University of Ghana Readers

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The Readers are a collection of essays reflecting developments in the discipline or sub-discipline over several years. They are meant to highlight Legon’s contribution to knowledge development over the last 65 years. The books include articles by many luminaries, Professors and Lecturers past and present.

Each Reader will be essential reading for senior undergraduates, graduate students and professionals in the field concerned. They will give the students and even the faculty themselves a better understanding of their roles as participants in an on-going intellectual activity and tradition.

But the intended audience is not limited to academia – each reader presents the face of its unit to the wider community, both in Ghana and abroad, and will be useful to anyone who wants to know something of what is going on in that field at the University of Ghana.

All the books are being published by Ghanaian publishers, at affordable prices.

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    A Review of Population-Based Studies on Hypertension in Ghana
    (2013-12-09) Addo, J.; Agyemang, C.; Smeeth, L.; Aikins, A.D.; Edusei, A.K.; Ogedegbe, G.
    Hypertension is becoming a common health problem worldwide with increasing life expectancy and increasing prevalence of risk factors. Epidemiological data on hypertension in Ghana is necessary to guide policy and develop effective interventions. A review of population-based studies on hypertension in Ghana was conducted by a search of the PUBMED database, supplemented by a manual search of bibliographies of the identified articles and through the Ghana Medical Journal. A single reviewer extracted data using standard data collection forms. Eleven studies published on hypertension with surveys conducted between 1973 and 2009 were identified. The prevalence of hypertension was higher in urban than rural areas in studies that covered both types of area and increased with increasing age (prevalence ranging from 19.3% in rural to 54.6% in urban areas). Factors associated with high blood pressure included increasing body mass index, increased saltconsumption, family history of hypertension and excessive alcohol intake. The levels of hypertension detection, treatment and control were generally low (control rates ranged from 1.7% to 12.7%). An increased burden of hypertension should be expected in Ghana as life expectancy increasesand with rapid urbanisation. Without adequate detection and control, this will translate into a higherincidence of stroke and other adverse health outcomes for which hypertension is an established risk factor. Prevention and control of hypertension in Ghana is thus imperative and any delays in instituting preventive measures would most likely pose a greater challenge on the already overburdened health system.