http://41.74.91.244:8080/handle/123456789/34 Sat, 04 Apr 2026 14:03:17 GMT 2026-04-04T14:03:17Z http://41.74.91.244:8080/handle/123456789/4617 Treatment Outcomes of Pulmonary Tuberculosis: A Retrospective Cohort Study of Gomoa West District, Ghana Ayin, C.T.; Gbagbo, F.Y.; Oppog, E.K. Background: The study reviewed background characteristics of patients being treated for Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Ghana. The review indicated that the disease was endemic in deprived regions. Gomoa West District in the Central Region of Ghana, one such region, was chosen for the study. Methods: A retrospective cohort study on all files of patients diagnosed of Pulmonary Tuberculosis either by smear or radiography in the district during the period January 2010 to December 2015 were studied. Socio-demographic and clinical variables of cases were extracted from case files as well as their treatment outcomes at the end of six months’ therapy. Patients who were transferred out, re-treated, including resistance Tuberculosis and extra-pulmonary cases were excluded from the study. Chi-square and Fisher exact tests were used to analyze the data. A logistic regression analysis was used to calculate crude and adjusted ratio of successful treatment outcome at a 95% confidence interval. Results: The Pulmonary Tuberculosis treatment success for the district in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 were 94.2%, 87.59%, 94.4% and 92.1% respectively. Prevalent rate of Pulmonary Tuberculosis was highest amongst fisher folks and those in age group 65 years and above. Conclusions: The study concluded that improving Pulmonary Tuberculosis treatment outcomes requires qualitative information on factors associated with treatment outcomes that quantitative data does not reveal; so as to develop specific interventional strategies since general intervention might not be suitable for all cases considering the diverse characteristics of Tuberculosis patients. Interventions among age group 65 years and above will potentially improve treatment outcomes by 22.2% in Gomoa Oguaa. Keywords: Pulmonary Tuberculosis, Radiography, treatment outcomes, co-morbidities Fri, 01 Jun 2018 00:00:00 GMT http://41.74.91.244:8080/handle/123456789/4617 2018-06-01T00:00:00Z http://41.74.91.244:8080/handle/123456789/4615 Providing Abortion on Demand: Exploring the Use of Induced Abortion as a Family Planning Option in Two Urban Cities of Ghana Gbagbo, F.Y.; Gbagbo, J.A. The Ghanaian abortion law was amended in 1985 to ensure more availability and accessibility of safe abortion services as permitted by law. Contrary to the legal provision for abortion in Ghana, anecdotal evidence suggest the use of abortion as a family planning option in Ghana hence this exploratory study. Using a crosssectional and descriptive design, data was obtained from 50 health facilities comprising private (42) and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) (8). Ten indepth interviews were also held with midwife providers (6) and medical officers (4) between January 2010 and December 2017 in Accra and Kumasi Metropolises. Findings show that patronage of abortion services in health facilities within Accra and Kumasi Metropolises increase steadily each year. Abortion services in NGO facilities were however reported as target driven and providers’ performances/ bonuses were tied to meeting set targets thereby encouraging abortion on demand. Whereas NGO facilities provide both abortion and full contraception method mix, majority (38 out of 42) of private facilities provide only abortion services. Those providing contraception focus mainly on short term methods (pills and injections) due to lack of interest and/or trained providers. There is more midwife lead abortion providing facilities in Accra (40) than in Kumasi (10). Where midwives provided abortion services, contraceptives were readily available and clients encouraged to take a method following abortion. This practice was very common in NGO facilities as post abortion contraception was reported to be a mandatory package. Increasing numbers of abortions in the study area coupled with reported target setting for abortion services suggest abortion on demand and its being used as a family planning option. A nationwide facility based assessment of abortion and contraception service delivery is recommended to inform policy. Mon, 06 May 2019 00:00:00 GMT http://41.74.91.244:8080/handle/123456789/4615 2019-05-06T00:00:00Z http://41.74.91.244:8080/handle/123456789/4614 Coping with Pregnancy in Academic Environment: Experiences of Pregnant Students in A Public University in Ghana Etuah, P.A.; Gbagbo, F.Y.; Nkrumah, J. Background : The Ghanaian culture expects women of reproductive age to reproduce. This makes pregnancy an acceptable occurrence in most tertiary institutions in Ghana. Although Ghanaian Universities allow pregnancy in school, challenges associated with pregnancies do not exempt pregnant students from following the academic requirements of the universities. This study therefore explores students’ experiences of copying with pregnancy in an academic environment in Ghana. Methods: This was a case study, quantitative and qualitative design using structured questionnaires and semi-structured interview guides respectively for data collection. Respondents comprised twenty (30) pregnant full time and part time female students from campuses of University of Education, Winneba. Data collection was between October 2016 and May 2017. Quantitative data were analysed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 23. The qualitative data was transcribed and manually analysed thematically. Results: The study found that majority of participants were adults between ages 26 and 30 years. More than half of them (66.7%) had no child and this was their first pregnancy which they felt was mistimed as it occurred during schooling, posing some physiological, financial and academic challenges which compelled students to devise various coping strategies to combine academic work and pregnancy amidst limited University provisions for pregnant students. Conclusions: The study results have policy and programme implications for meeting women’s needs for pursuing academic and reproductive goals concurrently. The study recommends that public universities in Ghana should institutionalise programmes on preconception counselling and coping with pregnancy in academic environment to enable female students make informed decisions on exercising their reproductive rights in whilst in the university to ensure positive maternal health outcomes Thu, 11 Jan 2018 00:00:00 GMT http://41.74.91.244:8080/handle/123456789/4614 2018-01-11T00:00:00Z http://41.74.91.244:8080/handle/123456789/4613 Post Abortion Contraception Model: A Comprehensive Package for Improving Safe Abortion Care in Developing Countries Gbagbo, F.Y. Background: Despite liberal abortion laws and wide availability of contraceptives in Ghana, declining Post Abortion Contraception remains a public health challenge due to early unplanned pregnancies and recurrent abortions. The development of this model was therefore to address challenges of low contraception following induced abortion in health facilities within the capital city of Ghana. Method: The development of this model was an outcome of a nested study title: ‘decision making for induced abortion in Accra metropolis, Ghana’ in 2014. This model was piloted for four years using Marie Stopes, Ipas and Ghana Health Service trained abortion providers with family planning skills in one hundred purposively selected health facilities comprising 90 private and 10 Non-Governmental Organization mandated by law to provide safe abortion care services in the capital city of Ghana. The model mainly focused on contraceptive products, pricing, placement, promotion and people. Results: There was an increase (90% average) in Post Abortion Contraception across the selected facilities following the intervention using the model. Conclusion: The study concludes that an integration of products, pricing, placement, promotion and people with options counselling prior to an induced abortion are key considerations for an improved post abortion contraception uptake in developing countries Fri, 11 May 2018 00:00:00 GMT http://41.74.91.244:8080/handle/123456789/4613 2018-05-11T00:00:00Z