Seventh day Adventist Hospital

Malaria is classified as either uncomplicated (UM) or severe (SM), but the mechanism underlying the progression from uncomplicated to severe is still unclear. This study aimed to assess haematologic and biochemical parameters as potential prognostic biomarkers for differentiating SM from UM in a Ghanaian population. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to sample 166 participants, comprising 42 healthy controls, 78 uncomplicated malaria cases, and 46 severe malaria cases. Blood samples were analysed for full blood count, liver function test, renal function test, and serum angiopoietins. Statistical analyses were carried out using GraphPad Prism 9 software. Median and interquartile ranges, Mann-Whitney U test, and Kruskal-Wallis analysis were done to compare groups. The haemoglobin and platelet counts of SM patients were significantly lower than those of the UM group (p < 0.05). However, the White Blood Cell (WBC) counts of severe malaria patients (7.4, IQR: 5.4 - 10.6) were significantly higher than the uncomplicated malaria population (5.7, IQR: 5.0 - 6.5) (p < 0.001). Serum levels of bilirubin (total and direct), alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and total proteins in severe malaria were significantly higher than uncomplicated malaria group (p < 0.001). These findings indicate that haemoglobin, platelet, creatinine, urea, AST, ALT, GGT and bilirubin levels may serve as biomarkers for distinguishing severe from uncomplicated malaria.

Abstract Background: The Ghana Patients’ Rights Charter (PRC), established in 2002, serves as a critical framework to protect patient dignity, autonomy, and safety. Despite its significance, awareness and understanding of the PRC among nursing students—future frontline healthcare providers—remain inadequately explored in Ghana. Objective: This study assessed the level of awareness, knowledge, sources of information, and attitudes toward the PRC among nursing students in two selected Ghanaian nursing training institutions. It also examined demographic and academic factors influencing awareness and identified barriers affecting learning about the Charter. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among 274 nursing students from College of Nursing and Midwifery, Tanoso and St. Michael’s Nursing and Midwifery Training College, Pramso. Data were collected via structured online questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests to assess associations. Results:Approximately 73% of students reported awareness of the PRC, with 60% perceiving it as legally binding; however, only 40% had seen the Charter document. Classroom lectures (45%) and clinical placements (36%) were the primary information sources. Knowledge of specific patient rights ranged from 68% to 71%, yet notable uncertainty and misinformation persisted. While 74.5% considered the Charter very important, only 30.7% applied it in clinical practice. Awareness was strongly associated with familiarity but not with demographic variables or perceived importance. Major barriers included insufficient emphasis by lecturers (60%), lack of discussion during clinicals (55%), poor access to materials (50%), staff disinterest (35%), and complex language (30%). Conclusion:Despite general awareness and positive attitudes, critical gaps exist in familiarity, knowledge certainty, and clinical application of the PRC among nursing students. Addressing these requires curriculum integration, faculty development, improved resource accessibility, and stronger institutional support to foster a nursing workforce capable of upholding patient rights and enhancing quality care in Ghana. Clinical trial number: Not applicable

The Study aims at exploring the traditional musical types that are performed among the people of Alavanyo in the Volta Region of Ghana and classify the musical types according to gender orientations; and also to investigate the reasons why women in the area are not supposed to participate in some traditional musical ensembles in the area. The study being qualitative type adopted descriptive and case study approaches to present the study. The population consisted of Historians, Chiefs, Women in traditional musical performance as well as Men who are into traditional music performance. Interview and Observations were some of the instruments used for data collection. It was revealed that, Musical genres such as Akpi, Adevu, Vuga, Borborbor and Egbanegba are found among the people in the study area.The study made it clear that, due to superstitions, Taboos and Religious affiliations, women are forbid from taking part in some of the musical types in the area. The study recommended that, music should be taken serious in the school curriculum; traditional rites must be performed to pave way for women who want to take active part in all the traditional musical types in the area.

Parental divorce is a significant life event that affects the emotional well-being of adolescents, often leading to psychological distress, social difficulties, and long-term identity development challenges. This study explores the emotional dynamics of adolescents following parental divorce using a qualitative case study approach. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with 12 participants, including adolescents, divorced parents, and counselors. Thematic analysis was employed to identify key patterns in the emotional experiences, coping mechanisms, and support systems of affected adolescents. The results indicate that adolescents exhibit a spectrum of emotional responses, including sadness, frustration, and confusion. While some adolescents utilize adaptive coping strategies such as journaling and peer support, others engage in avoidance behaviors, which may exacerbate their distress. Parental involvement and open communication were found to be pivotal in facilitating better emotional adjustment, whereas the lack of support contributed to prolonged emotional struggles. Furthermore, school-based interventions and professional counseling play crucial roles in mitigating the negative psychological effects of parental divorce. This study contributes to the understanding of adolescent resilience in the face of parental divorce and highlights the need for comprehensive support systems, including parental guidance, peer networks, and institutional interventions. Future research should examine the long-term impact of divorce on adolescent identity and explore culturally sensitive approaches to post-divorce counseling.

Digital Transformation Education has received greater attention in teaching and learning, however, there is a scarcity of studies on the challenges, effectiveness, and perceptions of Computer-Assisted Instruction (CAI), especially in the Colleges of Education (CoE). In addressing these, the study used the mixed method research design using 12 Physics tutors and 254 Physics students from 3 CoE purposively selected from the Sekyere South District and the Mampong Municipality. Interviews and questionnaires were used for data collection and data analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences ¬(IBM SPSS), version 26.1, employing descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. The results indicated that Physics tutors generally face a high level of challenges, with inadequate technological resources and limited financial support posing the greatest hindrances. In response, tutors employed various strategies including personal investment in internet bundles and advocacy for institutional intervention. It was again found that both quantitative and qualitative findings converged after merging and that the qualitative findings agreed with the quantitative findings. It was concluded that tutors of Physics in the CoE in the Mampong Municipality and the Sekyere South District encounter challenges during their integration of CAI in their Physics lessons. However, since students of Physics in the CoE perceive the use of CAI as very positive to their academic lives, it was recommended that using CAI for teaching and learning Physics in the colleges of education should be fortified.<p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/soc/0757/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>

BackgroundThe Seventh-day Adventist Church is a growing global denomination with strict substance use abstinence and recommended dietary requirements that together are called the “Health Message.” Abstinence from alcohol and tobacco is a requirement of membership and a plant-based diet is strongly advised.PurposeWhile a wide variety of research has reported the Adventist health advantage, very little research has been conducted on Adventist members’ attitudes toward and adherence to the Health Message. This research examines members views, from a global survey, about the health message, personal adherence, and belief that adherence ensures salvation.MethodsThe survey was conducted in 2017/2018 with a total N of 63,756. The questionnaire was translated into about 60 languages and then back translated into English for improved accuracy.ResultsOver 80% of the respondents reported that they agreed the Adventist health message was wholisitic, core to Adventist beliefs, supported by science, and increased the probability of a longer life. There were very few differences by global regions. About 80% also agreed that they should abstain from tobacco and alcohol and follow a healthy diet. However, about 45% believed that they could pick and choose which parts to follow with only a little over one-third reporting that they followed the Health Message a great deal. Strict adherence appeared to be in abstinence from alcohol (91%) and tobacco (97%). Only about 19% reported being vegetarian or vegan. Over 47%, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, reported the belief that if they kept the Health Message completely, they would be assured of salvation, though this is at odds with formal doctrine.Conclusions and ImplicationsThe data suggest that church leadership has been successful in obtaining global acceptance of the Health Message, convincing members of its scientific basis, and to abstain from tobacco and alcohol use. However, the data also show almost half of members believe that they can pick and choose elements to follow. In addition, these data have major implications for church leadership in disentangling the implications and expectations of the Health Message from the Church’s fundamental belief that salvation is only through faith in Christ.

ABSTRACT Maternal mortality due to unsafe abortion and its complications stands among the three leading causes of maternal death in Botswana. Health care providers (HCPs) including doctors and nurses are at the frontline of providing care to women who have had an unsafe abortion. This qualitative study explored the knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of HCPs towards unsafe abortion in Botswana. We purposively sampled 18 HCPs and used a semi-structured topic guide to engage them in in-depth interviews, which were audio-recorded. These interviews were transcribed and analysed to identify emerging themes. We found that HCPs were knowledgeable about unsafe abortion, local inducers, and its management. However, their religious and moral biases as well as concern for the safety of women biased their view on the subject-matter and of the women themselves. These biases also affected their willingness to provide care, including provision of analgesics. Notwithstanding these biases and the reported lack of clarity on their legal role in managing unsafe abortion, many HCPs recognised their duty-of-care to patients. The continued strengthening of post-abortion services should be implemented in conjunction with engagements with providers to clarify their values and the roles they would be willing to play in abortion and post-abortion care services.

Background: Gemcitabine and cisplatin combined with conventional radiotherapy in treating patients with cervical cancer, resulted in a favourable conclusion but accompanied with high toxicity. The objective of our research was to assess the tolerability, efficacy and feasibility of dual chemotherapy in addition to image-guided adaptive brachytherapy and highly conformal external beam radiation therapy.Methods & Materials: From June 2011 to November 2013, 81 cervical cancer patients with FIGO stage IB2-IIIB medical records were retrospectively reviewed. All patients received whole pelvic radiotherapy (WPRT) to a total dose of 50.4 Gy/ 1.8 Gy Chemoradiotherapy prescription objectives were: concurrent gemcitabine (125 mg/m2) and cisplatin (30 mg/m2) during the 6 weeks of external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) followed by two cycles of gemcitabine (1 g/m2, d1, d8) and cisplatin (25 mg/m2 d1-d3) on the tenth week. External beam radiotherapy was followed by image-guided brachytherapy of 24 Gy/ 4 fractions. Version 4 of the common terminology criteria for adverse events (CTCAE v 4.0) was used in grading the toxicities.Results: Sixty-nine patients obtained complete response (CR), six had a partial response (PR), and five patients had stable disease (SD). The disease control rate (DCR= SD and ORR) and overall response rate (ORR= PR, CR or PR) were 92.6% and 85.2% respectively. The 3-year and 5-year estimated overall survival (OS) was 75.4% and 66.3%, and the 3-year and 5-year estimated progression-free survival (PFS) were 78.2% and 65.4%. The median PFS time and OS time were 36.8 months and 45.5 months, respectively. Distance metastasis was evident in the lung (3 patients), pelvic wall (2 patients), liver (3 patients) and bone (2 patients). Six (6) had a local relapse, and two (2) patients had local relapse plus simultaneous systemic metastatic tumour.Conclusions: Unlike past results, gemcitabine and cisplatin appear to be tolerable, efficient and feasible when combined with conformal radiotherapy.