http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/1409 HPER Tue, 21 Apr 2026 20:14:22 GMT 2026-04-21T20:14:22Z http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/8842 Nutrition education during pregnancy: Are final year midwifery trainees ready to offer this service? Christiana, Nsiah- Asamoah; Ampofo, Evelyn Asamoah Midwives provide most of the maternity services, including nutritional counseling and education services. In Ghana, there is scarce evidence regarding the competency of midwives in providing sound nutritional advice to pregnant women. Therefore, the aim of this research was to assess the nutritional knowledge levels of final year midwifery students. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted, in which 562 final year midwifery students from six Midwifery Training Institutions answered 20 multiple-choice questions on nutritional-related issues during pregnancy. An average score of 9.8 (approximately 49%) was obtained by the respondents. Most (>70%) of the respondents were knowledgeable of the ideal time to start taking folic acid when planning to be pregnant and the effects of high alcohol intake during pregnancy. Key areas that require attention included recommended weight gain during pregnancy, sources and functions of micronutrients, such as folic acid, iron, vitamin C, calcium and iodine during pregnancy, and nutritional management of pregnancy-related conditions like pregnancy-induced hypertension, nausea and heartburn. The findings of this study support other reports that midwives need more training in human nutrition; and it has important implications for professional planning of curricula for midwifery education Sun, 01 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/8842 2017-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/8833 Mothers’ and Grandmothers’ misconceptions and socio-cultural factors as barriers to exclusive breastfeeding: A qualitative study involving Health Workers in two rural districts of Ghana Nsiah-AsamoahID, Christiana; Teye Doku, David; AgblortiI, Samuel Background Education on exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) practices is usually given in the form of health talks by health workers (HWs). The need for HWs to be well-informed about cultural practices and misconceptions that act as barriers to EBF has been documented in literature. This information can guide HWs in developing interventions such as health talks which are culturally sensitive. However, this has not been explored from the perspectives of HWs in Ghana. In this paper, we report mothers’ and grandmothers’ misconceptions and cultural practices that are barriers to EBF in two rural districts in Ghana from the perspectives of Community Health Workers and Community Health Volunteers. Methods We used qualitative data collected in the Kwahu Afram Plains South and North Districts of Ghana through nine focus group discussions (FGDs) among HWs and followed the data saturation principle. All FGDs were audio-taped, transcribed verbatim and translated from local dialects to English. The emerging themes were used in writing a narrative account, guided by the principles of the thematic analysis. Results Our main findings included mothers’ and grandmothers’ perceptions that HWs themselves do not practice EBF. Mothers had the perception that grandmothers did not practice EBF but their children grew well, and gestures of babies suggested their readiness to start eating. Misconceptions revealed included beliefs that breastmilk is watery in nature and does not satisfy infants. Another misconception was that babies gain weight faster when not exclusively breastfed but fed on infant formulas. A custom of giving corn flour mixed with water or light porridge during the first few days after birth to welcome newborns was also reported. Conclusions The reports of the HWs revealed that several socio-cultural factors and misconceptions of mothers and grandmothers negatively influence EBF practices of mothers. Findings from this study highlight the need for HWs to provide culturally appropriate counselling services on breastfeeding not only to mothers but also to grandmothers and fathers in order to promote EBF and reap its benefits. Wed, 01 Jan 2020 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/8833 2020-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/8826 Managing Overweight and Obesity in Ghana from a Cultural Lens: The Complementary Role of Behaviour Modification Hagan, Jnr.; John, Elvis; Nsiah-Asamoah, Christiana; Hormenu, Thomas; Pollmann, Dietmar; Schack, Thomas Abstract Extant epidemiological and social diagnosis information shows an alarming upsurge in the prevalence of overweight and obesity over the last decade in developing countries including Ghana. Despite literature on the dangers and associated risk factors of these two health related constructs is well-written and documented, there seems to be a distinct knowledge gap on cultural influences that may trigger the onset of overweight and obesity, and related comorbidities. This review paper provides a general overview on overweight and obesity, and presents a supportive evidence of their rising prevalence as well as associated overall implications on public health in Ghana. Additionally, the paper explores how indigenous cultural perceptions, beliefs and norms impact on dietary and physical activity behaviours of the people. Based on available evidence, the complementary role of behaviour modification towards the management of overweight and obesity is suggested. The PEN-3 model as an appropriate cultural framework is proposed for future empirical investigations. This would afford programme planners to assess how to design culturally underpinned appropriate intervention programmes that would positively influence long term behavioural practices of the local people. Mon, 01 Jan 2018 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/8826 2018-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/8822 Management and Care of Malnourished Children: Gaps in their Knowledge Levels of Final-Year Community Health Nursing Trainees Nsiah-Asamoah, C; Ayensu, J; Owusu, K Objective: Community Health Nurses are usually the first to identify malnourished children in the community and refer them to the hospital. Therefore, they should have adequate knowledge about malnutrition in children and be conversant applying WHO’s protocol for managing malnutrition. Hence, the aim of this study was to examine the knowledge levels of final-year community health nursing trainees regarding the causes, signs and symptoms, management and prevention of malnutrition in children. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study in which 200 final-year trainees completed a self- administered questionnaire. Results: Generally, trainees’ knowledge about the causes and prevention of malnutrition in children was good. However, their knowledge levels on the management of malnutrition in children were poor. Majority (91%) of the respondents did not know that the first step during the stabilization phase is to prevent hypoglycemia in malnourished children. Again, majority (69%) of the respondents did not know that iron should not be given to malnourished children during the stabilization phase. Most (66.0%) of the respondents did not know that children with severe acute malnutrition should be assessed for appetite, medical complications and oedema. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that there are gaps in nursing students’ nutritional knowledge in the management of malnutrition in children. Findings from this study demonstrate the need to update and strengthen the content of the nutrition curriculum by including specific pediatric nutrition courses or topics in the training of community health nurses. Mon, 01 Jan 2018 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/8822 2018-01-01T00:00:00Z