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Recent Submissions

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A Mystery and Reality Divine Revelations at Jerusalem No. 2 at Nkoranza in the Catholic Diocese of Techiman
(St. Francis Press Ltd, 2019) Addai, Andrews; Kuusaana, Maria Marciana
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Factors influencing decision-making to accept elective caesarean section: A descriptive cross-sectional study
(Elsevier, 2021) Bam, Victoria; Lomotey, Yemotsoo Alberta; Diji, Abigail Kusi- Amponsah; Budu, Hayford Isaac; Bamfo-Ennin, Dorothy; Mireku, Georgina
Elective caesarean sections (CS) that have medical indications contribute to better pregnancy outcomes but women have to consent for the procedure to be performed within reasonable time limits for the desired outcomes. This study aimed to determine the factors that influence women's decision-making and the duration of the decision-making process to accept primary or repeat elective CS in a district hospital in Ghana. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 163 purposively-sampled postnatal women in a hospital, who had experienced a CS. A questionnaire was used to collect data after the women gave their consent to participate. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 25.0 and presented using appropriate descriptive statistics. Chi-square test of independence was done to determine the association between any two categorical variables. Major factors that influenced women's decision-making to accept elective CS were support from their husband/partner/relatives (39.3 %), their baby's life being at risk (24.5 %), history of previous CS and knowledge about the procedure (19.6 %). Age and parity had significant relationship with the influencing factors. However, age was only significant for the influence of husband/partner/relative in the decision-making to accept CS (p < 0.01). Age (R2 ¼ 0.19, p < 0.001); previous CS (R2 ¼ 0.14, p < 0.001) are the major predictors of the duration of the decision-making process. Women's decision-making in consultation with relatives is the main influencer to accept elective caesarean section. There is the need to involve relatives during the antenatal care period in order for younger women in particular to be readily supported to make timely decisions to avoid preventable complications and allay client's fears.
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“I prefer a male nurse to a female nurse”: patients’ preference for, and satisfaction with nursing care provided by male nurses at the Komfo Anokye teaching hospital
(Biomedcentral, 2019) Bam, Victora Bubunyo; Budu, Hayford Isaac; Abalo, Emmanuel Mawuli; Osei Agyemang, Deus; Noi, Shirley; Budu, Florence A.; Peprah, Prince
Background: Although most male nurses join the profession for self-actualisation, the cultural and societal stereotyping of male nurses as “He-Man”, “gay” and “troublemakers”, and their marginalisation at the hospital during certain personal and intimate care procedures, tend to deepen the existing gender discrimination prevalent within the nursing profession. This study therefore assessed patients’ preference for, and satisfaction with nursing care provided by male nurses at the medical and surgical wards of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital [KATH]. Methods: An inferential cross-sectional study design, in which the prevalence of a condition among an identified population is determined, was used. Using convenience sampling, 150 respondents who meet certain practical criteria and are available and willing to participate were sampled. Data from a context-based research instrument on the opinion, preference and satisfaction of patients with male nursing were analysed using χ2 test, Mann Whitney U test, ordinal logistic regression and logistic regression. Results: The study indicates that more females than males had ever been attended to by a male nurse for the period considered by the study, and females described male nurses as polite and courteous and were comfortable with their treatment. Being single [OR = 0.111, 95% CI (0.013–0.928)] and professing Islamic faiths [OR = 36.533, 95% CI (2.116–630.597)] were functions of respondents’ preference for a male nurse. Significantly too, affiliating to a religious sect (OR = 2.347, 95% CI [0.076–1.630]) and being educated (OR = 1.387, 95% CI [0.040–0.615]), were associated with higher odds of falling in one of the higher categories of satisfaction with nursing care provided by male nurses as against the lower categories. Conclusion: Although marital status, religious affiliation and educational level were the significant predictors of patients’ preference for, and satisfaction with care provided by male nurses, the effect of the other variables should not be overlooked. The finding disproves assertions on the negative effect of religion on male nurses. It is recommended that public awareness be created on the role of male nurses in the healthcare delivery system to promote acceptance of gender diversity in the nursing profession.
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Challenges and predictors of exclusive breastfeeding among mothers attending the child welfare clinic at a regional hospital in Ghana: a descriptive crosssectional study
(Biomedcentral, 2017) Bam, Victoria; Kusi-Amponsah, Abigail Diji; Asante, Ernest; Yemotsoo Lomotey, Alberta; Yeboah, Samuel; Owusu, Haim Acquah
Background: The challenges and predictors of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) have been examined in many parts of the world. Considering the socio-cultural dynamics and the few research studies in Ghana, the factors that hinder and predict EBF practice in other countries may be different in the Ghanaian setting. The study therefore sought to assess the challenges and predictors of EBF among mothers attending a child welfare clinic at a regional hospital in Ghana. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out between January and March, 2015 to elicit information from 240 mothers who were sampled using simple random sampling technique. A validated structured questionnaire was used in collecting data on participants’ socio-demographic characteristics and reported breastfeeding practices. Participants’ breastfeeding challenges were rated on a Likert scale from 1 (not at all), 2 (mild), 3 (moderate), 4 (severe) to 5 (unbearable). In this study, EBF refers to birth of the infants up to six months. Results: The top three breastfeeding challenges of mothers were: belief that breast milk alone was not sufficient in meeting their babies’ nutritional needs [mean 3.43 (standard deviation {SD} 1.35)], short maternity leave period [mean 3.41 (SD 1.29)], and socio-cultural pressure to introduce water and artificial feeds [mean 3.39 (SD 1.28)]. Independent predictors of EBF were: infant’s age [Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) 0.82 (95% Confidence Interval [CI] 0.71, 0.95)], and self-employment [AOR 2.67 (95% CI 1.11, 6.41)]. Conclusion: Mothers are confronted with numerous EBF challenges both at the individual and societal levels, and stakeholders need to consider these in order to support breastfeeding mothers to maximize outcomes. Reviewing the labour laws on Ghana’s maternity leave to accommodate an extended maternity leave in addition to the employee’s annual leave could further improve EBF practice rates.