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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    The Socio-Cultural and Socio-Economic Context of Africa’s Chronic Disease Burden
    (2013-12-09) Aikins, A.D.
    There is increasing recognition that the socio-cultural and socio-economic contexts are important mediating factors for chronic non-communicable disease risks and experiences. In this chapter I situate the burden of NCDs in Ghana and sub-Saharan Africa within the socio-cultural and socio-economic contexts. Drawing on available research evidence I discuss the role of social and cultural norms and socio-economic status of individuals and nations on the major risk factors of NCDs: diets, physical activity, alcohol overconsumption and smoking. I consider the implications for research and intervention.
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    Diabetes in Ghana: A Review of Research on Prevalence, Experiences and Healthcare
    (2013-12-09) Aikins, A.D.; Owusu-Dabo, E.; Agyemang, C.
    Diabetes is a major cause of adult morbidity and death in Ghana. In this chapter we review empirical studies on diabetes in Ghana to highlight trends in prevalence as well as medical and social responses to its public health challenges. We conducted by a search of the PUBMED and Psycinfo databases, supplemented by a manual search of bibliographies of the identified articles and through the Ghana Medical Journal as well as local sources of literature available across public libraries. The key findings are as follow. The prevalence of diabetes has risen from 0.2% in the late 1950s (among a community of men in Ho) to 6.0% in 2009 (among a community of men in Kumasi). In Accra, a prevalence of 6.4% was recorded in a mixed community in the late 1990s and 9.1% among civil servants in 2006. Prevalence rates of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and impaired fasting glucose (IFG), when measured are double or treble the diabetes prevalence, which suggests that higher numbers of individuals are at risk of developing diabetes in the future. People living with diabetes experience complex psychosocial challenges including psychological and emotional insecurities, and limited social support. Management and self-care is poor, and healer-shopping between medical systems is common. Major limitations exist with diabetes care including poor diabetes education, a lack of guidelines for diabetes care, erratic supply of essential diabetes drugs at health facilities and poorly trained health care professionals to manage diabetes including doctors, nurses and dietitians. We consider challenges for research, healthcare and policy.
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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.