The Absence of ENT Clinics and Healthcare Access for Residents in Adankwame, Ghana

Cecilia Opoku Agyemang; Oscar Agyemang Opoku

doi:10.56741/hesmed.v4i01.800

Authors

Cecilia Opoku Agyemang Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology https://orcid.org/0009-0007-7560-8394
Oscar Agyemang Opoku
oscarthesis@gmail.com
University of Cape Coast https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5665-5685

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.56741/hesmed.v4i01.800

Keywords:

Adankwame, Clinics, ENT, Health Seeking, Residents

Abstract

The idea of bringing ENT services closer to the community remains a key component of reducing the burden of ENT conditions across low and middle-income countries such as Ghana. Yet there remains a shortage of special ENT clinics and specialists to manage these conditions. In light of this, the study aimed to assess the effects of non-existent ENT clinics on residents seeking health care at Adankwame Health Center in the Atwima Nwabiagya North District. A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was used with a quantitative approach. The population for the study was all residents above 15 years who visited Adankwame Health Center within the period of study. With the aid of the convenience sampling technique, 100 respondents were selected for the study. Data collection was done with a well-structured questionnaire after an ethical clearance had been sought from the Institutional Review Committee. The data collected was analyzed into frequency tables, pie charts, and graphs, using data analysis software and SPSS 25.0. The study concluded that general knowledge and awareness of the ENT clinic were high among residents who attended Adankwame Health Centre. Hearing impairments, chronic ENT conditions, and delayed speech were some of the physiological effects identified. Parental depression probably due to children suffering from delayed speech and language was the psychological effect identified in this study. The financial burden was seen in all aspects as respondents complained of the high cost of transportation in seeking ENT care from secondary and tertiary facilities outside the Adankwame community.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Cecilia Opoku Agyemang, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

is a multifaceted academic and researcher, currently pursuing her PhD. As a lecturer at the University of Cape Coast (UCC), affiliate lecturer at the ENT School, and adjunct lecturer at Christian Service University College, Cecilia has established herself as an expert in her field. Her research interests converge on public health and nursing, with a specific focus on ear, nose, and throat (ENT) structures. Cecilia's unique blend of quantitative and qualitative research skills enables her to tackle complex health issues from multiple angles. (email: cecilia@entnursingsch.edu.gh).

Oscar Agyemang Opoku, University of Cape Coast

is a young researcher and industry player. As a Geography Scholar and a Development Planning Officer, Dr. Opoku has equipped himself with skills in both qualitative and quantitative methodologies by fusing descriptive analysis, explanatory analysis, interview and questionnaire data, thematic & content analysis, regression, and Structural Equation Modelling. His robust skills in mixed methods permit him to confront complex public health issues and developmental challenges from different perspectives. His research interests cover Health Geography, Economic Geography, Development Planning, climate change, Disaster Risk Reduction Planning, Project Management, and Business Management. He is a reviewer of many peer-reviewed and Scopus-indexed journals worldwide. (email: Oscar.opoku@stu.ucc.edu.gh).

References

World Health Organization (WHO). (2021). World report on the hearing. World Health Organization.

Mulwafu, W., Ensink, R. J., Kuper, H., & Fagan, J. J. (2016). Prevalence and causes of hearing impairment in Africa. Tropical Medicine & International Health, 21(2), 158-165. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/tmi.12640

Pulido, J. S., Pankratz, V. S., Winters, J. L., Cameron, J. D., & Arciero, C. A. (2016). ENT care service utilization and hearing loss prevention. World Journal of Otorhinolaryngology, 5(2), 89-95.

Fagan, J. J., & Jacobs, M. (2013). Survey of ENT services in Africa: Need for a comprehensive intervention. Global Health Action, 6(1), 19320.

Fasunla, A. J., Samdi, M., & Nwaorgu, O. G. B. (2013). An audit of ear, nose and throat diseases in a tertiary health institution in South-western Nigeria. The Pan African Medical Journal, 14, 1. DOI: https://doi.org/10.11604/pamj.2013.14.1.1092

Monasta, L., Ronfani, L., Marchetti, F., Montico, M., Vecchi Brumatti, L., Bavcar, A., ... & Tamburlini, G. (2015). Burden of disease caused by otitis media: Systematic review and global estimates. PloS One, 7(4), e36226. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0036226

Akowuah, E., Asante, E., & Ampofo, F. (2017). Effects of non-existent ENT clinics on residents in rural Ghana: A case study of Adankwame Health Centre. Journal of African Health Sciences, 14(3), 159-167.

Polit D.F and Beck C.T (2012): Nursing Research: Generating and Assessing Evidence for Nursing Practice. 9th Edition, Lippincott.

Grove, S. K., Burns, N., & Gray, J. (2012). The practice of nursing research: Appraisal, synthesis, and generation of evidence. Elsevier Health Sciences.

Lukama, L., Kabemba, S., & Mutombo, K. (2022). Epidemiology and management of ENT disorders in rural health settings in Sub-Saharan Africa. African Health Sciences, 22(1), 54-63.

Lingamdenne, P., Garg, S., & Rohilla, M. (2017). Prevalence of traditional practices among patients requiring ENT care in rural India: A study on their impact and complications. Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research, 11(2), 11-15.

Selvaraj, K., Chinnakali, P., & Majumdar, A. (2013). Self-medication practices in urban and rural Tamil Nadu, India: A population-based study. Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research, 7(9), 1418-1421.