Research Articles

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A research article reports the results of original research, assesses its contribution to the body of knowledge in a given area, and is published in a peer-reviewed scholarly journal. The faculty publications through published and on-going articles/researches are captured in this community

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Now showing 1 - 10 of 13
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    Negative life events and maternal mental illness: A study of elite pregnant women in Accra metropolis
    (International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences, 2023) Akorli, V.V.; Adjorlolo, S.; Puplampu, G.
    The vulnerability of maternal mental illness (MMI) such as anxiety and depression among childbearing women is heightened during the periods of pregnancy mainly because of negative life events (NLEs). However, a major caveat in the literature relates to the overwhelming focus on women from disadvantaged socioeconomic back ground. Little is known about NLEs and MMI among women with relatively better socioeconomic background and high educational status, termed in this study as elite pregnant women. The study investigates the prevalence of NLEs and MMI (i.e., depression and anxiety) as well as the relationship between NLEs and MMI among elite pregnant women. A cross sectional survey design was used to collect data from 210 respondents recruited from three purposively selected health facilities in Greater Accra metropolis, namely Nyaho Medical Centre, Pentecost Hospital and Abokobi Health Centre. Self-report measures of NLEs, depression and anxiety were administered to the respondent. Data were analyzed using both descriptive statistics and inferential statistics, namely Pearson correlation and hierarchical linear regression. The study revealed that majority (n = 136, 64.8 %) of the re spondents experienced at least particular NLEs and rated these events as stressful. The prevalence of symptoms of anxiety and depression were 42.4 % and 51.0 %, respectively. NLEs significantly and positively correlated with symptoms of anxiety but not with depression. Elite pregnant women are at risk of NLEs which can significantly influence their mental health. It is recommended that midwives and other health professionals pay attention to the NLEs of elite pregnant women for necessary support and intervention
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    Psychotic-like experiences and adverse life events in young people. Does gender matter
    (Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 2023) Adjorlolo, S.; Awortwe, V.; Anum, A.; Huang, K.Y.; Mamah, D.
    Background: Psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) and adverse life events (ALEs) are highly prevalent in sub Saharan Africa where gendered practices are also common. There is, however, a paucity of data on how the relationship between PLEs and life adversities is influenced by gender. The current study addressed this gap. Method: Data were collected from 1886 school-based young people (1174 females) in Ghana, West Africa using a cross-sectional survey methodology and analyzed using Chi-square, independent t-test, Pearson corre lation, and multivariate regression. Results: The results showed that victimization experiences, school stress and having a family member with mental illness were significantly associated with PLEs in both males and females. In contrast, substance misuse and experiences of head trauma correlated significantly with PLEs in females only. Conclusion: Life adversities constitute major risk factors for PLEs among school-based young people in Ghana, who could benefit from gender neutral and gender-sensitive intervention programming to remediate the effects of life adversities on PLEs.
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    Psychotic-like experiences and adverse life events in young people. Does gender matter?
    (Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 2023) Adjorlolo, S.; Awortwe, V.; Anum, A.; Huang, K.Y.; Mamah, D.
    Background: Psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) and adverse life events (ALEs) are highly prevalent in sub Saharan Africa where gendered practices are also common. There is, however, a paucity of data on how the relationship between PLEs and life adversities is influenced by gender. The current study addressed this gap. Method: Data were collected from 1886 school-based young people (1174 females) in Ghana, West Africa using a cross-sectional survey methodology and analyzed using Chi-square, independent t-test, Pearson corre lation, and multivariate regression. Results: The results showed that victimization experiences, school stress and having a family member with mental illness were significantly associated with PLEs in both males and females. In contrast, substance misuse and experiences of head trauma correlated significantly with PLEs in females only. Conclusion: Life adversities constitute major risk factors for PLEs among school-based young people in Ghana, who could benefit from gender neutral and gender-sensitive intervention programming to remediate the effects of life adversities on PLEs.
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    Psychotic-like experiences and adverse life events in young people. Does gender matter?
    (Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 2023) Adjorlolo, S.; Awortwe, V.; Anum, A.; Huang, K.Y.; Mamah, D.
    Background: Psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) and adverse life events (ALEs) are highly prevalent in sub Saharan Africa where gendered practices are also common. There is, however, a paucity of data on how the relationship between PLEs and life adversities is influenced by gender. The current study addressed this gap. Method: Data were collected from 1886 school-based young people (1174 females) in Ghana, West Africa using a cross-sectional survey methodology and analyzed using Chi-square, independent t-test, Pearson corre lation, and multivariate regression. Results: The results showed that victimization experiences, school stress and having a family member with mental illness were significantly associated with PLEs in both males and females. In contrast, substance misuse and experiences of head trauma correlated significantly with PLEs in females only. Conclusion: Life adversities constitute major risk factors for PLEs among school-based young people in Ghana, who could benefit from gender neutral and gender-sensitive intervention programming to remediate the effects of life adversities on PLEs.
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    Psychotic-like experiences and adverse life events in young people. Does gender matter?
    (Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 2023) Adjorlolo, S.; Awortwe, V.; Anum, A.; Huang, K.Y.; Mamah, D.
    Background: Psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) and adverse life events (ALEs) are highly prevalent in sub Saharan Africa where gendered practices are also common. There is, however, a paucity of data on how the relationship between PLEs and life adversities is influenced by gender. The current study addressed this gap. Method: Data were collected from 1886 school-based young people (1174 females) in Ghana, West Africa using a cross-sectional survey methodology and analyzed using Chi-square, independent t-test, Pearson corre lation, and multivariate regression. Results: The results showed that victimization experiences, school stress and having a family member with mental illness were significantly associated with PLEs in both males and females. In contrast, substance misuse and experiences of head trauma correlated significantly with PLEs in females only. Conclusion: Life adversities constitute major risk factors for PLEs among school-based young people in Ghana, who could benefit from gender neutral and gender-sensitive intervention programming to remediate the effects of life adversities on PLEs.
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    Positive and negative psychosis risk symptoms among adolescents in Ghana
    (Taylor & Francis Group, 2021) Adjorlolo, S.; Anum, A.
    Psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) have attracted increased scholarly attention; however, there are limited empirical studies in Africa where environmental risk factors for psychosis such as maltreatment are highly prevalent. The study investigated the prevalence and characteristics of PLEs, as well as the association between PLEs and behavioural maladies among adolescents in Ghana. Data were collected from 553 adolescents (girls = 322, 58.1%) using a cross-sectional survey design. The prevalence of the positive PLEs ranges from 3.8% to 41.2, whereas, for negative PLE, the prevalence ranges from 4.9% to 13% . The PLEs dimensions were significantly associated with depressive and anxiety symptoms, as well as suicidal tendency. Cluster analysis identified three groups of participants: normative, low risk and high risk for psychosis. The psychosis risk groups significantly reported more PLEs and behavioural maladies, com pared with the normative group. This preliminary study suggests that psychosis risk symptoms are prevalent in adolescents in Ghana.
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    Psychosis in adolescents in Africa: A scoping review for current understanding and future directions
    (Taylor & Francis Group, 2021) Adjorlolo, S.; Setordzi, M.
    Research into psychosis in adolescents is important in Africa in view of the high burden of mental disorders and prevalence of risk factors such as child maltreatment implicated in the etiology of mental health problems. In this paper, we synthesized the existing literature on psychosis in adolescents in Africa to understand current developments and chart a pathway for robust research agenda on psychosis. A search was conducted on electronic databases, including Africa Index Medicus and Scopus and selected journals for papers. Google, Google Scholar, reference list of papers selected for inclusion in the review and study authors were contacted for additional papers and grey literature. A total of 11 articles were included in this review and discussed under the following thematic areas:(1) assessment of psychosis; (2) prevalence of psychosis; (3) demographic/psychosocial correlates of psychosis; (4) clinical correlates of psychosis; (5) substance misuse and psychosis; and (6) psychosis literacy and help-seeking behavior. A pathway for research into psychosis centering on the representation of psychosis, risk and protective factors, management/treatment of psychosis and aforementioned thematic areas was proffered
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    Nurses’ and midwives’ perspectives on participation in national policy development, review and reforms in Ghana: a qualitative study
    (BMC Nursing, 2021) Acheampong, A.K.; Ohene, L.A.; Asante, I.N.A.; Kyei, J.; Dzansi, G.; Adjei, C.A.; Adjorlolo, S.; Boateng, F.; Woolley, P.; Nyante, F.; Aziato, L.
    Background: The World Health Organization has admonished member countries to strive towards achieving universal health coverage (UHC) through actionable health policies and strategies. Nurses and midwives have instrumental roles in achieving UHC via health policy development and implementation. However, there is a paucity of empirical data on nurses and midwives’ participation in policy development in Ghana. The current study explored nurses and midwives’ participation in policy development, reviews and reforms in Ghana. Methods: A qualitative descriptive exploratory design was adopted for this study. One-on-one individual interviews were conducted after 30 participants were purposefully selected. Data was audiotaped with permission, transcribed and analyzed inductively using the content analysis procedures. Results: Two main themes emerged from the data: participation in policy development and perspectives on policy reviews and reforms. The findings showed that during health policy development and reviews, nurses in Ghana were overlooked and unacknowledged. Policy reforms regarding bridging the pre-service preparation gap, staff development and motivation mechanisms and influence on admission into nursing schools were raised. Conclusion: The authors concluded that nurses and midwives are crucial members of the healthcare systems and their inputs in policy development and reviews would improve health delivery in Ghana.
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    Judicial Trustworthiness in Africa: Do Macro-Level Conditions Matter?
    (Crime & Delinquency, 2019-11-01) Adjorlolo, S.; Boateng, F.D.
    The current study’s primary goal was to assess the extent to which specific macro-level conditions cause variation in citizens’ levels of trust in courts across 33 African countries. Using an advanced analytical technique, results revealed that a country’s levels of democracy has a significant and positive relationship with citizens’ trust in the court. However, institutional corruption and crime (homicide rate) had significant and negative relationship with citizens’ trust in the court. Moreover, findings observed indicate that the relationship between macro-level factors and trust in the court is mediated by region of the country. Policy implications of the findings are discussed
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    Promoting maternal mental health in Ghana: An examination of the involvement and professional development needs of nurses and midwives
    (Nurse Education in Practice, 2019-08-18) Adjorlolo, S.; Aziato, L.; Akorli, V.V.
    Insight into the involvement and professional development needs (PDNs) of non-mental health nurses and midwives with respect to promoting maternal mental health is necessary to integrate mental health services into primary healthcare delivery. Using a cross-sectional survey and self-report methodology, the study investigates the involvement, PDNs, knowledge and attitudes of 309 nurses and midwives in promoting maternal mental health in Ghana. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, namely Analysis of Variance, bivariate and logistic regression, and cluster analysis. The results showed that the majority of the participants (94%) indicated they were involved in promoting maternal mental health. Knowledge about maternal mental health correlated significantly with involvement in promoting maternal mental health (p < .05), whereas attitude towards maternal mental health did not. An overwhelming proportion of the participants (83%–94%) expressed profound interest in professional development education across a range of maternal mental health areas. Enhancing the mental health knowledge-base of nurses and midwives could contribute significantly to promoting maternal mental health.