Browsing by Author "Afari-Asiedu, S."
Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
Results Per Page
Sort Options
Item An assessment of the likely acceptability of vaginal microbicides for HIV prevention among women in rural Ghana(BMC Women's Health, 2012) Abdulai, M.A.; Baiden, F.; Adjei, G.O.; Afari-Asiedu, S.; Adjei, K.; Tawiah, C.; Newton, S.Background The findings of the CAPRISA tenofovir studies have raised expectations that soon an approved microbicide would be available. However it is in only a limited number of countries in sub-Saharan Africa that the acceptability of microbicides has been evaluated. We conducted a study to assess the acceptability of vaginal microbicides among women in rural Ghana. Methods The study employs a mixed method design, using cross-sectional survey and focus group discussions to further understand issues related to awareness and attitudes towards microbicide development, acceptability and perceived partner attitudes among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in two health facilities in the Kintampo North municipality of Ghana. We used logistic regression to identify possible predictors of microbicide acceptability among the women surveyed. Results Although only 2% of the 504 women were aware of the development of microbicides, 95% were willing to use one when it became available. The cost of a microbicide that will be considered affordable to 50% of women was US$0.75. Although there were concerns about possible wetting effect, gel or creams were the most preferred (68% of women) formulation. Although 71% thought their partners will find microbicide acceptable, apprehensions about the feasibility of and consequences of failed discreet use were evident. 49% of women were concerned about possible negative effect of microbicide on sexual pleasure. Perceived partner acceptability (O.R. =17.7; 95%C.I. 5.03-62.5) and possibility of discreet use (O.R. =8.9 95%C.I. 2.63-30.13) were the important predictors of microbicide acceptability. Conclusion Achieving microbicide acceptability among male partners should be made a part of the promotive interventions for ensuring effective use among women in rural Ghana.Item Volunteering for Health Services in Kintampo, Ghana: In Whose Interest?(University of Ghana, 2015-07) Afari-Asiedu, S.To address the challenge of health workers shortage, Ghana like many African countries, uses community volunteers to assist in the provision of certain health services to rural and hard-to-reach communities. However, few studies have been done in the country to ascertain the motivation for volunteering and the retention of these volunteers. Adopting the Homan’s Social Exchange Theory as its theoretical perspective, this study examines the motivation for volunteering and the retention of volunteers working on health-related activities at the community level in Ghana. Using a sequential mix-method design, a survey was carried out among 205 volunteers in Kintampo North and South districts. This was followed with twelve (12) In-depth Interviews among health workers and community opinion leaders and two (2) Focus Group Discussion sessions with volunteers. The results reveal that personal interest (32.9%) and community selection of volunteers through community leaders (30.2%) were the main motivation for volunteering and the retention of volunteers. Others were monetary and non-monetary incentives. The Ministry of Health, Ghana Health Service, NGOs and other volunteer user agencies are encouraged to strengthen monetary and non-monetary incentives as key motivation for volunteering and the retention of volunteers. Also, attention should be paid to community selection of volunteers through community leaders since it gives volunteers traditional authorization.Item Volunteering for Health Services in the Middle Part of Ghana: In Whose Interest?(International Journal of Health Policy and Management, 2018-09) Afari-Asiedu, S.; Asante, K.P.; Senah, K.; Abdulai, M.A.; Afranie, S.; Mahama, E.; Anane, E.A.; Abukari, M.; Darko, M.L.; Febir, L.G.; Owusu-Agyei, S.Background In many developing countries like Ghana, community volunteers assist in the provision of certain health services to rural and hard-to-reach communities. This study examined factors that influence the motivation and retention of community-based volunteers supporting with work on health-related activities at the community level in Ghana. Methods Using a sequential mixed-method design, a cross-sectional survey was carried out among 205 selected community-based volunteers in Kintampo North Municipality (KNM) and Kintampo South District (KSD) of Ghana between December, 2014 and February, 2015. Qualitative interviews, including 12 in-depth interviews (IDIs) among health workers and community opinion leaders and 2 focus group discussion (FGD) sessions with volunteers were conducted. Results Personal interest (32.7%) and community leaders’ selection of volunteers (30.2%) were key initial reasons for volunteering. Monetary incentives such as allowance for extra duty (88.8%) and per diem (49.3%) and non-monetary incentives such as T-shirts/bags (45.4 %), food during training (52.7%), community recognition, social prestige and preferential treatment at health facilities were the facilitators of volunteers’ retention. There was a weak evidence (P = .051) to suggest that per diem for their travels is a reason for volunteers’ satisfaction. Conclusion Community-based volunteers’ motivation and retention were influenced by their personal interest in the form of recognition by community members and health workers, community leaders’ selection and other nonmonetary incentives. Volunteers were motivated by extra-duty allowance but not per diems paid for accommodation and feeding when they travel. Organizations that engage community volunteers are encouraged to strengthen the selection of volunteers in collaboration with community leaders, and to provide both non-monetary and monetary incentives to motivate volunteers.