Suicide Prevention in the African Region
This paper addresses national responses to suicide prevention in the African region. Eighteen countries responded, of which none had a national suicide prevention strategy in place
Christian and Cultural Adaptations in Ghana
The Christian REACH Forgiveness intervention is a 5-step psychoeducation program that focuses on promoting decisional and emotional forgiveness for an identified transgression.
Substance use and suicide among men in Ghana
A known risk factor for suicide globally is substance use. Despite being public health problems across the globe, research on the association between suicide and substance use has often ignored the socio-cultural context
The Emotional experiences of children living in orphanages in Ghana
Abstract Purpose This study aims to explore the emotional experiences of children in selected orphanages. Design/methodology/approach The study was executed in three orphanages in Accra, Tema and Aburi through the use of semi-structured interviews and observations. Findings In total, 15 respondents reported some emotional experiences such as loneliness, entrapment, deprivation, rejection and helplessness. Originality/value The…
Challenges associated with teenage motherhood in Ghana: a qualitative study
Abstract Motherhood can be very challenging and overwhelming whether the individuals involved are teens or adults. Although there is a high prevalence of teenage mothers in urban cities in Ghana, little research has been done on the challenges associated with teen motherhood. This qualitative study was therefore conducted to explore the challenges that teenage mothers…
News Editors’ Views about Suicide and Suicide Stories in Ghana
Abstract Media reporting of suicide has attracted attention globally because it has the potential to trigger copycat suicides. The absence of a national policy on suicide prevention in Ghana has left the media landscape with uncensored publications of suicide stories. The aim of this study was to examine the views of media editors on suicide…
Societal Reactions to Suicide in Ghana: A Qualitative Study of Experiences of the Bereaved
Abstract Background: Condemnatory reactions toward suicide are prevalent in Africa, yet no study has examined how society reacts to suicides from the perspective of suicide-bereaved persons. Aims: This qualitative study explored societal reactions to suicides so as to further our understanding of the problem in Ghana. Method: Using a semi-structured interview guide, we interviewed 45…
To Keep the Law or to Repeal It: Views of Parliamentarians On the Call to Decriminalise Attempted Suicide in Ghana
Abstract and Figures We explored the views of members of parliament (MPs) in Ghana on the call to decriminalize attempted suicide. We applied reflexive thematic analysis to Parliamentary Hansards (2017-2020) on calls to decriminalize attempted suicide in Ghana. 11 MPs shared their stance for or against the call. We developed three major themes that entailed,…
Prenatal attachment: using measurement invariance to test the validity of comparisons across eight culturally diverse countries
Abstract and Figures Studies in high-income countries (HICs) have shown that variability in maternal-fetal attachment (MFA) predicts important maternal health and child outcomes. However, the validity of MFA ratings in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) remains unknown. Addressing this gap, we assessed measurement invariance to test the conceptual equivalence of the Prenatal Attachment Inventory (PAI:…
Evidence for Better Lives Study: a comparative birth-cohort study on child exposure to violence and other adversities in eight low- and middle-income countries – foundational research (study protocol)
Abstract and Figures Introduction Violence against children is a health, human rights, and social problem affecting approximately half of the world’s children. Its effects begin at prenatal stages with long-lasting impacts on later health and well-being. The Evidence for Better Lives Study (EBLS) aims to produce high-quality longitudinal data from cities in eight low- and…
Emotional experiences and coping strategies of nursing and midwifery practitioners in Ghana: a qualitative study
Abstract and Figures Background: Emotional regulation forms an integral part of healthcare delivery. In the performance of the core duties of nursing and midwifery, health professionals are expected to enhance occupationally/organisationally required emotions. The purpose of this study is to explore. The meaning nurses and midwives give to emotional labour as well as the coping…
Health care professionals’ perspectives on barriers to treatment seeking for formal health services among orphan children and adolescents with HIV/AIDS and mental distress in a rural district in central, Uganda
Abstract Background: Little/no research has been conducted in Uganda in particular and sub-Saharan Africa in general on the health professional’s perspectives on barriers to treatment-seeking for formal health services among orphan children and adolescents with a double burden of HIV/AIDS and mental distress. Aim: To explore health professionals’ perspectives on barriers to treatment-seeking for formal…
The Intergenerational Effects of Intimate Partner Violence in Pregnancy: Mediating Pathways and Implications for Prevention
Abstract Prenatal intimate partner violence (P-IPV) can have significant adverse impacts on both mother and fetus. Existing P-IPV interventions focus on the safety of the mother and on reducing revictimization; yet expanding these to address the adverse impact on the fetus has considerable potential for preventing long-term negative developmental outcomes. In this review, we draw…
Depression and religious coping mechanisms among cancer patients in Ghana
Abstract Cancer is identified to be one of the leading causes of mortalities in most countries. However, some positive coping mechanisms have been discovered to help cancer patients cope with some psychological distress that accompanies illness. The present study sought to examine the association between religious coping mechanisms and depression among cancer patients in Tema…
Suicide among men in Ghana: The burden of masculinity
Abstract In Ghana, some studies have reported a high rate of both fatal and non-fatal suicidal behaviors among men. The current study aimed at understanding the psychosocial circumstances involved in male suicides. We interviewed between two to seven close relations of each of 12 men who died by suicide. Interpretative phenomenological analysis of data indicates…
The experiences of caregivers of children living with HIV and AIDS in Uganda: A qualitative study
Abstract and Figures Background Home-based care for HIV patients is popular in contexts severely affected by the epidemic and exacts a heavy toll on caregivers. This study aimed at understanding the experiences of caregivers and their survival strategies. Methods A total of 18 caregivers (3 males and 15 females) were interviewed using a semi-structured interview…
Growing up HIV-positive in Uganda: “Psychological immunodeficiency”? A qualitative study
Abstract and Figures Background: This study is part of a longitudinal study among children and adolescents with HIV in both urban and rural Uganda: ‘Mental health among HIV infected CHildren and Adolescents in Kampala and Masaka, Uganda (CHAKA)’. Method: The study is constructed of both quantitative and qualitative components. In this article, we report a…
From Condemnation to Understanding: Views on Suicidal Behavior in Ghana in Transition
Abstract The cultural context in which suicide occurs has been emphasized as critical in understanding the act and informing prevention. Yet the penchant for psychiatrizing suicidality in mainstream suicidology relegates cultural issues to the background. Through the lenses of critical cultural suicidology, we have re-emphasized the importance of culture by reviewing the two major meanings…
The experiences of attempt survivor families and how they cope after a suicide attempt in Ghana: A qualitative study
Abstract Background Ghana’s socio-cultural landscape proscribes suicidal behaviour, and this has serious ramifications for attempt survivors and their families. The objective of this qualitative study was to understand the experiences of the families of attempt survivors and how they cope with the aftermath of the attempt. Methods Ten families with attempted suicides agreed to participate…
Prevalence of psychological symptoms among adults with sickle cell disease in Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Ghana
Abstract Background Previous research revealed high prevalence of psychological symptoms among sickle cell disease (SCD) patients in the West and Europe. In some Black SCD populations such as Nigeria and Jamaica, anxiety and depression had low prevalence rates compared to Europe. With difficulty locating research data on the prevalence of psychological symptoms in Ghana, this…
Unpacking the stigma of suicide in Ghana through the suicide-morality connection: Implications for Stigma reduction programs
Abstract Suicide is not only a health issue but also a moral one. It is this moral aspect of suicide that drives the deep stigma towards the act in several cultural settings. The African ethical system (including Ghana) vigorously moralizes suicide. This intense moralization, it is argued, in this essay manufactures a robust social stigma…
Adolescent suicide in Ghana: A content analysis of media reports
Context 1 … The newspapers are Daily Graphic , Daily Guide , and the Ghanaian Times . The FM stations are Joy FM and Peace FM . The general news agencies are Ghanaweb and Ghana News Agency . All three selected newspapers ( Daily Graphic , Daily Guide , and the Ghanaian Times ) are…
Adolescents and parents’ perceptions of best time for sex and sexual communications from two communities in the Eastern and Volta Regions of Ghana: Implications for HIV and AIDS education
Abstract Adolescents and parents’ differ in their perceptions regarding engaging in sexual activity and protecting themselves from pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The views of adolescents and parents from two south-eastern communities in Ghana regarding best time for sex and sexual communications were examined. Focus Group interviews were conducted with parents and adolescents (both…
Perceptions of Parents on How Religion Influences Adolescents’ Sexual Behaviours in Two Ghanaian Communities: Implications for HIV and AIDS Prevention
Abstract To understand the role of religion in the sexual behaviours of adolescents, the views of parents who are key agents of socialization were examined from two south- eastern communities in Ghana. Focus Group interviews were conducted with mothers (and female caregivers) of adolescents and one with fathers (and male caregivers) of adoles- cents. Thematic…