Browsing by Author "Quarshie, E.N.B."
Now showing 1 - 9 of 9
Results Per Page
Sort Options
Item Community leaders' attitudes towards and perceptions of suicide and suicide prevention in Ghana(Transcultural Psychiatry, 2019-03) Osafo, J.; Akotia, C.S.; Quarshie, E.N.B.; Andoh-Arthur, J.; Boakye, K.E.Community leaders can play an important role in suicide prevention because they are potential gatekeepers in resource-poor settings. To investigate their attitudes towards suicide and the role they play when people are in suicidal crisis, 10 community leaders were interviewed in a rural community in Ghana. Thematic Analysis of the interviews showed that leaders held two conflicting views about suicide: health crisis and moral taboo. They also viewed the reasons for suicide as psychosocial strains more than psychiatric factors. Though they viewed suicide as a moral taboo, they maintained a more neutral position in their gatekeeping role: providing support for persons in suicidal crisis more often than exerting a condemnatory attitude. Implications for gatekeeper training are discussed.Item “It was touching”: Experiences and views of students in the June 3 flood and fire disaster relief response volunteerism in Accra, Ghana(Cogent Psychology, 2018-06) Quarshie, E.N.B.; Peprah, J.; Asante, P.Y.; Verstraaten-Bortier, M.; Abbey, E.A.; Agyei, F.Evidence from Africa on the motivations and experiences of student volunteers in community disaster relief response programmes are rare. This study explores the experiences and views of the students, who volunteered at the emergency mental health relief response site after the 3 June 2015 flood and fire disaster in Accra, and the implications for future professional response work in Ghana. Thematic analysis of 15 qualitative in-depth interviews showed that, overall, the student volunteers were both self-oriented and other-oriented. The students viewed work at the emergency response site as a touching experience and a call of duty. The response work provided the students with practical pathways for linking their clinical and community learning experiences. This study recommends that, rather than an ad hoc response team, the Ghana Psychological Association (GPA) should consider setting up a standing disaster relief response network to provide mental health relief and recovery response in community emergency situations in Ghana.Item Multiple perpetrator rape in Ghana: offenders, victims and offence characteristics(Journal of Sexual Aggression, 2018-01) Quarshie, E.N.B.; Davies, P.A.; Badasu, M.I.A.; Tagoe, T.; Otoo, P.A.; Afriyie, P.O.Multiple perpetrator rape (MPR) is criminalised in Ghana but there is a dearth of research and official statistics on the phenomenon. This study explores some of the key characteristics of MPR in Ghana as reported in the media. Keyword search of the news archives of 9 Ghanaian media outlets generated 57 cases of MPR reported from January 2000 through June 2016. Content analysis of the cases showed 61 all-female victims and 57 all-male perpetrator groups. The average victim age was 17.9 years and the modal perpetrator-group size was two. The majority of the victims knew at least one member of the perpetrator groups. The perpetrator groups approached their victims outdoors but raped them indoors, using violent techniques to compel compliance. Although the characteristics of MPR in Ghana, as observed in this study, are comparatively similar to those found in other African countries, further studies are recommended for a nuanced understanding of MPR in Ghana.Item Police Views of Suicidal Persons and the Law Criminalizing Attempted Suicide in Ghana: A Qualitative Study With Policy Implications(SAGE Open, 2017-09) Osafo, J.; Akotia, C.S.; Quarshie, E.N.B.; Boakye, K.E.; Andoh-Arthur, J.The penal code of Ghana condemns suicide attempt. The present study sought to explore the views of the police on persons who attempt suicide and the law criminalizing the act. Qualitative in-depth interviews were used to explore the views of 18 officers of the Ghana Police Service. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis technique. Findings showed that the police officers profiled suicide attempters as needy, enigmatic, ignorant, and blameworthy. Majority (n = 14) of them disagreed with the law and suggested a repeal, whereas only four of them agreed with the law. Regardless of their positions on criminalization, they showed an inclination to help, rather than arrest, when confronted with such persons in line of their duty. Educating the police on suicidal behavior may help to deepen their understanding and help improve the way they handle suicidal persons. This may also strengthen police suicide prevention gatekeeping obligations. © 2017, © The Author(s) 2017.Item The prevalence and correlates of suicidal behaviours (ideation, plan and attempt) among adolescents in senior high schools in Ghana(SSM - Population Health, 2017-12) Oppong Asante, K.; Kugbey, N.; Osafo, J.; Quarshie, E.N.B.; Sarfo, J.O.Suicide is recognised as the third leading cause of death among adolescents globally. There is however limited data on the prevalence and factors associated with suicide particularly in Ghana. To explore the prevalence and risk and protective factors associated with suicide in Ghana, a nationwide Global School-based Student Health Survey data collected among senior high school adolescents in Ghana was used. The prevalence of suicidal behaviours was 18.2%, 22.5% and 22.2% for suicidal ideation, suicidal plan and suicidal attempt respectively. In the final analysis, anxiety increases the odds of suicidal behaviour, even after controlling for other variables. Loneliness increases the odds of suicidal behaviour but after adjusting for other factors the odds remained for only suicidal plan. Being bullied, physically attacked, involved in a physical fight and food insecurity remained risk factors for suicidal behaviour (i.e. ideation, plan and attempt) after adjusting for other factors. Truancy was found as a risk factor for both suicidal ideation and plans but such effect diminished for suicidal plan after adjusting for other variables. Increasing number of close friends remained a risk factor for both suicidal plan and attempt but such effect diminished for suicidal ideation after adjusting for other variables. Parental understanding of adolescents’ problems and worries remained a significant protective factor for all the indices of suicidal behaviour after adjusting for other variables. Parental respect for privacy was protective of suicidal attempt but was not significant after adjusting for other variables. Early identification and intervention for at-risk adolescents in senior high schools, for example those experiencing different forms of physical abuse, drug and substance use and hunger can potentially reduce the prevalence of suicide among this population in Ghana. © 2017 The AuthorsItem The prevalence and correlates of suicidal behaviours (ideation, plan and attempt) among adolescents in senior high schools in Ghana.(ELSEVIER, 2017-12) Oppong Asante, K.; Kugbey, N.; Osafo, J.; Quarshie, E.N.B.; Sarfo, J.O.Suicide is recognised as the third leading cause of death among adolescents globally. There is however limiteddata on the prevalence and factors associated with suicide particularly in Ghana. To explore the prevalence andrisk and protective factors associated with suicide in Ghana, a nationwide Global School-based Student HealthSurvey data collected among senior high school adolescents in Ghana was used. The prevalence of suicidalbehaviours was 18.2%, 22.5% and 22.2% for suicidal ideation, suicidal plan and suicidal attempt respectively. Inthefinal analysis, anxiety increases the odds of suicidal behaviour, even after controlling for other variables.Loneliness increases the odds of suicidal behaviour but after adjusting for other factors the odds remained foronly suicidal plan. Being bullied, physically attacked, involved in a physicalfight and food insecurity remainedrisk factors for suicidal behaviour (i.e. ideation, plan and attempt) after adjusting for other factors. Truancy wasfound as a risk factor for both suicidal ideation and plans but such effect diminished for suicidal plan afteradjusting for other variables. Increasing number of close friends remained a risk factor for both suicidal plan andattempt but such effect diminished for suicidal ideation after adjusting for other variables. Parental under-standing of adolescents’problems and worries remained a significant protective factor for all the indices ofsuicidal behaviour after adjusting for other variables. Parental respect for privacy was protective of suicidalattempt but was not significant after adjusting for other variables. Early identification and intervention for at-risk adolescents in senior high schools, for example those experiencing different forms of physical abuse, drugand substance use and hunger can potentially reduce the prevalence of suicide among this population in Ghana.Item Prevalence of self‑harm among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender adolescents: a comparison of personal and social adversity with a heterosexual sample in Ghana(BMC Research Notes, 2020-06-03) Quarshie, E.N.B.; Waterman, M.G.; House, A.O.Objectives: We sought to estimate the prevalence of self-reported self-harm among adolescents identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) in Ghana, and compare self-reported personal and social adversities related to self-harm in this group to those in a random sample of heterosexual adolescents from the same locality. Results: A total of 444 adolescents aged 13-21 years, comprising 74 LGBT adolescents and 370 heterosexual adolescents, provided data. The lifetime prevalence estimate of self-harm was higher in the LGBT group (47%) than the heterosexual group (23%). The LGBT group reported a higher rate of self-harm during the previous 12 months (45%), compared to the heterosexual group (18%). LGBT adolescents reported more alcohol and substance use and more personal social adversities, including various forms of victimisation, than heterosexual adolescents. They were no more likely to report difficulty in making and keeping friends or schoolwork problems than were heterosexual adolescents.Item Psychologists in Ghana: analysis of the standing register(New Voices In Psychology, 2016) Quarshie, E.N.B.; Annor, F.; Tagoe, T.; Osei-Poku, E.; Andoh-Arthur, J.The maiden register of the Ghana Psychological Council published in September 2015 represents the first national official standing register of psychologists in Ghana. Drawing on this maiden register, this paper presents a seminal analysis of the distribution of psychologists in Ghana in terms of categories of specialisation, gender composition, areas of employment, location of practice, and institutions of training. A copy of the gazette of registered psychologists was obtained from the office of the registrar of the Ghana Psychological Council and quantitative content analysis was conducted on the list of registered mainstream psychologists. Among other things, the analysis shows that there are 166 (largely Ghanaiantrained) psychologists categorised into six main subfields in the country. Females represent the majority in terms of gender composition. Colleges/polytechnics/universities are the main areas of employment; the practising locations of 69.9% of the psychologists are in Accra, with no psychologist registered from the Brong-Ahafo and Upper East regions. Despite the challenges with the maiden register of psychologists in Ghana, the register does provide a good database for reflections on the availability, diversity and distribution of psychologists in Ghana.Item Self-harm with suicidal and non-suicidal intent in young people in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review(BMC Psychiatry, 2020-05-14) Quarshie, E.N.B.; Waterman, M.G.; House, A.O.Background: Self-harm, whether attributed to suicidal or non-suicidal motives, is associated with several poor outcomes in young people, including eventual suicide. Much of our understanding of self-harm in young people is based on literature from Europe (particularly, the UK), North America, and Australia. We aimed to synthesise the available evidence on prevalence, the commonly reported self-harm methods, correlates, risk and protective factors, and reasons for self-harm, in adolescents (aged 10–25 years) in sub-Saharan Africa. Method: We searched MEDLINE, PsycINFO, PubMed, African Journals OnLine, and African Index Medicus for records from 1950 through August 2019, without language restrictions. We supplemented the database searches by searching relevant portals for postgraduate theses, reference harvesting, contacting authors for unpublished studies, and hand searching relevant print sources. We applied narrative synthesis to the evidence. Results: Seventy-four studies from 18 sub-Saharan African countries met the inclusion criteria. The median lifetime prevalence estimate was 10·3% (interquartile range [IQR] 4·6% – 16·1%); median 12-month prevalence estimate was 16·9% (IQR: 11·5% – 25·5%); median 6-month prevalence estimate was 18·2% (IQR: 12·7% – 21·8%); and the median 1-month prevalence estimate was 3·2% (IQR: 2·5–14·8%). Studies from Western sub-Saharan Africa reported the highest 12-month prevalence estimates (median = 24·3%; IQR = 16·9% – 27·9%). Clinical samples commonly reported overdose, whereas self-cutting was most commonly reported in non-clinical samples. Academic failure, sexual, emotional, and physical abuse, romantic relationship problems, family conflict, depression, and previous self-harm were identified as key correlates of self-harm. No study reported protective factors against self-harm. Conclusion: Variation in estimates was explained by small sample sizes and variation in definitions and measures used. Exploration of associations, risks and protective factors was based upon concepts and measures derived from high income countries. More detailed and culturally sensitive research is needed to understand the context-specific risks and protective factors for self-harm in adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa.