Introduction: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is exerting enormous public health and economic burden on many countries. To reduce these effects, the World Health Organization is urging countries, especially those in Africa,...Introduction: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is exerting enormous public health and economic burden on many countries. To reduce these effects, the World Health Organization is urging countries, especially those in Africa, to increase public awareness of this disease. This study accessed whether public servants in Tamale, Ghana possess adequate knowledge and positive attitude towards SCD. Method: A total of 320 public servants within the Tamale Metropolis were invited to complete a questionnaire in a cross-sectional study. Data were analyzed using GraphPad 5.01. Association between different variables was tested. Results: The media was the main source of information for a majority of the 94.2% of respondents who had ever heard of SCD. Knowledge of respondents on transmission and testing of SCD was above 70% but they recorded less than 40% in SCD’s incurability, prevalence, effect of SCD on life span and pregnancy. The mean knowledge score of respondents was (11.1 ± 5.11)/22 or 50.7%. Only about a quarter knew their sickling status or that of their spouses before marriage or first child. Although 78.0% of respondents would call off marriages if they became aware of genetic incompatibility, the overall mean attitude, (2.857 ± 1.97)/ 7.0% or 40.8% was poor. There was a positive and significant correlation between the knowledge of respondents and their attitude towards SCD (r = 0.494, p < 0.0001) hence respondents working in the health sector and those with tertiary level education had better attitudes towards SCD. Conclusion: Public servants in Ghana have moderate knowledge of SCD but their attitude towards the disease was poor. Public servants least considered genetic incompatibility before entering conjugal relationships. This poor attitude means the campaign for the reduction of sickle cell gene transmission must be intensified. Governments need to increase their investment on educational campaigns aimed at changing attitude of persons through provision of more knowledge about SCD.展开更多
Sachet water was introduced in Ghana to provide safe, hygienic and affordable instant drinking water to the general public. The aim of the study was to examine the effect of storage on the quality of sachet-vended wat...Sachet water was introduced in Ghana to provide safe, hygienic and affordable instant drinking water to the general public. The aim of the study was to examine the effect of storage on the quality of sachet-vended water produced in the Tamale Metropolis. Two brands of sachet water were sampled freshly after production (Six packs or bags), transported to the laboratory and analysed. Samples of freshly prepared sachet water were then stored at ambient room temperature (at 27°C), in a refrigerator (at 4°C) and in the sun (at 40°C). Samples from these three storage methods were collected and analysed on a weekly and monthly basis for a period of three months. The physico-chemical parameters were within World Health Organization limits regardless of the mode of storage. The pH of sachet water ranged from 6.69 to 7.89 with a mean of 7.38 ± 0.31. There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) in the physico-chemical parameters for the sachet water under the different storage conditions over the period. The concern however was the low concentration of these major ions, sodium, potassium, total hardness, calcium and magnesium which seem to pose direct health concerns. The counts of total heterotrophic bacteria ranged from 0.0 to 73 cfu/1ml with a mean of 19.16 (SD = 21.61) of the sachet water samples. Total heterotrophic bacteria regrowth was observed on the third week in all brands stored and gradually deceased numerically throughout the study period. Total coliform regrowth ranged from 0.0 to 5 cfu/100 ml. There was significant difference (p Based on the findings of this study, it is recommended that Food and Drugs Authority and Ghana standard Board should ensure minerals concentrations of sachet water are improved to meet the general dietary requirement.展开更多
In 1907,military leader Robert Baden-Powell started the Boy Scouts Association in England as the British colonial government officers instituted Tamale village as the administrative centre of the Northern Territories ...In 1907,military leader Robert Baden-Powell started the Boy Scouts Association in England as the British colonial government officers instituted Tamale village as the administrative centre of the Northern Territories Protectorate.Sam Yarney worked with Frank Collyer the European bank cashier and scoutmaster who started the Boy Scouts in the Gold Coast Colony in 1914,the year the First World War started.In 1922,Governor Gordon Guggisberg,who was brigadier general during the war was the chief scout.He reorganized the Local Boy Scouts Association in the Tamale Government School that received select boys from various schools in the Northern Territories Protectorate.The schoolboys excelled in the Standard VII and Civil Service Examinations to work with the government institutions and train as teachers and telegraphists.Arthur James Philbrick the chief scout commissioner of the Northern Territories employed Yarney as the assistant scout commissioner in the Southern Province to take on the staff of the reorganized Tamale Local Boy Scouts Association and register the 1st Tamale Troop.The scout officers subscribed to a Scout Fund to buy kit,for the schoolboys who passed the Tenderfoot Tests to buy uniforms and perform at events.展开更多
Most parts of the world are rapidly urbanizing. In sub-Saharan Africa, towns are urbanizing at a faster pace than earlier predicted. Also, large portions of rural settings have been gradually moving towards urbanizati...Most parts of the world are rapidly urbanizing. In sub-Saharan Africa, towns are urbanizing at a faster pace than earlier predicted. Also, large portions of rural settings have been gradually moving towards urbanization. The Tamale Metropolis has been rated as the fastest-growing metropolis in Sub-Saharan Africa. City planning and concerns about the need for open-space creation have been a major challenge due to poor adherence to standards in the building codes. This study was conducted to assess the role of open space in human settlement development in the Tamale Metropolis. The study sampled the views of 157 residents who stay closed to community open spaces in five suburbs of the metropolis. Key informant interviews were also conducted with officials from the Town and Country Planning Department. The study revealed that most residents spend leisure by taking a walk in the neighborhood or idling in outdoor spaces. Also, the majority of the residents had poor knowledge of institutional and land administration. This often led to non-adherence to regulations and this affects open spaces in the metropolis. Common among residents is also a poor appreciation of the importance of open space and this results in encroachment. The Town and Country Planning Department should institute sanctions and stringent measures to deter offenders. Also, public seminars should be used to educate residents on the need to adhere to planning and building codes. Lastly, the study recommends strong collaboration between the various institutions engaged in land administration to facilitate effective provision and preservation of quality open spaces in the metropolis.展开更多
There is a perpetual problem of partial or complete roof collapse within the Tamale Metropolis and other parts of Ghana.This has become an issue of grave public concern since this menace affects both public buildings ...There is a perpetual problem of partial or complete roof collapse within the Tamale Metropolis and other parts of Ghana.This has become an issue of grave public concern since this menace affects both public buildings of all kinds(schools,offices,churches,mosque etc.)as well as domestic buildings.This research sets out to conduct comprehensive investigations into the nature of roof failures,causes,and effects and then propose remedial actions towards stemming the tide.The study employed the use of roof construction affirmation surveys,questionnaires,interviews and focus group discussions.Relevant information synthesized indicates that the roof type,construction materials,building type and environmental conditions are crucial causative factors.Major consequences of roof failures include damage to personal belongings and exposure to inclement weather conditions,the psychological trauma victims are subjected and pressure on incomes and living conditions as a result of the cost of repair or replacement of the roofs.It is recommended that expert advice be sought in checking maintenance requirements of existing roofs in the study area and also during the design and construction of new roofs.Tree planting programmes for this heavily deforested region should be encouraged.The use of green timber for roof construction must be replaced with well-seasoned ones.Proper construction detailing and placement openings buildings should be done so that wind flow during a windstorm is optimized.展开更多
The research seeks to understand the effects of internal courtyards on thermal comfort conditions in compound houses in Ghana’s Tamale Metropolitan area.Internal courtyards are an integral part of the design of compo...The research seeks to understand the effects of internal courtyards on thermal comfort conditions in compound houses in Ghana’s Tamale Metropolitan area.Internal courtyards are an integral part of the design of compound houses in this location.Their inclusion in building designs is largely as a point of domestic activity such as cooking and cleaning and also for social interaction.However,a lot of interchanges in thermal conditions between structures and the outdoors take place within these internal courtyards.Various design details of the building will engender different thermal responses of the internal courtyard.This paper assesses thermal comfort in compound houses as against bungalow type houses in the Tamale Metropolis,Ghana by the application of the Predicted Percentage of Dissatisfied Persons(PPD)and Predicted Mean Votes(PMV)model.This prototype compares with the International Standards Organization(ISO)7730 and American Society of Heating,Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers(ASHRAE)Standard 55(estimated values between 23℃-26℃seen as the allowable temperatures).Ambient indoor conditions(dry bulb temperature and relative humidity)of five(5)buildings each from the two building typologies from were recorded over a period of ten calendar months.These ambient conditions were analyzed,consequently generating the Predicted Percentage of Dissatisfied Persons(PPD)and Predicted Mean Votes(PMV)recordings.The investigations uncovered relatively high PPD-PMV recordings relating to the Bungalow type buildings while the compound houses attune to the comfort zone.The Actual Mean Votes(AMV)of residents suggests the two building typologies are all rated comfortable however;the compound houses are rated above the bungalow type houses.展开更多
Objective:This present study investigated the prevalence,characteristics,and management of ear,nose,and throat(ENT)foreign body(FB)in the pediatric population of Tamale.Study Design:Retrospective observational study f...Objective:This present study investigated the prevalence,characteristics,and management of ear,nose,and throat(ENT)foreign body(FB)in the pediatric population of Tamale.Study Design:Retrospective observational study for otorhinolaryngology surgeries from 2019 to 2022 for children aged 17 years and below at Tamale Teaching Hospital.Methods:A checklist created was used to collect data from the Otorhinolaryngology Surgeries records from 2019 to 2022.Chi-square and binary logistics regression analysis were done for associations.The level of statistical significance was set at 0.05.Results:Two hundred and sixty-three cases were included in this study,and the mean age of the study participants was(4.3±3.8)years with a minimum age of 1 month and a maximum age of 17 years.Most(65.4%)of the study participants were under-5 years.The prevalence of FB in this study was 47.9%.The majority(54.8%)of the ENT FB incidence was through ingestion.Almost half(50.8%)of the ENT FB was removed through esophagoscopy.Among the foreign bodies,the coin was the most common(44.5%).Those less than 1 year were more likely to encounter FB than those 12 years and above(adust odds ratio[AOR]=27.7,95%confidence interval[CI]=4.7-164.6).Again,those of 5 to less than 12 years were more likely to encounter ENT FB than those 12 years and above(AOR=5.7,95%CI=1.2-26.3).Conclusions:Foreign bodies are a common occurrence in pediatric otorhinolaryngology surgeries in Tamale Teaching Hospital.Younger children are more likely to report for otorhinolaryngology surgeries for FB in Tamale Teaching Hospital.展开更多
文摘Introduction: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is exerting enormous public health and economic burden on many countries. To reduce these effects, the World Health Organization is urging countries, especially those in Africa, to increase public awareness of this disease. This study accessed whether public servants in Tamale, Ghana possess adequate knowledge and positive attitude towards SCD. Method: A total of 320 public servants within the Tamale Metropolis were invited to complete a questionnaire in a cross-sectional study. Data were analyzed using GraphPad 5.01. Association between different variables was tested. Results: The media was the main source of information for a majority of the 94.2% of respondents who had ever heard of SCD. Knowledge of respondents on transmission and testing of SCD was above 70% but they recorded less than 40% in SCD’s incurability, prevalence, effect of SCD on life span and pregnancy. The mean knowledge score of respondents was (11.1 ± 5.11)/22 or 50.7%. Only about a quarter knew their sickling status or that of their spouses before marriage or first child. Although 78.0% of respondents would call off marriages if they became aware of genetic incompatibility, the overall mean attitude, (2.857 ± 1.97)/ 7.0% or 40.8% was poor. There was a positive and significant correlation between the knowledge of respondents and their attitude towards SCD (r = 0.494, p < 0.0001) hence respondents working in the health sector and those with tertiary level education had better attitudes towards SCD. Conclusion: Public servants in Ghana have moderate knowledge of SCD but their attitude towards the disease was poor. Public servants least considered genetic incompatibility before entering conjugal relationships. This poor attitude means the campaign for the reduction of sickle cell gene transmission must be intensified. Governments need to increase their investment on educational campaigns aimed at changing attitude of persons through provision of more knowledge about SCD.
文摘Sachet water was introduced in Ghana to provide safe, hygienic and affordable instant drinking water to the general public. The aim of the study was to examine the effect of storage on the quality of sachet-vended water produced in the Tamale Metropolis. Two brands of sachet water were sampled freshly after production (Six packs or bags), transported to the laboratory and analysed. Samples of freshly prepared sachet water were then stored at ambient room temperature (at 27°C), in a refrigerator (at 4°C) and in the sun (at 40°C). Samples from these three storage methods were collected and analysed on a weekly and monthly basis for a period of three months. The physico-chemical parameters were within World Health Organization limits regardless of the mode of storage. The pH of sachet water ranged from 6.69 to 7.89 with a mean of 7.38 ± 0.31. There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) in the physico-chemical parameters for the sachet water under the different storage conditions over the period. The concern however was the low concentration of these major ions, sodium, potassium, total hardness, calcium and magnesium which seem to pose direct health concerns. The counts of total heterotrophic bacteria ranged from 0.0 to 73 cfu/1ml with a mean of 19.16 (SD = 21.61) of the sachet water samples. Total heterotrophic bacteria regrowth was observed on the third week in all brands stored and gradually deceased numerically throughout the study period. Total coliform regrowth ranged from 0.0 to 5 cfu/100 ml. There was significant difference (p Based on the findings of this study, it is recommended that Food and Drugs Authority and Ghana standard Board should ensure minerals concentrations of sachet water are improved to meet the general dietary requirement.
文摘In 1907,military leader Robert Baden-Powell started the Boy Scouts Association in England as the British colonial government officers instituted Tamale village as the administrative centre of the Northern Territories Protectorate.Sam Yarney worked with Frank Collyer the European bank cashier and scoutmaster who started the Boy Scouts in the Gold Coast Colony in 1914,the year the First World War started.In 1922,Governor Gordon Guggisberg,who was brigadier general during the war was the chief scout.He reorganized the Local Boy Scouts Association in the Tamale Government School that received select boys from various schools in the Northern Territories Protectorate.The schoolboys excelled in the Standard VII and Civil Service Examinations to work with the government institutions and train as teachers and telegraphists.Arthur James Philbrick the chief scout commissioner of the Northern Territories employed Yarney as the assistant scout commissioner in the Southern Province to take on the staff of the reorganized Tamale Local Boy Scouts Association and register the 1st Tamale Troop.The scout officers subscribed to a Scout Fund to buy kit,for the schoolboys who passed the Tenderfoot Tests to buy uniforms and perform at events.
文摘Most parts of the world are rapidly urbanizing. In sub-Saharan Africa, towns are urbanizing at a faster pace than earlier predicted. Also, large portions of rural settings have been gradually moving towards urbanization. The Tamale Metropolis has been rated as the fastest-growing metropolis in Sub-Saharan Africa. City planning and concerns about the need for open-space creation have been a major challenge due to poor adherence to standards in the building codes. This study was conducted to assess the role of open space in human settlement development in the Tamale Metropolis. The study sampled the views of 157 residents who stay closed to community open spaces in five suburbs of the metropolis. Key informant interviews were also conducted with officials from the Town and Country Planning Department. The study revealed that most residents spend leisure by taking a walk in the neighborhood or idling in outdoor spaces. Also, the majority of the residents had poor knowledge of institutional and land administration. This often led to non-adherence to regulations and this affects open spaces in the metropolis. Common among residents is also a poor appreciation of the importance of open space and this results in encroachment. The Town and Country Planning Department should institute sanctions and stringent measures to deter offenders. Also, public seminars should be used to educate residents on the need to adhere to planning and building codes. Lastly, the study recommends strong collaboration between the various institutions engaged in land administration to facilitate effective provision and preservation of quality open spaces in the metropolis.
文摘There is a perpetual problem of partial or complete roof collapse within the Tamale Metropolis and other parts of Ghana.This has become an issue of grave public concern since this menace affects both public buildings of all kinds(schools,offices,churches,mosque etc.)as well as domestic buildings.This research sets out to conduct comprehensive investigations into the nature of roof failures,causes,and effects and then propose remedial actions towards stemming the tide.The study employed the use of roof construction affirmation surveys,questionnaires,interviews and focus group discussions.Relevant information synthesized indicates that the roof type,construction materials,building type and environmental conditions are crucial causative factors.Major consequences of roof failures include damage to personal belongings and exposure to inclement weather conditions,the psychological trauma victims are subjected and pressure on incomes and living conditions as a result of the cost of repair or replacement of the roofs.It is recommended that expert advice be sought in checking maintenance requirements of existing roofs in the study area and also during the design and construction of new roofs.Tree planting programmes for this heavily deforested region should be encouraged.The use of green timber for roof construction must be replaced with well-seasoned ones.Proper construction detailing and placement openings buildings should be done so that wind flow during a windstorm is optimized.
文摘The research seeks to understand the effects of internal courtyards on thermal comfort conditions in compound houses in Ghana’s Tamale Metropolitan area.Internal courtyards are an integral part of the design of compound houses in this location.Their inclusion in building designs is largely as a point of domestic activity such as cooking and cleaning and also for social interaction.However,a lot of interchanges in thermal conditions between structures and the outdoors take place within these internal courtyards.Various design details of the building will engender different thermal responses of the internal courtyard.This paper assesses thermal comfort in compound houses as against bungalow type houses in the Tamale Metropolis,Ghana by the application of the Predicted Percentage of Dissatisfied Persons(PPD)and Predicted Mean Votes(PMV)model.This prototype compares with the International Standards Organization(ISO)7730 and American Society of Heating,Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers(ASHRAE)Standard 55(estimated values between 23℃-26℃seen as the allowable temperatures).Ambient indoor conditions(dry bulb temperature and relative humidity)of five(5)buildings each from the two building typologies from were recorded over a period of ten calendar months.These ambient conditions were analyzed,consequently generating the Predicted Percentage of Dissatisfied Persons(PPD)and Predicted Mean Votes(PMV)recordings.The investigations uncovered relatively high PPD-PMV recordings relating to the Bungalow type buildings while the compound houses attune to the comfort zone.The Actual Mean Votes(AMV)of residents suggests the two building typologies are all rated comfortable however;the compound houses are rated above the bungalow type houses.
基金Ghana Organization for Maternal and Child Health(GOMaCH)。
文摘Objective:This present study investigated the prevalence,characteristics,and management of ear,nose,and throat(ENT)foreign body(FB)in the pediatric population of Tamale.Study Design:Retrospective observational study for otorhinolaryngology surgeries from 2019 to 2022 for children aged 17 years and below at Tamale Teaching Hospital.Methods:A checklist created was used to collect data from the Otorhinolaryngology Surgeries records from 2019 to 2022.Chi-square and binary logistics regression analysis were done for associations.The level of statistical significance was set at 0.05.Results:Two hundred and sixty-three cases were included in this study,and the mean age of the study participants was(4.3±3.8)years with a minimum age of 1 month and a maximum age of 17 years.Most(65.4%)of the study participants were under-5 years.The prevalence of FB in this study was 47.9%.The majority(54.8%)of the ENT FB incidence was through ingestion.Almost half(50.8%)of the ENT FB was removed through esophagoscopy.Among the foreign bodies,the coin was the most common(44.5%).Those less than 1 year were more likely to encounter FB than those 12 years and above(adust odds ratio[AOR]=27.7,95%confidence interval[CI]=4.7-164.6).Again,those of 5 to less than 12 years were more likely to encounter ENT FB than those 12 years and above(AOR=5.7,95%CI=1.2-26.3).Conclusions:Foreign bodies are a common occurrence in pediatric otorhinolaryngology surgeries in Tamale Teaching Hospital.Younger children are more likely to report for otorhinolaryngology surgeries for FB in Tamale Teaching Hospital.
