Browsing by Author "Obeng, Paul"

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    Suicidal behaviours among school-going adolescents in samoa: a secondary analysis of prevalence, protective, and risk factors
    (Middle East Current Psychiatry, 2023) Owusu Sarfo, Jacob; Gbordzoe, Newton Isaac; Attigah, Dean; Debrah, Timothy Pritchard; Ofori, Crescens Osei Bonsu; Obeng, Paul; 0000-0002-4503-9211
    Background Suicide has become a major threat to achieving Sustainable Development Goals three and four, especially for school-going adolescents worldwide. As part of eforts to prevent suicide, population-based studies regarding the prevalence and variables that predict suicidal behaviours are required to inform decisions. Despite this realisation, Samoa lacks empirical data on suicidal behaviours among adolescents. We conducted a secondary analysis of the 2017 Global School-based Student Health Survey to examine the prevalence of suicidal behaviours (idea, plan, and attempt) of school-going adolescents in Samoa. Results The prevalence of suicidal ideation, plan, and attempt was 24.1%, 23.8%, and 21.8%, respectively. Also, we found that having understanding parents was an important protective factor against all three suicidal behaviours among Samoan in-school adolescents. Suicidal ideation was predicted by cigarette smoking, having someone who smokes in adolescents’ presence, bullying, loneliness, and worrying about things they could not study. Also, cigarette smoking, bullying, having multiple sexual partners, and worrying increased the risk of having suicidal plans. Again, adolescents’ suicidal attempt was predicted by adolescent truancy, alcohol use, cigarette smoking, being bullied, having close friends, loneliness, and worry. Conclusions Rather than focusing on the school setting alone, suicide prevention interventions in Samoa should foster interdisciplinary collaborations to help reduce suicide.
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    A Survey of Home Management of Malaria in Pre-school Children in the Bosomtwe-Atwima-Kwanwoma District, Ashanti Region
    (2004) Obeng, Paul
    Malaria is the most important disease claiming the lives of millions of children in Africa south of the Sahara. The burden of sickness due to malaria remains high in the sub region. Much effort is underway to reduce the burden of malaria to the barest minimum. Previous efforts to control malaria appear to have had little or no impact. Probably, the full impact of malaria control could be much felt with the coverage of many interventions. What appears to be missing in the control strategies is empowerment and inclusion of household level to identify, take early and appropriate action towards management of malaria at home. The study sampled 150 respondents to explore knowledge level, practices, sources of care, cost of treatment and sources of health information for malaria. Respondents identified actual malaria as high temperature (75%) and severe malaria as convulsion (5 8%). There is a high knowledge of mosquito bite (58%) as the main cause of malaria. Personal preventive measures include use of bed nets (32%) and insecticide spray (43%). Approximately 70% of respondents take action in 72 hours contrary to WHOIRBM protocol of 24 hours or less using chloroquine syrup/tablet (5 7%). Only 8% of the total respondents interviewed treat malaria within 24 hours. About 74% of caregivers treat malaria inappropriately. The inappropriateness of malaria treatment is high in children under one and reduces as the age increases. Chemical shops (65%) are the main source of health care while treatment at home constitutes (19%). Caregivers spend 5-10,000 cedis (51%) per treatment and lose 7 working days (52%) whilst treating their children with malaria. Gong-gong beating (49%) and interpersonal communication (49%) constitute the main sources of health information. Keywords: appropriate, burden, caregivers, control, effective, home management, impact, inappropriate, intervention, malaria, protocol.