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- ItemPelvic floor exercise: Awareness, knowledge, beliefs and practices among pregnant women in a Ghanaian setting(KNUST, 2026-04-13) Awaitey, Bright AnnehBackground Pregnancy and childbirth increase the risk of pelvic floor muscle damage, leading to conditions such as urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, and pelvic organ pro lapse. This makes it imperative to adopt strategies such as pelvic floor muscle exer cises (PFMEs) to ensure positive antenatal and postnatal experiences for women. Hence, the study aimed to assess the awareness, knowledge, practices, and beliefs of PFMEs among pregnant women in a Ghanaian setting. Objective We assessed the awareness, knowledge, practices and beliefs of PFMEs among pregnant women in a Ghanaian setting. Design A cross-sectional descriptive research was conducted, recruiting 134 pregnant women through convenient sampling in selected antenatal clinics in Kumasi metropo lis, Ashanti Region. Methods The study adopted the questionnaire regarding pelvic floor muscle training among pregnant women used by Teerayut Temtanakitpaisan, Suvit Bunyavejchevin, Pranom Buppasiri and Chompilas Chongsomcha. Data on the socio-demographic character istics of the women, their awareness, knowledge, beliefs and practices about PFMEs were recorded. Results More than half (64.9%) of the respondents were not aware of PFMEs. Subsequent analysis for this work was therefore done for participants who reported being aware (35.1%). Also, the principal sources of information from which the subjects acquired the knowledge of PFME were health-care providers (42.6%) and media outside the hospital (36.2%). With reference to beliefs 80.3% believed that PFME could reduce vaginal trauma and 83.0% believe PFME aids vaginal birth. In terms of PFME prac tice, 36.2% of the aware women performed PFME regularly. Conclusion To ensure pregnant women are well-informed about PFMEs, physiotherapists should work with antenatal care providers to develop comprehensive courses that include detailed information on PFME’s.
- ItemWound healing, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of the leaf and stem bark of Entada africana Guill. & Perr.(KNUST., 2021-01-30) Asante-Kwatia EvelynEntada africana (Mimosaceae) is widely used in African traditional medicine as a wound healing agent. This study investigated the wound healing, antimicrobial and anti-oxidant activities of the leaf and stem bark of E. africana in order to scientifically validate its wound healing properties. Methanol extracts of the leaf and stem bark were formulated into creams (5 20%) and tested in the dermal excision wound model in rats. The broth dilution assay was used to determine the antimicrobial activity; DPPH free radical scavenging, ferric reducing power, total antioxidant capacity, total phenolic and total flavonoid content were determined to assess the antioxidant activity. Significant wound healing was demonstrated by topical application of the extract creams. By the 10 th day, a total wound surface closure of 98.8%, 95.8%, 96.3% and 73.9% was observed for the 10% stem bark and leaf creams, standard drug and blank cream treated groups respectively. Histo- pathological examination of the healed tissue sections showed significant collagen production, scanty inflammatory cell infiltrates and re-epithelialization whereas tissues from the blank cream treated group dis- played focal areas of abscess and diffused inflammatory cells. The methanol stem bark extract demonstrated antibacterial activity against S. aureus and S. pyogenes with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 1.56 mg/mL. The stem bark and leaf had antioxidant activity and were found to contain a total phenolic con- tent of 47.25 and 133.7 mg/g Gallic acid equivalent respectively and total flavonoid content of 21.06 and 88.21 mg/g quercetin equivalent respectively. The above results indicate that the leaves and stem bark of E. africana have great potential for the treatment of open wounds.
- ItemEvaluation of strategies for the reduction of maternal mortality in the Sekyere East District: a view through Michael Patton’s focused-utilization model.(KNUST, 2017-11) Amoh-Agyei, GraceStrategies for preventing maternal deaths have been in existence for more than 20 years in almost all health facilities throughout the world. The study was an evaluation of the existing strategies for the reduction of maternal mortality within the broad framework of the Safe motherhood programme in the Sekyere East District. A focused-case descriptive study in the context of Patton Utilisation-focused evaluation model was employed to evaluate safe motherhood initiatives. This was done using structured questionnaire and observation checklist to observe pregnancy care, labour and delivery processes. The study involved women in reproductive age who developed complications during pregnancy, labour and delivery. In all 412 women who satisfied the inclusion criteria were selected, using simple random sampling while purposive sampling was used to select 22 health staff comprising midwives, orderlies, pharmacist, medical officers and health administrators from Effiduase Hospital. The study results showed that all the essential logistics and supplies needed to save mothers during pregnancy, labour and delivery were available and functioning. There were trained personnel at post. All strategies suggested by the World Health Organization assist mothers during complications in pregnancy were implemented, 76% of the clients attested that there was an enabling environment, 88% said it was not difficult to access the facility, 87% reported that there was service adequacy, while 72% asserted that strategies were acceptable. Strategies appeared effective and resulted in increased utilization which was evident in the low case fatality rate of 0.082%. The study found that the maternal mortality reduction strategies in the district were effectively implemented according to safe motherhood protocols. It is recommended that the necessary resources continue to be provided for the sustenance of the achieved results of the maternal mortality reduction strategies in the district.
- ItemThe Effectiveness of an Enhanced Antenatal Care Service Package for the Control of Malaria and Anaemia in Pregnancy in Ghana(KNUST, 2015-11) Antwi, Gifty DufieABSTRACT Background Recommended efficacious interventions for malaria prevention and control during pregnancy have been implemented for over two decades yet malaria and anaemia prevalence during pregnancy remain high. This may be due to sub-optimal uptake of these interventions. Patient participation in their own health care improves health outcomes by improving adherence to treatment recommendations. We conceptualised that when pregnant women participated in their antenatal care it would improve their adherence to antenatal care recommendations and treatment and promote better health outcomes. Methods A cluster randomized controlled trial to assess the effectiveness of pregnant women’s participation in their antenatal care on the risk of malaria and anaemia during pregnancy, the risk of low birth weight and the risk of sub-optimal pregnancy outcomes was conducted. The study was conducted in 14 antenatal clinics (7 clinics per arm) in the Ejisu-Juaben Municipality and Sekyere-East District of the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The intervention consisted of staff showing pregnant women their malaria rapid test and haemoglobin colour scale test results to facilitate their participation in their care in addition to standard antenatal care. The feasibility and acceptability of this intervention to antenatal care staff and pregnant women were also assessed. 6 Results The overall mean age, gestational age and Hb concentration at baseline were 26.4yrs, 17.3 weeks and 11.0 g/dl respectively and similar in both groups; 10.7% had asymptomatic parasitaemia; 74.6% owned an ITN, only 48.8 % sleeping under it the night prior to enrolment. The adjusted risk ratio by 8 weeks of follow up in the intervention vs. control group was 0.97 (95% CI: 0.78-1.22) for anaemia and 1.17 (95% CI: 0.68-2.04) for parasitaemia. At 36-40 weeks gestation, the adjusted risk ratio was 0.92 (95% CI: 0.63-1.34) for anaemia and 0.83 (95% CI: 0.27-2.57) for parasitaemia in the intervention vs. control group. The adjusted risk ratio for low birth weight was 0.93 (95% CI: 0.44-1.97) while that for sub-optimal pregnancies was 0.77 (95% CI: 0.17- 3.52). Using the haemoglobin colour scale and malaria rapid test to facilitate participation within routine antenatal care was feasible and acceptable to the pregnant women and staff members. The pregnant women saw and believed the test results and felt motivated to take action to improve their health. Antenatal care staff and pregnant women perceived some improvement in pregnant women’s adherence to antenatal recommendations with regards to malaria and anaemia. Conclusion It was feasible and acceptable for pregnant women to participate in their antenatal care using the malaria rapid test and the haemoglobin colour scale. Their participation appeared to have potential benefit during pregnancy although clear evidence of a biologic effect was not found. The effect may have been diluted out by the concurrent introduction of malaria rapid tests into routine ANC during the time of the study and possible methodological and implementation challenges of the intervention. More research is thus recommended.
- ItemAntinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and anticonvulsant evaluation of the hydroethanolic leaf extract of calotropis procera (ait) r. Br. (apocynaceae)(KNUST, 2019-11) Obese, ErnestABSTRACT Pain, inflammation, and epilepsy remain a real and currently, a major problem in clinical medicine which requires new agents with improved efficacy for more effective therapy. Plant sources can serve as a basis for the search for these novel drugs. The analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anticonvulsant effects of hydroethanolic extract 70% v/v of Calotropis procera (CPE) which is widespread in Ghana and other tropical areas in the subregion was evaluated. A primary neurological assessment revealed that CPE has some central nervous system depressant and analgesic effects. It also showed impairment on motor coordination in the rotarod test. The extract potentiated duration of sleeping time in the pentobarbitone interaction test and analgesic properties were also further confirmed in the tail immersion test while it delayed pentylenetetrazole-induced convulsions. The anti-inflammatory assessment showed that CPE was able to significantly reduce both carrageenan-induced (F4,15=6.24, P=0.0105) and formalin-induced inflammation (F4,15=100.9, P<0.0001) in rats. The analgesic effects were demonstrated in the acetic acid-induced writhing and formalin-induced paw licking tests. Writhing induced by acetic acid was significantly reduced (F4,15=24.14, P<0.0001) on treatment with oral doses of CPE (30-300 mg/kg). The extract significantly inhibited both phase 1 and phase 2 states induced by injection of formalin (F4,60=12.21, P<0.0001) comparable to morphine, the standard analgesic used. The extract significantly attenuated hyper-nociception induced by tumour necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin 1β, bradykinin, and prostaglandin E2. The anti-nociceptive effect exhibited by CPE in the formalin test was reversed by systemic administration of naloxone and theophylline. The extract was further evaluated for anticonvulsant activity in rodents using animal models, picrotoxin–induced convulsions, strychnine-induced convulsions, and pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus. CPE (100–300 mg/kg) exhibited anticonvulsant effect against strychnine-induced clonic seizures by significantly reducing the duration (F6,20=4.196, P=0.0068) and frequency (F6,21=5.438, P=0.0016) of convulsions. The extract (100-300 mg kg-1) caused a profound dose-dependent delay in the onset of clonic convulsions induced by picrotoxin (F6,25=17.43, P<0.0001) and tonic convulsions (F6,20=43.45, P<0.0001) in mice. The duration of convulsions was reduced significantly (F6,19=41.71, P<0.0001). CPE (100-300 mg kg-1), showed profound anticonvulsant effect and protected against death induced the pilocarpine. ED50 (~ 0.1007) and Emax values calculated from the dose-response curves demonstrated that the extract was less potent than diazepam in reducing the duration and onset of convulsions but had comparable efficacies. Flumazenil – a GABAA receptor antagonist, did not reverse the onset or duration of convulsions produced by the extract in the picrotoxin-induced seizure model. Overall, the hydroethanolic leaf extract of Calotropis procera possesses analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and anticonvulsant properties.