Browsing by Author "NYARKO, K."

Filter results by typing the first few letters
Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Academic Stress, Academic Performance and the Psychological Well-Being of Senior High School Remedial Students in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana
    (University Of Ghana, 2015-07) Duncan-Williams, B.; Opare-Henaku, A.; NYARKO, K.; University Of Ghana, College of Humanities, School of Social Sciences, Department of Psychology
    This study investigated the influence of academic stress and academic performance on the psychological well-being of Senior High School (SHS) remedial students ranging from 18 to 25 years. The moderating role of social support, africultural coping, gender and socio-economic status in the relationship between academic stress and psychological well-being were also investigated. The moderating role of academic self-efficacy, in the relationship between academic performance and psychological well-being was also investigated. Data was collected from One hundred and eighty-two (182) SHS remedial students from two remedial schools in Accra. Questionnaires administered were the Student-Life Stress Inventory (SLSI), Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS- 42), the Africultural Coping Systems Inventory (ACSI), Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) and the Academic Self-Efficacy Scale. Results from the analysis using the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient indicated a positive relationship between academic stress and psychological well-being (increasing scores on the DASS-42 indicates poorer psychological well-being). Similarly, Academic performance was not related to psychological well-being. Further analysis using, Hierarchical Multiple Regression analyses showed that social support, africultural coping, gender, and socio-economic status did not moderate the relationship between stress and psychological well-being. Lastly, an analysis using the independent t-test indicated gender differences in the psychological well-being of the students.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Determinants of low birth weight deliveries at five referral hospitals in Western Area Urban district, Sierra Leone
    (Italian Journal of Pediatrics, 2021) Kargbo, D.K.; NYARKO, K.; Sackey, S.; Addo-Lartey, A.; Kenu, E.; Anto, F.
    Background: Low birth weight (LBW) contributes significantly to infant and child mortality. Each year, about 20 1million deliveries are LBW with 96.5% occurring in developing countries. Whiles the incidence of LBW is reducing in other districts of Sierra Leone, it has been reported to be increasing in the Western Area Urban district. Determining the risk factors in a specific geographic area is important for identifying mothers at risk and thereby for planning and taking appropriate action. The current study sought to identify factors associated with LBW deliveries in the Western Area Urban district of Sierra Leone. Methods: A hospital-based unmatched 1:2 case-control study was conducted among mothers who delivered live singleton babies from November, 2019 to February, 2020 in five referral health facilities. Mothers were conveniently sampled and sequentially enrolled into the study after delivery. Their antenatal care cards were reviewed and a pretested questionnaire administered to the mothers. Data analysis was done using Stata 15.0 and association between maternal socio-demographic, socio-economic, obstetric and lifestyle factors and LBW assessed using bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses. Results: A total of 438 mothers (146 cases and 292 controls), mean age: 24.2 (±5.8) and 26.1 (±5.5) years for cases and controls respectively participated in the study. Multivariable analysis revealed that being unemployed (AoR = 2.52, 95% CI 1.16–5.49, p = 0.020), having anaemia during pregnancy (AoR = 3.88, 95% CI 1.90–7.90, p < 0.001), having less than 2 years inter-pregnancy interval (AoR = 2.53, 95% CI 1.11–5.73, p = 0.026), and smoking cigarettes during pregnancy (AoR = 4.36, 95% CI 1.94–9.80, p < 0.001) were significantly associated with having LBW babies. Conclusion: Factors associated with LBW identified were unemployment, anaemia during pregnancy, < 2 years inter-pregnancy interval and cigarette smoking during pregnancy. Health care providers should screen and sensitize mothers on the risk factors of LBW during antenatal sessions.