Ensign Digital Repository
Ensign Digital Repository is a digital service that collects, preserves, and distributes digital materials of the University. Repositories are important tools for preserving an organization's legacy; they facilitate digital preservation and scholarly communication.The Ensign Digital Repository platform enables the University to:
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Recent Submissions
Self-Medication with Analgesics and Antibiotics- A Survey Among Traders in the Central Business District of Accra, Ghana
(Ensign Global University, 2017-07-01) Ofori, Sylvia Kesewa
Introduction:
Self-medication practices continue to be a growing global problem. The prevalence and nature of self-medication vary in different countries and cultures. A number of factors come into play to result in the decision to self-medicate. Some factors that have been associated with the frequency of self-medication in previous studies include age, educational level and legislation regulating the dispensing and sale of drugs. Inappropriate self-medication results in wastage of healthcare resources, increases resistance of pathogens, drug-drug interactions, and adverse drug reactions, leading to hospital admissions.
Methodology:
This study used a cross-sectional method to estimate the extent of self-medication and factors associated with it among traders in the Central Business District (CBD) of Accra. A printed structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Data was collected between November 2016 and January 2017. Non-probability sampling, specifically convenience sampling, was used in the study. Questionnaires were administered by trained research assistants and traders were invited to participate by moving from shop to shop along the market area. Data was entered with Microsoft Excel 2013 and analysis was done using Stata version 14.0. Descriptive statistical analysis was carried out to obtain summary tables and graphs. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was carried out to determine adjusted odds ratios.
Results:
Four hundred and seventeen (417) traders (60.0% females) with a mean age of 36 (+10.6) years participated in the study. Prevalence of analgesic self-medication was 76.1%, with paracetamol being reported as the most common analgesic. Headache was reported to be the most common indication for analgesic use. Prevalence of antibiotic self-medication was 66.7%. Antibiotics were used mainly for upper respiratory tract infections. The most commonly used class of antibiotics was the penicillins. Highly educated people (O.R=0.39 (95% C.I; 0.16-0.98) were less likely to use antibiotics for self-medication. Community pharmacists (55.2%) were the main expected source of information on analgesics and antibiotics.
Conclusion:
The prevalence of self-medication with analgesics and antibiotics were high among the traders. There is the need to provide public education to traders on the harmful effects of self- medication; particularly with antibiotics. Community pharmacists operating in the CBD should be empowered to provide one-on-one education for traders who call to procure analgesics and antibiotics. vi
Assessing the Source of Stress Levels and Burnout Among Pastors at Global Evangelical Church Ghana
(Ensign Global University, 2017-07-01) Atsagli, Ruth Eyra
Introduction:
Pastoral work is professionalized in most developed countries. In sub-Saharan Africa however it remains largely vocational, often informal and ill-defined in terms of scope and working hours. While this approach appeals to African congregations, it could become a source of stress and burn-out for pastors who literally have to be available to congregants 24 hours in the day. This study sought to describe the experience of pastor in this regards and how it affects work satisfaction.
Methods:
Using a self-administered questionnaire, a cross-sectional survey was conducted among pastors of the Global Evangelical Church attending the Pastor's annual conference in Ho from 4-8th January 2017. Data was obtained on socio-demographic background, work activities and work schedule. Pastors also completed the Burnout and Stress Assessment tests.
Results:
One hundred and fifty out of the 265 Pastors completed the questionnaire. They were made up of 123(82%) males and 27(18%) females. The mean age was 46.90 years (standard deviation of 7.57years). All were married. Majority 147(98%) of the pastors had congregations of up to five hundred members. Three (2%) however had congregations of more than five hundred. The majority (83%) were district pastors; 25(17%) of them were parish pastors and one (1) respondent was a regional administrator. About 46.7% of pastors had high stress levels (about 21.3%) and 10.7% had symptoms suggestive of burnout. The main sources of stress mentioned were care for neglected children, family pressure, organization of crusades and all-night prayer sessions, anxieties about transfers and pressure on personal finances due to societal demands. Despite an enumeration of these sources of stress, all pastors indicated they derived satisfaction from the work they did.
Conclusions:
The ill-defined nature of the work of the pastor needs to be re-assessed and congregants educated to be accommodating of the need for pastors to have rest and recuperation periods. Churches should consider mandatory rest periods for pastors. Pastors' declaration of work satisfaction contrast sharply with their enumeration of several sources of stress.
Cervical Cancer Knowledge and Screening Behaviors Among Female Health Professionals in Some Selected Health Facilities in the La Nkwantanang Madina Municipality in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana.
(Ensign Global University, 2017-07-01) Ziwu, Rejoice
ABSTRACT
Within the first quarter of 2017, a study was conducted to assess cervical cancer knowledge and screening behaviors amongst female health professionals in some selected health facilities in the La Nkwantanang Madina municipality in the Greater Accra region of Ghana, through a cross-sectional study design which had both a quantitative and qualitative study components.
It revealed that 35% of the female health professionals agreed that starting sexual intercourse at a tender age increases a woman's likelihood of contracting cervical cancer. 87.57% of the respondents have never attended any seminar or training workshop on screening and treatment of cervical cancer and 37% of the respondents' source of information on cervical cancer is training school. Approximately, 87% of female health professionals who enrolled in the study know the availability of the Pap smear screening. 52% of the respondents are of the opinion that Human Papilloma Virus vaccination is not gaining popularity in Ghana. Majority (83.53%) of the respondents have never screened for cervical cancer whiles 16% have of which 41% last time of screening is 3 to 4 years. According to some key persons, female health staff do not go for screening because of the fear of the unknown or positive result even though some health facilities have mechanism in place in relation to staff welfare regarding cervical cancer whiles other health facilities do not have. Female health staff should be updated on the knowledge and practice in relation to cervical cancer and also go for regular Pap smear at least once every 3 years. Municipal and facility heads should organize training workshops, seminars, and annual compulsory medical screening in relation to cervical cancer for all staff which should be a prerequisite for their promotion.
Assessing the Awareness of Cervical Cancer Among Female Students in Selected Senior High School In Lower Manya Krobo Municipality of Ghana
(Ensign Global University, 2017-04-01) Agyemang, Daniel Opoku
ABSTRACT
This study assessed the awareness of cervical cancer among female students in selected senior high schools in the Lower Manya Krobo Municipality. The study sought to find out if the students perceive themselves of being at risk, if they know the risk factors of the disease and available vaccines and screening services.
It was a cross-sectional study where 389 participants were selected from the four (4) Senior High Schools in a stratified sampling approach using a school as a sampling unit. Open and close-ended questionnaire was administered to participants and data obtained was analyzed using descriptive statistics, simple logistic regression and multinomial logistic regression.
The study revealed that although the respondents had heard about cervical cancer, most of them lacked knowledge on the risk factors of the disease. Respondents did not identify HPV as a risk factor. The study also revealed significant association between cervical cancer knowledge and respondents' school (p-value: 0.00), Form (p-value: 0.002) and residential status (p-value: 0.013). A smaller percentage (29.05) believed they were at risk of getting cervical cancer. Most of the respondents (60.67%) preferred to get their information from health workers. Moving from Form 1 to Form 3, a student from Akuse Methodist was 1.02 times more likely to know of the disease compared to the counterpart in Krobo Girls (the base school), adjusting for all other covariates in the multinomial logistic model. Similarly, for switching from a Boarder to Day, a student from Akuse Methodist compared to Krobo Girls stands a high chance (12.28) of getting knowledge on the disease and consequently was 8.35 times more likely to also get information of this disease from teachers and religious leaders adjusting for all predicting variables.
Financial Sustainability of Ghana’s Health Insurance Scheme; The Way Forward
(Ensign Global University, 2016-07-01) Nyagblornu, Nicholas
ABSTRACT
Health Insurance is a formal contractual arrangement between the insurer and the insured to the effect that the insurer provides cover for part or all healthcare cost of the insured as agreed between the two parties for a period of time. Ghana since 2003 has been implementing a National Health Insurance Scheme. Currently, the NHIS is facing financial sustainability issues. The scheme is heavily indebted to the service providers on average of 7 months claims reimbursement with some service providers resorting to charging unapproved fees in cash and occasionally denial of services to the scheme members.
Funding to the scheme has remained unchanged over the years despite evidence suggesting otherwise. In the absence of political will to take necessary, far-reaching decisions, it has become critical to review the operations of the scheme to determine what can be done to improve its financial sustainability.
The NHIS laws, operational data and relevant documentation were reviewed. Fifteen key informants were interviewed for the study. It was found out that the revised NHIS law, Act 852 has exposed the NHIS to extreme financial burden relative to Act 650, membership improvement drive were focused mainly on enrolling persons in the exempt categories, delays in claims reimbursement to service providers and perceived low quality of services offered to scheme members has created enabling grounds for perpetuating frauds and abuses against the scheme and weak implementation of some policies in the health sector has not been supportive of the NHIS cost containment measures.
The study recommended to the NHIS to engaged its stakeholders to reviews the provisions on exemption, the Ministry of health to provide and ensure enabling policy environment and the government of Ghana to make additional budgetary allocation to support persons exempted from premium payment.