Background Complementary feeding is critical for optimal nutrition in infants and young children as it ensures their growth, health and development to attain their full potential. However, evidence shows that children from developing countries do not meet the core indicators for appropriate complementary feeding. We evaluated mothers’ knowledge and attitudes regarding child feeding recommendations and the determinants of adequate diet among children aged 6–23 months. Methods This cross-sectional study included 200 children aged 6–23 months and their mothers/care givers recruited during child welfare clinics of two health facilities in Ghana. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess determinants of adequate diet. Results Sixty-eight percent of the mothers knew the recommended duration of continued breastfeeding, 56.5% how to ensure dietary diversity and enrich their children’s diets and 94% (n = 188) had positive attitude towards recommended infant and young child feeding practices. Majority of the mothers (92%, n = 183) practiced continued breastfeeding, 10.5% of the children met minimum diet diversity score, 39.5% minimum meal frequency and 8.5% received minimum adequate diet. Determinants of receipt of minimum adequate diet were: having high knowledge in child feeding recommendations (100% vs. 0.0, p < 0.001) and child’s father reportedly earning adequate income to cater for the family (AOR = 12.1 (1.32–109.72, p = 0.027). Conclusion Motherss knowledge levels regarding infant and young child feeding recommendations had notable deficiencies although they generally had a positive attitude towards child feeding recommendations. Knowledge regarding infant and young child feeding recommendations as well as the child’s father having adequate income were important determinants of adequate diet. Nutrition education should emphasize on improving mothers’ nutrition knowledge regarding infant and young child feeding recommendations and supporting mothers to overcome barriers to feed their children with adequate diets.

Background: A birth injury is structural damage or functional deterioration of the neonate’s body due to a traumatic incident at birth. The prevalence and the type of birth injury vary from place to place. There is paucity of data on the prevalence of birth injuries in Ghana. Objective: The study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with birth injury in neonates admitted in a tertiary institution in Northern Ghana. Methods: This was a quantitative retrospective study carried out on neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of the Tamale Teaching Hospital between January 2018 through December 2019. Results: Out of 5590 neonates admitted to the NICU, 205 were noted to have various forms of birth injury corresponding to a prevalence of 3.66%(37 per 1000 neonates admitted to our unit). Majority were male (n=123/205, 60.0%), most deliveries occurred in the study hospital(n=143/205, 69.75%), and spontaneous vaginal delivery accounted for 70.73% (n=145/205). Extracranial injuries (n=146/221, 66.06%) were the most common form of birth injury. Next was musculoskeletal injuries (n=41/221, 18.55%) with humeral fractures (n=15/221, 6.78%) being the most frequent in this category. Among the neonates with birth injuries there were 23 deaths recorded (11.22%) all but one of whom had associated birth asphyxia. Birth injuries were significantly associated with place of delivery(p=0.029). Out-born babies were more likely to have extracranial injuries (adjusted odds ratio,5.10; 95% CI: 1.53-16.94;p=0.008). Conclusion: Extracranial injuries were the most common in this study. Place of delivery was significantly associated with birth injuries. Building the capacity of health care professionals is essential to reduce incidence of birth injuries. Some of these injuries can be avoided if high risk pregnancies are referred early to institutions that have the resources and skill to deliver such babies.

Background: Complementary feeding is critical for optimal nutrition in infant and young children as it ensures their growth, health and development to attain their full potential. However, evidence shows children from developing countries do not meet the core indicators for appropriate complementary feeding. We evaluated mothers’ knowledge and attitudes regarding child feeding recommendations and the determinants of adequate diet among children aged 6-23 months. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 200 children aged 6-23 months and their mothers/care givers recruited during the child welfare clinics of two health facilities in Ghana. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess determinants of adequate diet. Results: Sixty-eight percent of the mothers knew the recommended duration of continued breastfeeding, 56.5% how to ensure dietary diversity and enrich their children’s diets and 94% (n=188) had positive attitude towards recommended infant and young child feeding practices. Majority of the mothers (92%, n=183) practiced continued breastfeeding, 10.5% of the children met minimum diet diversity score, 39.5% minimum meal frequency and 8.5% received minimum adequate diet. Determinants of receipt of minimum adequate diet were: having high knowledge in child feeding recommendations (100% vs. 0.0; p<0.001) and child’s father reportedly earning adequate income to cater for the family (AOR = 12.1 (1.32 – 109.72; p = 0.027). Conclusion: Motherss knowledge levels regarding infant and young child feeding recommendations had notable deficiencies although they generally had a positive attitude towards child feeding recommendations. Knowledge regarding infant and young child feeding recommendations as well as the child’s father having adequate income were important determinants of adequate diet. Nutrition education should emphasize on improving mothers’ nutrition knowledge regarding infant and young child feeding recommendations and supporting mothers to overcome barriers to feed their children with adequate diets.

Rhabdomyosarcoma is a fairly common soft tissue sarcoma among children. Genitourinary rhabdomyosarcoma accounts for one tenth of rhabdomyosarcomas in the West African sub-region. However, its occurrence and management are yet to be reported in our resource limited study setting. Care of such patients could be a daunting task. A comprehensive paediatric oncology service should be advocated to optimize the chances of survival. A seven-month old boy was referred to our facility on account of posterior urethral valve. A week’s complaint of crying on micturition, with associated passage of scanty urine and irritability, although he was apparently well since birth with no urinary complaints. A suprapubic mass was palpated on abdominal examination. Digital rectal examination revealed a nodular pelvic mass. Open cystostomy done and histopathology showed embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of the urinary bladder. Chemotherapy was commenced on a modified Malignant Mesenchymal Tumour protocol of the International Society of Paediatric Oncology group. The mass was reduced by a third after six cycles of chemotherapy. In resource limited settings, the management of paediatric genitourinary rhabdomyosarcoma, using multidisciplinary and multimodal approach to include the hub for comprehensive paediatric oncology services should be advocated to optimize chances of survival.

Background Appropriate complementary feeding is critical for optimal nutrition in infant and young children as it ensures their growth, health and development to attain their full potential. However, evidence shows children from developing countries do not meet the core indicators for appropriate complementary feeding. We evaluated mothers’ competency in infant and young child feeding recommendations and their association to complementary feeding practices among children aged 6–23 months.Methods This cross-sectional study included 200 children aged 6–23 months and their mothers/care givers recruited during the child welfare clinics of two health facilities in Ghana. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess determinants of appropriate diet.Results Sixty-eight percent of the mothers knew the recommended duration of continued breastfeeding, 56.5% how to ensure dietary diversity and enrich their children’s diets and 94% (n = 188) had positive attitude towards recommended infant and young child feeding practices. Majority of the mothers (92%, n = 183) practiced continued breastfeeding, 10.5% of the children met minimum diet diversity score, 39.5% minimum meal frequency and 8.5% received minimum acceptable diet. Determinants of receipt of minimum adequate diet were: having high knowledge in child feeding recommendations (100% vs. 0.0; p < 0.001) and child’s father reportedly earning enough financially (AOR = 12.1 (1.32–109.72; p = 0.027).Conclusion Poor complementary feeding practices were common and mother’s knowledge levels regarding infant and young child feeding recommendations as well as the income levels of the child’s father were important determinants of appropriate diet. Nutrition education should emphasis on improving mothers’ nutrition knowledge regarding infant and young child feeding and supporting mothers to overcome barriers to feed their children with appropriate complementary foods.