The aim of the study was to investigate university students' use of the Internet for health purpose in the Ghanaian context. The study employed a quantitative cross-sectional design. A total of 650 out of 740 students selected from 3 different universities participated, giving a response rate of 87.7% (650/740). Data were obtained using questionnaires and frequency and percentages were used to analyze data. The results show that university students are active users of the Internet as 78.3% (509/650) used Internet daily and 67.7% (440/650) use Internet for health purposes, for reasons including availability and ease of accessing information, privacy, confidentiality, and affordability. Use of Internet was constrained by unreliable and slow connection, high cost of Internet, and unreliable power supply. Also, 72.4% (315/435) used the online health information obtained as a basis for lifestyle change and only 39.5% (170/430) consulted health professionals after obtaining online information. The study concludes that students use Internet to seek online health support. The use of Internet to communicate with young people in relation to their health must therefore be explored. There is the need to be aware of online safety issues for young adults, including the need to provide information on privacy options.

Background: People from different cultural backgrounds have used different forms of Traditional Medicine as a means to managing their ailments. This study examined public perceptions of the role of Traditional Medicine in relation to the accessibility, conditions treated, safety, efficacy rate and interactions between traditional and orthodox medical systems in the Sekyere South District of Ashanti, Ghana. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional survey. A sample of 70 Traditional Medical Practitioners, 30 health care users, and 20 Orthodox Medical Practitioners were used and selected respectively based on snowball, random sampling and purposive techniques. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected through administered-questionnaire and in-depth interviews. Non-participant observation was used to assess the working environments of the practitioners in 9 selected communities in the district. Relevant data obtained were analysed using both qualitative and quantitative methods. Percentages and cross-tabulations, using the Predictive Analytic Software (PASW), version i6.0 were the methods used to analyse the data.

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Globally, young people are among the most vulnerable groups to HIV/AIDS, while adequate knowledge about the disease is key to their protection. This paper presents a mixed method analysis of knowledge about HIV/AIDS among young people in the Ejura-Sekyedumase district of Ghana. The study relies on questionnaire-based data from a random sample of 450 males and females of age 15 to 24, as well as qualitative data from focus group discussions and in-depth interviews. Data analyses employed frequencies, percentage distributions, content analysis and direct quotations as the main tools. Chi square test of independence was employed to find the association between background characteristics and knowledge about HIV/AIDS. The study showed that all the 450 respondents had heard of HIV/AIDS. The most important sources of information were radio (86%) and television (72.2%). The common sources of infection of HIV/AIDS as well as the means of prevention were also known. Misconceptions about the disease nevertheless existed. Nearly half (48.4%) believed that HIV/AIDS could be spread by mosquito bites, while 34% said the disease could be spread by spiritual means. Factors associated with knowledge of HIV/AIDS were education, place of residence, religion, ethnicity, and living arrangements. The findings call for increased access to formal education to defuse false perceptions and beliefs, the need for sustained HIV/AIDS education and communication, and HIV/AIDS education in health settings, among others.

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