Pre-service healthcare professionals attitudes and self-efficacy towards individuals with intellectual disability in Ghana.

BACKGROUND: Intellectual disability (ID) involves impairment of general mental abilities, restricting the participation of individuals in conceptual, social and practical activities. Consequently, rehabilitation services are critical in efforts towards promoting the social and educational inclusion of persons with ID. However, the preparedness of health professionals in performing such a role depends on their perceptions of individuals with ID. Ajzen's theory of planned behaviour was used as theoretical framework to understand the relationship between the perceived attitude and self-efficacy of healthcare students towards persons with ID. METHOD: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among healthcare students (N = 328) in a Ghanaian university. The Community Living Attitude Scale for ID(CLAS-ID) and General Self-efficacy (GSE) Scale were employed to assess their attitudes and self-efficacy towards people with ID respectively. The data were analysed using SPSS and AMOS and were subjected to a t-test, ANOVA, correlation and regression. RESULT: The healthcare students were ambivalent about both self-efficacy and attitudes towards persons with ID, and there was correlation between attitudes and self-efficacy. Attitudes and self-efficacy also varied across the demographic characteristics of the respondents including age, having a relative with ID, level of study, religion, and programme of study. CONCLUSION: The study underscores the necessity for healthcare curriculum reform and provides corresponding recommendations. The study emphasizes the importance of enhancing healthcare students' understanding of ID, changing their attitudes, and bolstering their self-efficacy. This is crucial to foster positive attitudes, confidence in providing support to individuals with ID, and raising awareness within the broader community. To achieve this, health educators are encouraged to incorporate exposure to individuals with ID into healthcare students' training, along with more structured field experiences designed to increase their contact and interaction with individuals with ID. Such initiatives would enable students to better understand the uniqueness and requirements of individuals with ID.

Perceived self-efficacy of students and its influence on attitudes and knowledge about HIV/AIDS in Ghana.

Globally, human immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV) and its accompanying acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) have long been a public health threat due to the high death toll and the various effects on individuals and societies. Unfortunately, in developing countries such as Ghana, persons living with HIV/AIDS are victims of discrimination and rejection and are often excluded from social activities. Consequently, there is a need for mitigation strategies aimed at reducing the spread of the disease. Indeed, in human society, beliefs are fundamental to understanding people's intentions towards a given phenomenon. The purpose of this study was to assess students' perceived self-efficacy, attitude towards and knowledge about HIV/AIDS. In this study, Bandura's self-efficacy theory was used as a framework to assess the relationship between students' perceived self-efficacy, attitude towards and knowledge about HIV/AIDS. A total of 342 students of at least 15 years old were recruited from junior and senior high schools and a public university to complete two scales: the general self-efficacy and attitude and knowledge about HIV/AIDS scales. While there was a positive correlation among self-efficacy, attitude and knowledge, attitude and knowledge combined to predict self-efficacy. The limitations of the study, recommendations for future research and policy implications are discussed herein.

Living with HIV in Ghana: Disclosure of status and experiences of persons receiving antiretroviral therapy.

Barriers to treatment faced by people living with HIV (PLWH) have been well explored in the literature. Despite the importance of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in the treatment of HIV and prevention of AIDS, in the Ghanaian context only about 32% of infected persons have access to treatment. This underscores a need to understand the experiences of PLWH receiving ART to provide baseline information for policymakers' efforts to increase access to treatment. This study captures the voices of PLWH who were receiving ART in Ghana. A total of 35 participants receiving treatment in a hospital setting (11 males, 24 females; mean age 38 years, age range 21-60 years) took part in semi-structured face-to-face interviews to discuss their opinions about the cause of their HIV infection and its impact on their lives. The study found that the participants were susceptible to discrimination in their communities and at health care facilities. Some participants experienced marriage breakdowns, unemployment, social isolation, and were unable to perform everyday chores and responsibilities. Concerted efforts to address the barriers to treatment faced by PLWH are needed.

Cross-national study of communal attitudes toward individuals with intellectual disabilities in sub-Saharan Africa: Cameroon vs. Ghana.

BACKGROUND: An intellectual disability (ID) is characterized by a deficit in the functional, cognitive, and adaptive skills required for independent living. Due to the low cognitive capabilities of individuals with IDs, they have become victims of marginalization, exclusion, and denial of their fundamental rights to basic necessities in societies around the world. While efforts are being made to improve service provision to and acceptance of individuals with disabilities, the extent of communal acceptance and recognition of these individuals as equal members of society remains underexplored in sub-Saharan African countries such as Cameroon and Ghana. OBJECTIVE: As attitudes toward individuals with IDs are pivotal in shaping national policies, this cross-national study examined communal attitudes toward persons with IDs in Cameroon and Ghana. METHOD: The Community Living Attitude Scale for Intellectual Disabilities (CLAS-ID) was used to collect data from a total of 741 university students in the two countries. The validity of the scale was assessed using confirmatory factor analysis and principal component analysis. The association between the background variables and attitudes was examined using t-tests, analysis of variance, linear regression, and two-way factor analysis. RESULTS: The results showed the validity of the CLAS-ID as a valid tool for measuring communal attitudes toward individuals with IDs in sub-Saharan Africa. The participants appeared ambivalent about attitude towards individuals with ID and other findings showed no association between attitudes and variables such as gender, relation, and contact with individuals with IDs. CONCLUSION: We discuss the need for innovative approaches aimed at changing attitudes toward individuals with IDs in sub-Saharan Africa as well as other study implications.

Rehabilitation and management outcomes of musculoskeletal injuries in a major referral hospital in Ghana.

BACKGROUND: The devastating impact of musculoskeletal injury (MSI) on human lives, the economy, and health services cannot be overemphasised. This has ignited discussion at international fora, as countries have been exhorted to prioritise management of MSI in order to maintain a healthy society. In the Ghanaian context, the knowledge base management of MSI is very low, which has provided the impetus to explore the management of MSI and the rehabilitation systems at a tertiary hospital in Ghana. METHODS: The study was a retrospective cross-sectional study, using the consecutive sampling method to recruit patients who were discharged after admission at the accident and emergency unit, as well as patients undergoing orthopaedic review, at the St. Joseph's Orthopaedic Hospital in Koforidua over a six-month period. RESULTS: A total of 269 musculoskeletal injury patients were recruited for the study. Half of the participants (51%) had had surgery in addition to pain medication. The overall mean recovery days were 26.81 ± 33.94 days, and the average disability days spent in the hospital were estimated at 16.54 ± 27.97 days. Individuals reported financial constraints as a major challenge to their full participation in rehabilitation. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study have implications for policymaking in Ghana. Particularly, the need to improve health facilities to enable MSI patients to seek treatment is highlighted. Also, the need to train health professionals who will be able to administer appropriate medication for MSI patients is discussed extensively.

The accessibility of health services to young deaf adolescents in Ghana.

Quality health care is a fundamental human right, which is enshrined in several international and domestic legislative instruments. In the Ghanaian context, there are reports that adults with disabilities encounter barriers in their attempts to access health care. However, scholarly attention is yet to explore the perspectives of young people and adolescents with disabilities. Therefore, this quantitative study was conducted from the perspective of critical disability studies, where young deaf adolescents (YDAs) were regarded as right bearers, and where they shared their perspectives on health accessibility decisions, barriers, and needs. Sixty-seven participants, made up of 44 male and 23 female students, took part in this quantitative study. Although many YDAs who took part in this study indicated that it was not difficult to access health facilities, they claim to have encountered communication barriers. Sign language interpreters in health facilities and introduction of sign language courses in health training institutions to improve communication between health professionals and deaf patients have been suggested as ways of addressing the barriers faced by YDAs in Ghana.

Screening for hearing loss among school going children.

Hearing loss results from a deviation in the perception of sounds in one's environment. A child may have hearing loss at a hearing threshold of ≥16 dB. Hearing loss is among the frequent disorders and affects lots of people globally. Hearing loss negatively affects many areas needed for classroom learning, language development, academic performance, and social development. These consequences can be reduced by early detection with appropriate audiological and speech therapy interventions. In developing countries like Ghana, there is no such laid down formal hearing screening programs for early detection of any signs of impairments. The present study was aimed at identifying the prevalence and causes of hearing loss among basic school children aged between 5 and 17 years at Freetown Basic School, Ho. The study sought to determine the causes and prevalence of hearing loss. Out of the 210 participants, 44 (21%) failed the audiometric screening test. Out of the 44 students who failed the audiometric screening test, 25 (11.9%) had hearing loss across all the test frequencies. Prevalence of hearing loss among basic school children was found to be 11.9%. This shows that hearing loss is not uncommon among school going children in the Ho Municipality. It was determined from the study that the prevailing causes of the hearing impairments may be attributable to abused use of ototoxic drugs and ear-aches and infections with majority of participants recording mild hearing loss. It can be concluded that hearing loss among school going children is preventable if appropriate measures are put in place.

Causes, trends and severity of musculoskeletal injuries in Ghana.

BACKGROUND: Musculoskeletal [MSK] injuries are common causes of long-term pain and physical disability which affect many people worldwide. The economic and social impacts on the individual, society and national health systems are enormous making a matter of public health concern. Therefore, this study examined the causes and extent of MSK injuries in a referral hospital in Ghana. METHODS: A prospective study design with consecutive sampling method was used to recruit patients admitted at Trauma Unit as well as those receiving orthopaedic reviews at St. Joseph's Orthopaedic Hospital over a ten-month period. A structured questionnaire, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) were used to collect data which were analysed descriptively using SPSS version 20. RESULTS: A total of 269 MSK injury patients were identified - of these, 137 (50.9%) males with an average age of 38 years (SD = 19.88). Nearly half (49.1%) of the injuries sustained were fractures, and common causes were vehicular crash 113 (42.0%) and fall 68 (25.3%). Body parts affected most were the knee (19.62) and the mean levels of pain for all injuries were 6.04 ± 2.44 and 3.25 (±1.50) respectively. CONCLUSION: Ghana needs a healthy population to steer its development trajectory. Policy makers in Ghana should pay attention to both preventive as well as management of MSK injuries, or else, most of the country's working class could live with lasting effects of injuries which may have significant impacts on the economy.