The goal was to evaluate the effectiveness of recent televised advertisements conducted by the National Road Safety Commission in Ghana. These concerned speeding and alcohol-impaired driving and were targeted towards commercial drivers. Focus group discussions were conducted with 50 commercial drivers in four cities. Discussions addressed coverage, clarity and appropriateness of messages, including suggestions for improvements. Most discussants indicated that the messages were clear and appropriate. Television reached all participants in this urban group. However, they felt that other modes of communication, such as flyers and radio, should also be used to reach drivers who did not own televisions. A particular problem was language. The advertisements had been in English and Akan (the most common vernacular language). Participants wanted the messages diversified into more of the major Ghanaian languages. Some participants were unclear on the behaviour that the advertisements were telling viewers to take. Participants advocated greater involvement by police in road safety and called for laws banning the sale of alcohol at bus stations. The advertisements reached and were understood by most of the target audience. Opportunities for strengthening the messages included using other media; increasing the number of languages; and stressing the change in behaviour being recommended. Overall road safety activities would be strengthened by increasing accompanying law enforcement activities related to speed and alcohol-impaired driving. To the authors' knowledge this is the first formal evaluation of a road safety social marketing programme in a low-income sub-Saharan African country. This evaluation will hopefully assist Ghana and other similar countries in strengthening road safety work.
Childhood RTI in this urban west African setting are a major source of disability. Specific injury circumstances are reviewed in detail. This study provides baseline incidence data that may be used to measure injury prevention efforts and to validate secondary data sources.
Introduction: Facial anthropometry is required in many medical and dental disciplines, particularly for prosthodontists, orthodontists, plastic surgeons, maxillofacial surgeons, and forensic medicine experts. An individual's facial shape is a reflection of their race, age, and gender. The present study aimed at determining the facial and nasal indices among the Akan ethnic group in Kumasi, Ghana.Methodology: A total of 307 (182 males and 125 females) Akan adult volunteers between the age of 18 - 30 years were recruited for the study. Standard procedures were used to obtain the necessary facial and nasal measurements for generating the appropriate indices. A p-value of 0.05 or less was judged statistically significant.Results: In males, the facial index ranged from 75.28 to 117.90, while in females it ranged from 76.58 to 97.87. The nasal index ranged from 52.0 to 115.3 in males and 52.0 to 105.7 in females. There were significant differences between males and females in all facial parameters utilized to calculate facial and nasal indices. The facial index, but not the nasal index, differed significantly between Akan males and females. Mesoprosopic was the most prevalent face type in both male and female Akan populations, whereas mesorrhine was the most common nose type.Conclusion: The findings of this study can be used as a reference to improve the outcome of cosmetic and reconstructive facial surgery and rhinoplasty, as well as for medico-legal purposes in the Akan people of Ghana.
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