of nutrition policy in schools was common. TVV hours predisposed children to excess weight whiles physical activity decreased the likelihood of being obese.

A realist synthesis of educational interventions to improve nutrition care competencies and delivery by doctors and other healthcare professionals

Objective: To determine what, how, for whom, why, and in what circumstances educational interventions improve the delivery of nutrition care by doctors and other healthcare professionals work. Design: Realist synthesis following a published protocol and reported following Realist and Meta-narrative Evidence Synthesis: Evolving Standards (RAMESES) guidelines. A multidisciplinary team searched MEDLINE, CINAHL, ERIC, EMBASE, PsyINFO, Sociological Abstracts, Web of Science, Google Scholar and Science Direct for published and unpublished (grey) literature. The team identified studies with varied designs; appraised their ability to answer the review question; identified relationships between contexts, mechanisms and outcomes (CMOs); and entered them into a spreadsheet configured for the purpose. The final synthesis identified commonalities across CMO configurations. Results: Over half of the 46 studies from which we extracted data originated from the USA. Interventions that improved the delivery of nutrition care improved skills and attitudes rather than just knowledge; provided opportunities for superiors to model nutrition care; removed barriers to nutrition care in health systems; provided participants with local, practically relevant tools and messages; and incorporated non-traditional, innovative teaching strategies. Operating in contexts where student and qualified healthcare professionals provided nutrition care in developed and developing countries, these interventions yielded health outcomes by triggering a range of mechanisms, which included feeling competent, feeling confident and comfortable, having greater self-efficacy, being less inhibited by barriers in healthcare systems and feeling that nutrition care was accepted and recognised. Conclusions: These findings show how important it is to move education for nutrition care beyond the simple acquisition of knowledge. They show how educational interventions embedded within systems of healthcare can improve patients’ health by helping health students and professionals to appreciate the importance of delivering nutrition care and feel competent to deliver it

Reproductive-Age Women’s Knowledge and Care Seeking for Malaria Prevention and Control in Ghana:Analysis of the 2016 Malaria Indicator Survey

Introduction. Malaria is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, requiring individual and environmental level controls to prevent its adverse morbidity effects. This study examined reproductive-aged women’s knowledge and care-seeking practices for malaria prevention and control in Ghana. Methods. The 2016 Ghana Malaria Indicator Survey data for reproductive-age women was analysed (n=5,150). Multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression model was used to determine factors associated with reproductive-aged women’s knowledge and care-seeking practices for malaria. Results. 62.3%, 81.3%, and 64.6% knowledge levels on causes, signs/symptoms, and prevention of malaria were found, respectively, among respondents. Age, wealth and educational status, religion, region, and place of residence (rural) were found to significantly influence respondents’ knowledge of causes, signs/symptoms, and care-seeking practices for malaria. A 15% differential among Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) awareness and use was found. Increasing age (≥35 years) was associated with increasing knowledge of malaria. Regional variations were observed to significantly influence knowledge of malaria treatment. Conclusion. Though ownership of ITNs and knowledge of malaria prevention were high, it did not necessarily translate into use of ITNs. Thus, there is a need to intensify education on the importance and the role of ITNs use in the prevention of malaria

Reproductive-Age Women's Knowledge and Care Seeking for Malaria Prevention and Control in Ghana: Analysis of the 2016 Malaria Indicator Survey.

INTRODUCTION: Malaria is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, requiring individual and environmental level controls to prevent its adverse morbidity effects. This study examined reproductive-aged women's knowledge and care-seeking practices for malaria prevention and control in Ghana. METHODS: The 2016 Ghana Malaria Indicator Survey data for reproductive-age women was analysed (n=5,150). Multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression model was used to determine factors associated with reproductive-aged women's knowledge and care-seeking practices for malaria. RESULTS: 62.3%, 81.3%, and 64.6% knowledge levels on causes, signs/symptoms, and prevention of malaria were found, respectively, among respondents. Age, wealth and educational status, religion, region, and place of residence (rural) were found to significantly influence respondents' knowledge of causes, signs/symptoms, and care-seeking practices for malaria. A 15% differential among Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) awareness and use was found. Increasing age (≥35 years) was associated with increasing knowledge of malaria. Regional variations were observed to significantly influence knowledge of malaria treatment. CONCLUSION: Though ownership of ITNs and knowledge of malaria prevention were high, it did not necessarily translate into use of ITNs. Thus, there is a need to intensify education on the importance and the role of ITNs use in the prevention of malaria

Incidence and Indications for Orthopaedic Implant Removal: A Retrospective Analysis

Background: Even though the need for routine removal of orthopaedic implants is an issue of controversy, it’s one of the commonest operations in bone and joint surgery. The purpose of this study was to examine the incidence and indications for orthopaedic implant removal at a hospital in Ghana. Methods: This retrospective study examined the health record files of all patients that had their orthopaedic implants removed at the Tania specialist hospital from January, 2011 to December, 2013. Using a standardised form information such as demographic characteristics, type of bone with implant, indication for implant removal, duration of implant before removal and type of implant removed were retrieved from the health record files of the patients.Results: Out of the 263 patients that had prior open reduction and internal fixation operation ( ORIF) and reported, requesting implant removal during the three year period under review, 36 patients (13.7%) had a second operative procedure for implant removal. The incidence of implant removal occurred twice in males compared to females. In both males (28.6%, n=7) and females (45.5%, n=5), most of the implants were removed from the femur bone (33.3%, n=12) followed by the tibia bone (27.8%, n=10). Those aged 31-40 years (36.1%, n=13) had the highest incidence of implant removal followed by those aged 21-30 years (25.0%, n=9). Generally, in both males (56.0%, n=14) and females (54.5%, n=6) patients’ request (55.6%, n=20) was the commonest indication for implant removal. In all patients aged < 10 years, surgeon’s request was the only indication for implant removal. Conclusion: The incidence of orthopaedic implant removal was found to be 13.9%. The commonest indication for implant removal in adults was patient request. Surgeon’s request was the commonest indication for orthopaedic implant removals in children

Lifestyle Risk Factors of General and Abdominal Obesity in Students of the School of Medicine and Health Science of the University of Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana

Este artigo tem como objetivo discutir as possibilidades de ensino e construção de conhecimentos históricos na comunidade indígena guarani-mbya, da aldeia de Sapucaí, em um contexto de educação escolar intercultural. Refletindo acerca da utilização de documentação imagética - fotografias, gravuras e iconografias produzidas por não-índios como fontes históricas na reconstrução e no registro de uma memória indígena