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Objectives: Whereas extant literature abounds with works on breastfeeding and its implications for child health and survival, there is very limited research on the challenges faced by disabled women in breastfeeding their infants and children. This study explored the challenges facing disabled women in the Kumasi Metropolis in exclusively breastfeeding their infants using qualitatibve research design. Methods: Using a sample of 55 from the communities and key informants the snowballing and purtposive sampling techniques were used. The thematic approach was used in the analysis which was done manually. Results: Most disabled women have Caesarean deliveries which could challenge exclusively breastfeed their infants. It was observed that disabled mothers generally have a low level of education, mostly unmarried and not gainfully employed. Secondly, most disabled mothers go through a Caesarean section during birth which makes it pretty difficult for them to exclusively breastfeed their infants. Apart from disabilities such as physical impairment, deafness and blindness which could challenge women exclusively breatfeed their children, additionally some health professionals discourage them from doing so. Some women and relatives of the disabled discourage them from exclusively breastfeeding their infants either through lack of awareness of the efficacy of the practice or the stress their involvement in exclusive breastfeeding brings upon the women themselves. Conclusions: Various forms of disability, and dsiscouragement from some health professionals and family members may constrain disabled women from exclusively breatfeeding their infants. Recommendations include, implementing the Disability Act, creating special wards for disabled women in the health institutions and orienting the medical staff on their professional responsibilities in taking care of the disabled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated gender differences in the use of traditional and complementary medicine (TCM) in Ghana. Using an interviewer-administered questionnaire, we collected data from March to June 2013 from 324 randomly sampled adults in the Ashanti region. The prevalence of TCM use in the prior 12 months was 86 percent. Females constituted the majority (61 percent) of TCM users. Female TCM users were more likely than male users to have had only a basic education, been traders (p ˂ .0001), and have health insurance (p ˂ .05). Using multiple logistic regression, TCM use was associated with urban residence for females (odds ratio [OR] = 7.82; 95 percent confidence interval [CI]: 1.28-47.83) but negatively related for males (OR = 0.032; 95 percent CI: 0.002-0.63). Being self-employed was associated with TCM use among males (OR = 7.62; 95 percent CI: 1.22-47.60), while females’ TCM use was associated with higher income (OR = 3.72; 95 percent CI: 1.21-11.48) and perceived efficacy of TCM (OR = 5.60; 95 percent CI: 1.78-17.64). The African sociocultural structure vests household decision-making power in men but apparently not regarding TCM use, and the factors associated with TCM use largely differed by gender. These findings provide ingredients for effective health policy planning and evaluation. Adoption and modernization of TCM should apply a gendered lens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The need for the poor, the marginalised and socially excluded to live healthier and longer lives has in recent times become paramount in the development literature and policy discussions seeking to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). In response to this, attempts are being made to redirect the research focus to examine socio-economic factors underpinning disease occurrence and ill health for health planning policies and practices to benefit the poor and vulnerable in society. Tliis paper explores the relationship between socio-economic conditions and health outcomes. It identifies and examines through participatory rural assessment techniques, basic socio- economic factors acting as significant pathways through which poverty increases the susceptibility of rural households to diseases. It seeks to address the reasons why the poor are poorer in health in rural communities of the Amansie West district of Ghana. This paper thus emphasises how social stratification and inequalities could affect quality of life of people in any given society, hence supporting the theory of social suffering and its implications on societal health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The need for the poor, the marginalised and socially excluded to live healthier and longer lives has in recent times become paramount in the development literature and policy discussions seeking to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). In response to this, attempts are being made to redirect the research focus to examine socio-economic factors underpinning disease occurrence and ill health for health planning policies and practices to benefit the poor and vulnerable in society. Tliis paper explores the relationship between socio-economic conditions and health outcomes. It identifies and examines through participatory rural assessment techniques, basic socio- economic factors acting as significant pathways through which poverty increases the susceptibility of rural households to diseases. It seeks to address the reasons why the poor are poorer in health in rural communities of the Amansie West district of Ghana. This paper thus emphasises how social stratification and inequalities could affect quality of life of people in any given society, hence supporting the theory of social suffering and its implications on societal health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To establish what population characteristics affect the high maternal mortality rate in the sub-Saharan Africa region and to propose possible solutions to reduce this rate. Methods: This study is a secondary analysis of existing data sources from the World Bank, the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as direct and indirect sources from UNAIDS, the United Nations, Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), Macro International, and national statistical offices. Instead of looking at continent-wide or individual nation models, it develops a regional model. Sociodemographic population variables are used as independent variables to predict the dependent variable, maternal mortality. Additionally, a new country-specific political stability independent variable is introduced into the model. Data from 28 sub-Saharan African countries are used. Bivariate correlations are used to establish associations among the variables, whereas cross-tabulations, using Kendall's tau-c values, and regression lines are used to establish impacts. Results: In the sub-Saharan Africa region, births attended by skilled health personnel and life expectancy at birth strongly correlate with maternal mortality. Gross national product (GNP) per capita and health expenditure per capita also have strong association with maternal mortality. Conclusions: The availability of skilled delivery personnel, life expectancy, national economic wealth, and health expenditure per capita predict the maternal mortality rate of a country. Based on these findings, it is recommended that structural arrangements be made to train skilled health personnel to take care of maternal health problems. In view of the high cost of training physicians, middle-level health personnel may offer an affordable alternative to handle emergency obstetrical cases to address the shortage of physicians. In addition, the allocation of adequate resources to the health sector could improve maternal mortality. The economic wealth of a country and life expectancy at birth are less modifiable through short-term specific interventions. Additionally, it is recommended that country-specific interventions are needed to correct the problem of lack of critical data for analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the impact of water fetching by women and the quality of water during periods of water scarcity on the health of women in the Kumasi metropolitan area. A sample of 210 women drawn using systematic random procedure is used for the study. Formal interview is the main instrument used. The survey has established that income, quality of water, hours spent fetching water during scarcity and age are the main factors influencing women's health in the metropolis during water scarcity. In both the core and periphery, the water-related problem influencing health is hours spent fetching water during scarcity. An empirical model on water needs and women's health has emerged from the survey. Recommendations have been made on strategies to ensure regular volume of surface water, effective management of scarce water resources with the participation of women, and ensuring gender equity in domestic services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the impact of water fetching by women and the quality of water during periods of water scarcity on the health of women in the Kumasi metropolitan area. A sample of 210 women drawn using systematic random procedure is used for the study. Formal interview is the main instrument used. The survey has established that income, quality of water, hours spent fetching water during scarcity and age are the main factors influencing women''s health in the metropolis during water scarcity. In both the core and periphery, the water-related problem influencing health is hours spent fetching water during scarcity. An empirical model on water needs and women''s health has emerged from the survey. Recommendations have been made on strategies to ensure regular volume of surface water, effective management of scarce water resources with the participation of women, and ensuring gender equity in domestic services. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objectives This study examines the relationships between National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) enrollment and the frequency and "timing" of health services utilization among community-dwelling older Ghanaians. It also investigates whether the NHIS policy has improved equity in access to health care in later life. Methods Cross-sectional data were derived from an Ageing, Health, Psychological Wellbeing and Health-seeking Behavior Study collected between August 2016 and January 2017 (N = 1,200). Descriptive and bivariate analyses described the sample. Generalized Poisson and logit regression models, respectively estimated the predictors of frequency of health services utilization and time from onset of illness to health facility use and during last illness episode. Results Older persons with active NHIS membership frequently used health facilities (β = 0.237, standard error [ SE ] = 0.0957, p ˂.005), but the association was largely a function of health-related factors. The NHIS enrollees were more likely to attend health facility earlier (β = 1.347, SE = 0.3437, p ˂.001) compared with nonenrollees, after adjusting for theoretically relevant covariates. Moreover, given the NHIS enrollment, the rich (eβ = 2.149, SE = 0.240, p ˂.005), social support recipients (eβ = 1.366, SE = 0.162, p ˂.05) and those living with relevant others (eβ = 2.699, SE = 0.175, p ˂.001) were more likely to consume health services. Discussion Ghana's NHIS policy generally increases health services utilization but at present lacks the capability to improve equitable access to health care, especially between poor and nonpoor older adults. This may hamper the progress toward universal health coverage (UHC), indicating the need for further refinements in the policy including ways to improve the health status of older persons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]