Several young  Ghanaian women are inadvertently living with reproductive and sexually transmitted infections.

This is according to a new national study led by Dr. Laud Anthony Basing from the Department of Medical Diagnostics at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi.

He described the results as a wake-up call to improve sexual health awareness and routine testing among young women.

“These infections are spreading quietly because most people don’t show signs of being sick,” he explained. “We can’t wait for symptoms before acting. Early testing must become a normal part of healthcare for young women.”

At the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), researchers presented findings from the study involving close to 3,000 young women and adolescent girls aged 15–24 from nine Ghanaian regions.

Participants came from diverse backgrounds, including schools, universities, sex worker networks, and head porter communities.

The research discovered that over 40 percent had at least one infection, though most were unaware of it due to the absence of symptoms.

Candida-related yeast infections were the most prevalent, impacting more than half of those tested. Chlamydia trachomatis ranked next, affecting roughly one-quarter, with additional detections of gonorrhoea and trichomoniasis.

He cautioned that untreated infections can lead to long-term problems such as infertility and pregnancy complications.

The study also highlights how limited access to testing and open conversations about sexual health are allowing infections to go undetected among Ghana’s youth.

“This is not just research; it’s about protecting the future of young women and giving them the tools to take charge of their health,” he added.

In 2023, researchers from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) uncovered intriguing insights into the risk factors for diabetes and hypertension in rural populations.

As reported in the February 2024 issue of the journal Health Open Research, individuals engaged in fishing and farming, along with students and apprentices, showed lower probabilities of developing diabetes.

The 2022 study, which involved over 2,500 participants, focused on the Asante Akim North Municipality in Ghana's Ashanti region, examining factors linked to hypertension and diabetes.

Additionally, the research found that those who consumed snacks during work hours had a decreased likelihood of developing diabetes.

This surprising result indicates that certain dietary practices may help reduce the risk of this chronic disease.

The study's conclusions challenge the common belief that diet, alcohol consumption, tobacco use, and physical activity are major risk factors for hypertension and diabetes in rural settings.

Instead, the research highlighted sociodemographic factors like age, gender, and marital status, along with inadequate health screenings, as key predictors of these conditions.

The findings emphasize the critical need for better health education and comprehensive screening programs to manage hypertension and diabetes in rural areas.

Raising awareness and ensuring access to regular health check-ups could be crucial for early diagnosis and treatment, thereby alleviating the impact of these chronic illnesses.

The researchers urge health authorities and policymakers to act swiftly to address the sociodemographic determinants and implement extensive health screening initiatives to protect rural health.

The study's authors include Dr. Joseph Kwasi Brenyah, Prof. Yeetey Enuameh, Dr. Bernard Okoe-Boye, Dr. Francis Asenso-Boadi, Mr. Roland Miah, Dr. Peter Twum, and Dr. Ebenezer Dassah.

Additional contributors are Mr. Samuel Frimpong Odoom, Dr. Thomas Peprah Agyekum, Dr. Nana Ayisi-Boateng, Mr. Richard Adade, Prof. Fred Stephen Sarfo, and Dr. Arti Singh.

Last year, Dr. Isaac Okyere, a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Surgery, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), advised against early relationships for tertiary students.

He emphasized that the heart, being an emotional organ, can weaken under stress, increasing the risk of hypertension.

Dr. Okyere shared these insights during a monthly podcast organized by the E-Learning Centre of KNUST, focusing on "Heart Health: The Heart of Man and Total Wellbeing."

Early emotional involvement often leads to heartbreaks, which can significantly impact students' emotional and psychological well-being, affecting their academic performance.

“There is much life ahead of you. If you have the so-called “broken heart syndrome”, you are putting stress on the heart. One can go through and have psychiatric issues while another may not feel anything. Guard your heart with all diligence. Be careful with your relationship here on campus. There is so much stress awaiting you outside campus in terms of work, and marriage among others,” he advised.

Students have been cautioned against engaging in activities like the "September rush," where returning students seek romantic relationships with incoming female freshmen.

It has been reported that some students are already living as couples on campus, highlighting the prevalence of relationships among the student body.

Recent research from the National Library of Medicine in 2021 revealed concerning statistics among Ghanaian students in secondary educational institutions. The study found that 19.91% of students were hypertensive, while 26.07% were prehypertensive.

These findings suggest a potential rise in hypertension prevalence among the adult population in the future if preventive measures are not implemented.

Dr. Isaac Okyere emphasized the importance of youth managing their diet, monitoring glucose, cholesterol, blood pressure levels, and reducing alcohol consumption and smoking habits.