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Recent Submissions
Determinants of Early Booking Among Pregnant Women at Kade Government Hospital Kwaebibirem Municipality, Eastern Region, Ghana
(Ensign Global University, 2026-06-01) Plassi, Cheritta
Introduction
Early initiation of antenatal care (ANC) is essential for improving maternal and neonatal health
outcomes through the timely detection and management of pregnancy-related complications. Despite its importance, many pregnant women delay their first ANC visit. This study assessed the challenges associated with early ANC booking among pregnant women attending Kade Government Hospital.
Methods
A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 270 pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic at Kade Government Hospital. Participants were selected using stratified random sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, and binary logistic regression at a 95% confidence level, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05.
Results
The study found that 46.3% (95% CI: 40.3%–52.3%) of respondents-initiated ANC within the
recommended period, while 53.7% booked late. Although the majority of respondents (92.5%) had received ANC education, their overall knowledge regarding early ANC booking was moderate. Factors significantly associated with early ANC initiation included maternal age, employment status, marital status, parity, previous pregnancy experience, waiting time before receiving care, and the duration of ANC consultations. Women aged 35 years and above, single women, those with two to three children, and first-time pregnant women were significantly less likely to initiate ANC early. Conversely, employed women, those who were attended to promptly, and those who spent adequate time with healthcare providers during ANC visits were significantly more likely to book early.
Conclusion:
Early ANC booking among pregnant women attending Kade Government Hospital remains below the recommended level. Both socio-demographic characteristics and health system factors significantly influence the timely initiation of ANC. Strengthening maternal health education, improving the quality and efficiency of ANC service delivery, and implementing targeted interventions for vulnerable groups are recommended to promote early ANC uptake and improve maternal and neonatal health outcomes.
Burnout Rate Among Health Workers: A Case Study at Lekma Hospital in the Ledzokuku Municipal, Greater Accra Region, Ghana
(Ensign Global University, 2026-06-01) Frimpong, Candice
Background:
Healthcare systems globally depend on the dedication and resilience of their workforce to
navigate challenges, particularly in high-stress environments like hospitals. A country without a proper healthcare system and personnel always suffers. Healthcare workers operate in highstress environments, often juggling long hours, heavy workloads, and emotionally demanding tasks. In such conditions, staff burnout has become a universal issue, raising significant concerns about the well-being of healthcare workers and the overall efficiency of healthcare delivery. Burnout among healthcare workers has increasingly been recognized as a major global public health problem, which may have an impact on workforce stability, qualityof care, and patient safety.
Aim of the Study:
The study aims to determine the prevalence, correlates, consequences, and preventive strategies of burnout among health care providers at the LEKMA Hospital in Ghana.
Methodology: A quantitative cross-sectional study design was employed to recruit 250
healthcare workers from various departments of LEKMA Hospital. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire incorporating the Maslach Burnout Inventory–Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS). Descriptive statistics were used to summarize socio-demographic characteristics and burnout levels. Inferential analysis, including Chi-square tests and Fisher’s Exact test, was conducted to assess associations between burnout and explanatory variables. Variables that were statistically significant at the bivariate level were entered into a multivariable logistic regression model to identify independent predictors of burnout.
Results:
The findings revealed that 58.0%, 7.2%, and 34.8% of participants had high emotional exhaustion, high depersonalization, and low personal accomplishment, respectively. The overall prevalence of burnout was 15.2%. Multivariable analysis showed that poor management support was a significant predictor of burnout (AOR = 2.68, 95% CI: 1.32–5.41, p = 0.006). Burnout was also significantly associated with lack of work–life balance (p = 0.004), frequent night shifts or unpredictable schedules (p= 0.011), long working hours (p = 0.028), and lack of resources (p = 0.009). Additionally, burnout was significantly associated with reduced motivation (p < 0.001), decreased concentration (p < 0.001), difficulty maintaining work–life balance (p < 0.001), lower job satisfaction (p < 0.001), and negative effects on patient interactions (p < 0.001). All identified mitigation strategies, including recognition and reward systems, staff support meetings, stress management training, peer support, flexible scheduling, wellness initiatives, and employee assistance programs, were found to be significantly associated with burnout outcomes (p < 0.05).
Conclusion:
The study concludes that burnout among healthcare workers at LEKMA Hospital is characterized primarily by high levels of emotional exhaustion and is driven largely by organizational and workplace factors rather than individual characteristics. Key determinants include poor management support, work–life imbalance, demanding work schedules, long working hours, and inadequate resources. Burnout significantly affects both healthcare delivery and worker well-being, with implications for productivity, patient care, and staff retention. Strengthening organizational support systems, improving work structures, and enhancing the implementation of mitigation strategies are essential to reducing burnout and promoting a healthier and more effective healthcare workforce.
Determinants Of Non-Adherence to Antihypertensive Medications Among Hypertensive Patients at the Kade Government Hospital in the Eastern Region of Ghana; A Facility-Based Study
(Ensign Global University, 2026-06-01) Adusu, Brenda
Background: Non-adherence to antihypertensive medications is a leading driver of uncontrolled
hypertension and its associated cardiovascular complications, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.
In Ghana, facility-level data on non-adherence and its determinants remain scarce, especially from district hospitals in the Eastern Region. This study was conducted to address this evidence gap at Kade Government Hospital in the Kwaebibirem Municipality.
Objectives: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of non-adherence to antihypertensive
medications and to identify the sociodemographic and patient-related determinants of nonadherence among hypertensive patients attending Kade Government Hospital in the Eastern
Region of Ghana.
Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 220 hypertensive patients
attending the hypertension and diabetes clinic at Kade Government Hospital over a five-week
period. Participants were selected using systematic random sampling. Data were collected through structured interviewer-administered questionnaires via Kobo Collect and analyzed using STATA version 18. Non-adherence to antihypertensive medication was measured using the validated 8- item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8), with scores below 7 classified as nonadherent. Descriptive statistics and both univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify determinants of non-adherence.
Results: The prevalence of non-adherence to antihypertensive medications was 93.6%, with only
6.4% (95% CI: 3.1%–9.6%) of respondents classified as adherent. The majority of respondents
were male (81.8%) and aged 46–65 years (69.1%). In the crude logistic regression analysis, respondents with tertiary education had significantly higher odds of non-adherence compared with those with JHS/Middle School education (cOR = 15.14; 95% CI: 1.56–147.21; p = 0.019).
Additionally, farmers (cOR = 0.12; 95% CI: 0.02–0.62; p = 0.012), artisans (cOR = 0.11; 95% CI: 0.02–0.53; p = 0.006), and business owners/traders (cOR = 0.12; 95% CI: 0.02–0.64; p = 0.013) had significantly lower odds of non-adherence compared with retired respondents. However, none of these associations remained statistically significant in the multivariable adjusted analysis.
Conclusion: Non-adherence to antihypertensive medications is extremely prevalent at Kade
Government Hospital, affecting nearly all (93.6%) patients in the study. Although no independent determinants were confirmed in the multivariable adjusted analysis, crude findings suggest that tertiary educational level was associated with higher odds of non-adherence, while informal occupational groups showed lower odds relative to retired respondents. Urgent, multifaceted interventions targeting health literacy, occupational barriers, community engagement, and improved medication access are needed to reduce the burden of non-adherence and improve hypertension control outcomes in the Kwaebibirem Municipality.
Oral Health Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic at South Tongu Municipal Hospital in The Volta Region of Ghana
(Ensign Global University, 2026-06-01) Uche, Blessing
Background: Maternal oral health is an important component of overall maternal and child health, yet it remains poorly integrated into routine antenatal care in many low- and middle-income countries. Physiological and hormonal changes during pregnancy increase the risk of oral conditions such as gingivitis and periodontal disease, which have been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes including preterm birth and low birth weight. Despite these risks, knowledge, attitudes, and preventive oral health practices among pregnant women remain inadequate in many settings.
Aim: This study aimed to assess the oral health knowledge, attitudes, and practices among
pregnant women attending antenatal clinic at South Tongu Municipal Hospital in the Volta Regionof Ghana.
Method: Method: A facility-based quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted among
pregnant women attending antenatal care at South Tongu Municipal Hospital. A consecutive
sampling technique was used to recruit eligible pregnant women during the data collection period. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire administered through KoboCollect. A total of 406 pregnant women were targeted, and 334 respondents provided complete data for analysis, representing a response rate of approximately 82%. Data were analyzed using STATA. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize variables, while Chi-square tests and logistic regression analysis were used to examine associations between selected variables. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.
Results: The findings revealed generally low levels of oral health knowledge among respondents, with 57.78% demonstrating poor knowledge of oral health during pregnancy. However, 58.38% of respondents exhibited positive attitudes toward oral healthcare during pregnancy. Oral health practices were generally good, with 87.43% reporting good oral hygiene practices such as brushing twice daily and using fluoride toothpaste. Despite these positive practices, utilization of professional dental services during pregnancy was very low, with only 7.51% reporting visiting a dentist during pregnancy. Statistical analysis showed no significant association between oral health knowledge and oral health practices (χ² = 3.666, p = 0.056) and no significant association between attitudes and oral health practices (χ² = 1.36, p > 0.05).
Conclusion: Although most pregnant women demonstrated good oral hygiene practices and
relatively positive attitudes toward oral health, knowledge regarding oral health during pregnancy was generally inadequate, and utilization of professional dental services was extremely low. These findings highlight the need to strengthen oral health education and integrate dental screening and referral into routine antenatal care services to improve maternal oral health awareness and preventive care.
Knowledge, Attitudes and Barriers Towards Cervical Cancer Screening Among Women of Reproductive Age in Lower Manya Krobo Municipality, Eastern Region
(Ensign Global University, 2026-06-01) Narteh, Belinda
Background: Cervical cancer is a serious public health concern globally, with a
disproportionately high burden in low- and middle-income countries, including Ghana. Despite the availability of effective screening methods, uptake remains low, particularly in peri-urban and rural settings. Limited knowledge, negative attitudes, and multiple sociocultural and health system barriers continue to hinder participation in screening programs. Understanding these factors at the Municipality level is essential for designing context-specific interventions.
Aim: This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and barriers towards cervical cancer screening among women of reproductive age in the Lower Manya Krobo Municipality, Eastern Region of Ghana.
Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional study design was employed among 314 women aged 15–49 years. Data were collected using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize variables, while chi-square tests and logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine associations between independent variables and cervical cancer screening uptake. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.
Results: Overall, 55.41% of respondents had good knowledge of cervical cancer and
screening, while 44.59% had poor knowledge. Although 65.61% had heard of cervical
cancer screening, awareness of specific screening methods was low, with 61.78% unable to identify any method. Attitudes towards screening were generally positive, with the majority agreeing that screening is necessary and expressing willingness to participate if services were free. However, screening uptake was low, with only 23.25% of respondents having ever undergone screening. The most commonly reported barriers were lack of knowledge about where screening services are provided (30.57%), not being informed about screening (28.66%), perceived lack of need due to absence of symptoms (27.71%), and fear of screening results (27.39%). Knowledge level was significantly associated with screening uptake (p < 0.001), while socio-demographic factors and attitudes were not statistically significant.
Conclusion: Despite moderate levels of awareness and generally positive attitudes,
cervical cancer screening uptake remains low among women in the Lower Manya Krobo
Municipality. Knowledge gaps and informational barriers play a critical role in limiting screening participation. There is a need for targeted health education, improved dissemination of information on screening services, and community-based interventions to enhance screening uptake.